The Five Hinderances describe the mental factors we all struggle with in meditation and in our daily lives; the somewhat unavoidable experiences that make life and meditation difficult. The Five Hindrances:

1. The craving for pleasure; sensory desire the particular type of wanting that seeks for happiness through the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste and physical feeling.

2. Aversion to pain; the Ill-will and resentment, intolerance for the body.

3. Restlessness, anxiety and worry; an intolerance for a busy mind.

4. Laziness, sloth, torpor, procrastination; the drowsiness and lack of motivation: heaviness of body and dullness of mind which drag one down into disabling inertia and thick depression.

5. Doubt; lack of confidence in your own ability, or the path you’re on, or self-doubt. Doubt is said to be the most debilitating.

This talk wraps up ‘Against the Stream’ Chapter 1: Basic Training. Link to Chapter 1, Against The Stream in Episodes notes.

Read Chapter 1, AGAINST THE STREAM > Link in Episode notes.