We all encounter mental roadblocks in life. To feelings of
self-doubt to anxiety and depression, mental hindrances can be extremely tough
to deal with.
However, we’re not the first human beings that suffered from
such obstacles.
Buddhist monks and philosophers have studied and practiced the
art of freeing the mind from these negative emotions that tie us to what they
call the Wheel of Suffering.
They found 5 common hindrances to the mind.
We’ve gone through each of them below and we’ve also discussed
how we can actually go about overcoming these obstacles for a peaceful and
happy life.
1) The Mental Hindrance of Desire for
Sensing.
What is it:
The hindrance of sensory desire is latching onto thoughts or
feelings based on the pleasures of the five senses.
Buddhist master Traleg Kyabgon explains it best:
“This term alludes to the mind’s tendency to latch on to something
that attracts it–a thought, a visual object, or a particular emotion. When we
allow the mind to indulge in such attractions, we lose our concentration. So we
need to apply mindfulness and be aware of how the mind operates; we don’t
necessarily have to suppress all these things arising in the mind, but we
should take notice of them and see how the mind behaves, how it automatically
grabs onto this and that.”
How to overcome it:
To overcome the hindrance of sensory desire, the meditator must
use mindfulness and acknowledge the hindrance. Then they must observe the
hindrance and experience it fully. Once experienced fully, the meditator must
contemplate the impermanence of the pleasant desire. Buddhist master Ajahn
Brahmavamso emphasizes the technique for letting go of concern for the body and
five senses completely:
“In meditation, one transcends sensory desire for the period by
letting go of concern for this body and its five sense activity. Some imagine
that the five senses are there to serve and protect the body, but the truth is
that the body is there to serve the five senses as they play in the world ever
seeking delight. Indeed, the Lord Buddha once said, “The five senses ARE the
world” and to leave the world, to enjoy the other worldly bliss of Jhana, one
must give up for a time ALL concern for the body and its five senses.”
2) The Mental Hindrance of Aversion and ill-Will.
What is it:
This involves latching onto thoughts or feelings based on
hostility, anger, resentment, bitterness etc.
Ajahn Brahmavamso states:
“ill will refers to the desire to
punish, hurt or destroy. It includes sheer hatred of a person, or even a
situation, and it can generate so much energy that it is both seductive and
addictive. At the time, it always appears justified for such is its power that
it easily corrupts our ability to judge fairly. It also includes ill will
towards oneself, otherwise known as guilt, which denies oneself any possibility
of happiness. In meditation, ill will can appear as dislike towards the
meditation object itself, rejecting it so that one’s attention is forced to
wander elsewhere.”
How to overcome it:
According to Ajahn Brahmavamso, meditation on loving-kindness is
crucial:
“ill will is overcome by applying
Metta, loving kindness. When it is ill will towards a person, Metta teaches one
to see more in that person than all that which hurts you, to understand why
that person hurt you (often because they were hurting intensely themselves),
and encourages one to put aside one’s own pain to look with compassion on the
other.”
3) The Mental Hindrance of Lethargy and
Laziness.
What is it:
This is characterized as a morbid state of lacking energy and
desire for wholesome activity.
Ajahn Brahmavamso states:
“Sloth and torpor refers to that heaviness of body and dullness of
mind which drag one down into disabling inertia and thick depression. […] In
meditation, it causes weak and intermittent mindfulness which can even lead to
falling asleep in meditation without even realising it!”
How to overcome it:
To overcome laziness, we need to use our energy sources. Ajahn
Brahmavamso says:
“Sloth and torpor is overcome by rousing energy. Energy is always
available but few know how to turn on the switch, as it were. Setting a goal, a
reasonable goal, is a wise and effective way to generate energy, as is
deliberately developing interest in the task at hand. A young child has a
natural interest, and consequent energy, because its world is so new. Thus, if
one can learn to look at one’s life, or one’s meditation, with a ‘beginner’s
mind’ one can see ever new angles and fresh possibilities which keep one
distant from sloth and torpor, alive and energetic.”
4) The Mental Hindrance of Restlessness and
Regret.
What is it:
This refers to the mind being agitated and unable to settle down.
Ajahn Brahmavamso explains it best:
“Restlessness [uddhacca] refers to a mind which is like a monkey,
always swinging on to the next branch, never able to stay long with anything.
It is caused by the fault-finding state of mind which cannot be satisfied with
things as they are, and so has to move on to the promise of something better,
forever just beyond. […] Remorse [kukkucca] refers to a specific type of
restlessness which is the kammic effect of one’s misdeeds.”
How to overcome it:
Gil Fronsdal says it’s about understanding what makes you restless
and accepting it and taking action:
“[There are] a variety of ways to engage restlessness, be present
for it. […] [One is] learning, reflecting, meditating and contemplating what
the nature of restlessness is. […] There might be a really good cause for you
to be restless. […] Maybe you haven’t paid your taxes in ten years. […] [In
this case] you don’t need meditation, you need to pay your taxes. You don’t use
meditation to run away from the real issues of your life. […] Sometimes what’s
needed is to really look and understand are there root causes for being
restless.”
5) The Mental Hindrance of Doubt and
Uncertainty.
What is it:
This involves self-doubt and not truly understanding oneself.
Ajahn Brahmavamso states:
“Doubt refers to the disturbing inner questions at a time when one
should be silently moving deeper. Doubt can question one’s own ability “Can I
do This?”, or question the method “Is this the right way?”, or even question
the meaning “What is this?”. It should be remembered that such questions are
obstacles to meditation because they are asked at the wrong time and thus
become an intrusion, obscuring one’s clarity.”
How to overcome it:
According to Ajahn Brahmavamso, this is overcome by having clear
instructions and a way to move forward. He says:
“Such doubt is overcome by gathering clear instructions, having a
good map, so that one can recognise the subtle landmarks in the unfamiliar
territory of deep meditation and so know which way to go. Doubt in one’s
ability is overcome by nurturing self-confidence with a good teacher. A
meditation teacher is like a coach who convinces the sports team that they can
succeed.”
Originally published on Hack Spirit. via educateinspirechange.org
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