Vitakka vicāra (Jhana-factors)

In post #24 I referenced a view that basically vitakka-vicara means to immerse in the recollection (sati) of a meditation object. I’d like to back this up by a sutta reference from DN 33, DN 34, AN 5.26, AN 5.73, AN 5.74, AN 6.51, AN 6.56:

…he applies his thought to the Norm as he has learnt and got it by memory, and sustains protracted meditation on it and contemplates it in mind (RD, DN 33)

…he applies his mind to the Dhamma, thinks and ponders over it and concentrates his attention on it (Walshe, DN 33)

…he ponders, examines, and mentally inspects the Dhamma… (BB, AN 5.26)

dhammaṃ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati

In all cases it is about dhamma that a bhikkhu heard.
The PED gives us for anupekkhati ‘carefully considers’. Or more literally ‘continuously-sees-closely’

The meaning is clearly that one does mental operations directed to dhamma (teaching). It doesn’t tell us what vitakka-vicara are but gives us the context to where they are directed, namely teaching-aspects, and not any kind of thoughts. This view also includes non-verbal operations since to reflect dhamma doesn’t necessarily mean with words. This again is close to seeing vitakka-vicara as penetrating a meditation object as expressed in post #24.

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