Girimananda sutta

Question

The 10 perceptions in the sutta are meant to be meditated upon? Aniccasaññā is then not to be understood as empirical seeing the 3 characteristics, but contemplating on impermanence, right?

Answer 1

In the Girimananda Sutta, there are nine perceptions (sanna) preliminary to the development of direct seeing of Anapanasati.

The explanatory Pali word is 'paṭisañcikkhati', which means 'to think over', as follows:

Idhānanda bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā iti paṭisaṃcikkhati:

There is the case where a monk — having gone to the wilderness, to the shade of a tree, or to an empty building — reflects thus: 'Form is inconstant, feeling is inconstant, perception is inconstant, fabrications are inconstant, consciousness is inconstant.' Thus he remains focused on inconstancy with regard to the five clinging-aggregates. This, Ananda, is called the perception of inconstancy.

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Paṭisañcikkhati

paṭi+saŋ+cikkhati

to think over, to discriminate, consider, reflect

Also used in MN 19 and AN 3.38:

As I abided thus, diligent, ardent and resolute, a thought of sensual desire arose in me. I understood thus: ‘This thought of sensual desire has arisen in me. This leads to my own affliction, to others’ affliction, and to the affliction of both; it obstructs wisdom, causes difficulties, and leads away from Nibbāna.’ When I considered (paṭisañcikkhato): ‘This leads to my own affliction,’ it subsided in me; when I considered (paṭisañcikkhato): ‘This leads to others’ affliction,’ it subsided in me; when I considered (paṭisañcikkhato): ‘This leads to the affliction of both,’ it subsided in me; when I considered (paṭisañcikkhato): ‘This obstructs wisdom, causes difficulties, and leads away from Nibbāna,’ it subsided in me. Whenever a thought of sensual desire arose in me, I abandoned it, removed it, did away with it.

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'Now I too am subject to old age and am not exempt from old age. Such being the case, if I were to feel repelled, humiliate and disgusted when seeing another who is old, that would not be proper for me.’ When I reflected (paṭi­sañcik­khato) thus, my intoxication with youth was completely abandoned

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Similar to 'paṭisaṅkhā yoniso':

Paṭisaṅkhā yoniso piṇḍapātaṃ paṭisevati

Reflecting properly, they make use of almsfood:‘Not for fun, indulgence, adornment, or decoration, but only to continue and sustain this body, avoid harm, and support spiritual practice. So that I will put an end to old discomfort and not give rise to new discomfort, and so that I will keep on living blamelessly and at ease.’

AN 6.58