Vitakka
http://Buddhism.2be.net/Vitakka
From Buddhist Encyclopedia
Vitakka (Pāli) or Vitarka (वितर्क, Sanskrit), both in Hinduist yoga and Buddhist meditation, means the action of taking care of any object : God, one's body, the Self, a color, any sensation...
It refers to attention in a different way than cognitive neuroscience, implying a very strong leading of attention, as it leads to more mental process : vicāra pīti, sukha and ekaggatā.
Vitakka is the first element to appear in meditation's process, still present in the first Jhana, but absent of any further Jhana.
