What are the Five Hindrances?

[@BKKKevin]

I became mindful of my aversion to your background music...

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, it was an experiment, but not using background music anymore! Apologies. 🙏

[@gunndlewittlebaum]

@@DougsDharma I kind of like it!

[@janglestick]

@@DougsDharma The sonorous sub-heavy metal tones have given me great power in the service of satan and armed me with the methodology of hindering my opponents and weaker underlings in five different ways. Take by the 5 swords, die by the goblet.

[@ArielPaz08]

Me too. That music was so distracting to the message and it seemed it got louder as the video went on. Excellent content tho.

[@amylynnberteotti5227]

It was certainly a self test to see if you could just let it go instead of getting frustrated.

[@vedomakomunikace]

Thank you for this very helpful, well-structured explanation. The background music certainly WAS a source of my strong aversion and I was very mindful of it:).

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, I'm aware that these early experiments with background music were not successful! Fortunately I haven't used background music in years now. 😄

[@jeffk7290]

A real practical eye-opener to understand how mindfulness via meditation can change yourself and others in a better way. for me and others i'm sure, practice will continue to have its own rewards.

[@DougsDharma]

I hope so, Jeff. Thanks for the comment!

[@vincecallagher7636]

Now I see why, sometimes, after blissful meditation I feel a lower energy, or light anxiety or depression afterwards. It was confusing till now.

[@dgliber]

This was a fantastic explanation, thank you for sharing it.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks a lot DG Liberty, glad you liked it!

[@ThemindfulnessclinicAu]

Really enjoy your clarity and practical examples. Thank you

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Charlotte. I’m glad you’re finding the videos useful. 🙏

[@rinatturganbekov5512]

Thinking about elements is very helpful!

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, I agree! 🙏

[@SourLimez]

cool doug ii watch shi henng yi's video daily.. this is good too. well done

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@colasrtney]

which video?

[@knightsremains]

Wow so refreshing to see this after many of the recent videos. I do not discredit the new videos, in fact I am subscribed and learning because of them. But in this one you speak from a very practical perspective, that is perfectly concise, genuine, and understanding of the inherent challenges of balancing buddhist practices, mindfulness and meditation with our busy schedules. You speak from such a kind and understanding point of view, from one that truly witnessed all the hinderances from your oun practice, and then to sum it up and say that in fact we may never deal properly with #4, restlessness, until awakening, that actually put a lot of pressure off my expectations. I can only say, unflateringly, wow, thank you I liked this a lot. Doug, this was such an eureka moment to watch.

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome A. O.G.! I’ll actually be doing another video on the hindrances in a few weeks, just to update this one a bit. Very important to know about them for our practice!

[@SHurd-rc2go]

Thank you, Doug. Back with this talk on Labor Day, 2020. Lots of aversion, ill-will. Stay well.

[@DougsDharma]

You too! Yes, lots of cause for aversion in the world today unfortunately.

[@srinathgunaratne6307]

Great explanation. This is the most important issue to anything we do in our life. Thank you very much.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Srinath, thanks for the comment!

[@yoooyoyooo]

These are the most important things to learn if you are just starting meditation, but you can apply them to any work you do.

[@DougsDharma]

Exactly so, they apply to all of life.

[@dustinwatten8139]

Great Video Doug, happy I found your channel.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the kind words, Dustin!

[@patrickdallaire5972]

I recently found that one practice that has been calming to me is what we call "willing hands" in dialectical behavior therapy. Just turning my hands so that my palms face the world in front of me. Raising my hands feels even better, it reminds of how I offer hugs to my loved ones.

[@DougsDharma]

Interesting Patrick, I hadn't heard of that one. Thanks!

[@eddygan325]

Sensual desire , are more on thinking about sex , food, and other sensual desire while meditation, this 5 hindrances will stop us to see the things as they really are (Panna or wisdom) Enter to Jhana, will help us cut the 5 hindrances. Equanimity is good , but it's will arise naturally when we enter 4 Jhana (Uppeka) . For the 1st Jhana, we will experience Piti and Suka (inner joy and happiness), so, we have to go thru joy first before equanimity. Enter the 1st Jhana till 4th Jhana is Good, because it's help us cut the enemy (5 hindrances) We won't see clearly the things as there really are although we practice vipasanna , because we still have a lot of 5 hindrances. To reach the final goal , Jhana is require, that's why Buddha teach Samma-Samadhi too in Noble 8 fold path. Above is my learning and opinion Thank you brother for sharing 🙏 Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome eddygan325. Thanks for the comment!

[@ValKitsakis]

Thank you! Your videos are so helpful! The greatest hindrance for me has been Doubt. This has been particularly annoying in the long run since I've seen over the years the value that Dhamma has offered in my life and I think I would have been more advanced in meditation if I wasn't such a sceptic.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes Valantis, skepticism can be corrosive. I remain a skeptic at heart, though the heart of the dhamma passes the tests.

[@normanleach5427]

Kenosis or an ego-death needn't be idealized. The cessation of thought may seem like 'incremental progress' as one's meditation is linked to "becoming". How odd that we are even prone to conceptualize an epiphany. Notice how our assessment or 'reference point of cretique' is predisposed to separate the forest from the trees while the quality of our immediate rapport with Life is all about "being". Of course the thinking mind basically continues to maintain its primacy out of sheer habit or inertia...but that Oneness allows for All This. (Let 'right practice' reside in expressing non-action.) Just as "Thou art that." may be instructive; "suchness" enters the stream... of a timeless flow of immediacy. Spaciousness offers a certain Sensibility, which is to say, a spontaneous wisdom of trust. What does this have to do with doubt? Great Doubt 'corners' our thinking mind by doubting the utility of doubt. Between a structured system of beliefs and the existential angst of absurdity is the skeptical mind. Humility doesn't merely penetrate the veil, Oneness relinguishes that and naturally 'chooses' All This. Kenosis is a collapse of the ego's pretense to separate status...the exalted reasoner or Holy Sage as well as the foolish dullard and our lowly bum...are two-sides of the same coin. As drama is ego, in truth, all signs point toward home. Simply allow for arrival and the signage served its purpose. Big concepts like 'relative samadhi' and concurrently, 'absolute samadhi' are nothing but one's attentive peaceful mind which invites this broad world to share the magic within the ordinary.

[@JN25376]

Good video. Very helpful. Thank you!

[@DougsDharma]

Glad it was helpful Joyce, you're very welcome!

[@blueaspenadventures]

Thank you for the videos! With regard to the hindrances and sleepiness... We can point the eyes up toward the forehead. See if this wakes you up? I think that's what imagining sunlight is aiming toward. Try both and see what you find? With Gratitude.

[@DougsDharma]

You're very welcome Richard, that's an interesting idea too. I never found that imagining sunlight worked for me, but who knows? It's worth a shot.

[@enochbird3862]

Budhism is the only religion where the answer to doubt is more questions and investigation.

[@DougsDharma]

Well yes, I think it's a very open philosophy in many ways.

[@sayedsanjan4707]

Nicely described, thank you sir 😇

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Sayed! 🙏

[@alakso777]

Doug, would it be safe to say that understanding the first 2 hindrances can be a stepping stone to understanding dependent origination where we can break the chain of DO before feelings?

[@vincecallagher7636]

The background music teaches patience

[@DougsDharma]

😄😄 It was an experiment ... I don't do it anymore!

[@ashikasingh585]

Thanks for sharing 🤗 Love from India🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Ashika! 🙏

[@ashikasingh585]

@@DougsDharma ❤️🙃🇮🇳

[@tamadaanilkumar4738]

I'm grateful

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@MLFG]

Thank you!!! That was great.

[@DougsDharma]

You’re very welcome Geoff!

[@michel-carolelavallee7062]

Thank you. I too found the music really distracting. I removed my hearing aids but still it just was too strong and fast.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, no worries, I don't have music in any of my videos in the past years! 🙂

[@juliabarros9237]

Doug, why don't you record some guided meditation videos? You can explain what kind of meditation it is, and what for.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the suggestion Júlia, it’s something I might do eventually but there are already a lot of good guided meditations out there by very accomplished teachers. 🙂

[@amylynnberteotti5227]

Yeah but I would love to see your take on it.

[@davereed5414]

Nicely done.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks Dave. 🙏

[@davidknight7933]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@DougsDharma]

You are very welcome David! 🙏

[@victorroux493]

Another good video

[@apostatepaul]

I did not like the music! Was by it used to be a hindrance? If so, very clever! Great explanation.

[@DougsDharma]

😄 Yes, I used music in a handful of my earlier videos. It was an experiment at the time, but I haven't used it in years now.

[@vincecallagher7636]

For me the 6th is pain😊

[@vincecallagher7636]

I try to make pain an old friend

[@vincecallagher7636]

Now I understand why a blissful meditation sometimes leads to desire and mild depression. Thankyou.

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, I'd say pain tends to get caught up in ill will, which we have towards the pain.

[@Purplemarxist]

That background music is a bit of a hindrance. :)

[@DougsDharma]

Yes it was an early experiment ...

[@lmansur1000]

So sorry as I am unable to listen with the background music,-.

[@DougsDharma]

Here is a more recent video without music: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnPHl3V-oKiHf7M

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

💙🙏

[@Rover08]

12:00 One hour guideline

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the indication rkingsiv, yes an hour is longer than most of us will be able to manage but it is good practice if you can!

[@Rover08]

@@DougsDharma John Yates (Culadasa) recommended getting to an hour sit as soon as possible after starting a practice. I have followed that advice years now.

[@AnattaAnattata]

สาธุ! สาธุ! สาธุ! 🙏🙏🙏

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@katsujinkin60]

Very helpful, but please get rid of the music. It's very annoying, or is this just a lesson in dealing with aversion?

[@DougsDharma]

Yes it was an early experiment of mine, I don't do it anymore and haven't for years.

[@katsujinkin60]

I knew you were a wise man!

[@bobmcbride3550]

Dogen referred to six theives

[@DougsDharma]

Interesting, what was the sixth?

[@bobmcbride3550]

@DougsDharma 5 conventional senses and sense of self. I practice between soto and rensai, but had a friend who is a teacher who would teach me informally

[@xiaomaozen]

😁🙏

[@DougsDharma]

😄🙏

[@ArielPaz08]

The first link does not work.

[@DougsDharma]

Thanks for the comment Ariel, the SBA changed their links at the website so the old ones are broken. I’ve updated this one and it should work now.

[@AnaRodriguez-ry8ix]

🥰🕯🌊💙 🙏

[@DougsDharma]

🙏😊

[@jejyed]

Background Music is disruptive

[@pistypj]

The opposite side of mindfulness is the 5 hindrances

[@DougsDharma]

Yes, they are also opposite to the jhānas.

[@ArielPaz08]

Gosh, so much work to do....

[@DougsDharma]

One step at a time. 🙂

[@alamedvav]

If you have annoying sounds in meditation your doing it wrong.