Five Hindrances (pañca nīvaraṇāni)
Unskillful qualities / Five Hindrances
Part of key topic Unskillful Qualities
Also a subtag of Mindfulness of dhammas
Subtags: Sensual desire, Ill-will, Sloth and torpor, Restlessness and worry, Doubt
33 excerpts, 1:58:00 total duration

All excerpts (33) Most relevant (17) Questions about (13) Answers involving (17) Quotes (3) Texts (1)


Remembering Ajahn Chah Weekend, Session 32 – Apr. 29, 2001

Download audio (1:20)
5. Quote: “If I’ve developed any wisdom, it’s because I had such gigantic defilements.” — Ajahn Chah. Quoted by Ajahn Amaro. [Ajahn Chah] [Discernment] [Unwholesome Roots] // [Hindrances ] [Restlessness and worry] [Aversion] [Doubt] [Sensual desire]


Metta Retreat, Session 3 – Sep. 11, 2008

Download audio (5:27)
14. “When doubt is mentioned under the hindrances, is it mainly referring to doubt about the Buddha’s teachings? Are there other implications?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Doubt] [Hindrances] [Dhamma] // [Everyday life] [Mindfulness of mind] [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of body] [Suffering] [Perfectionism]


The Whole of the Path, Session 3 – Jun. 22, 2013

Download audio (7:42)
8. “I appreciate your emphasis on clarity, stability, and spaciousness. How does concentration relate to these?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Clear comprehension] [Unification] [Spaciousness] [Concentration ] // [Pāli] [Thai] [Etymology] [Tranquility] [Happiness] [Rapture] [Conditionality]

Suttas: AN 10.3: Virtuous Behaivor; AN 6.10 Mahānāma [Virtue]

Quote: “The way my mind worked before was, ‘Boy, when I get my concentration together, I’m going to be happy...’” [Ajahn Pasanno]

Quote: “The happy mind is easily concentrated.” [Hindrances] [Relinquishment] [Knowledge and vision]


Abhayagiri Monastic Retreat 2013, Session 2 – Nov. 24, 2013

Download audio (3:16)
14. “Ajahn, Its seems like the first couple of days all hindrances attack to a point where I opened my eyes this morning meditation and thought: ‘How did I get here?...Can you please comment.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Meditation retreats]


New Year, New Life, Session 1 – Dec. 16, 2013

Download audio (3:26)
1. “I see what you’re saying about the hindrances, but it seems like that’s everything I called my life....So you’re saying keep on working at it and it [the mind] gets used to focusing?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Proliferation] [Meditation] // [Mindfulness] [Goodwill] [Recollection/Virtue] [Recollection/Generosity] [Gladdening the mind]


Thai Forest Tradition, Session 3 – Jun. 14, 2014

Download audio (1:08)
7. “Was Ajahn Liem’s focus mindfulness of breathing but he was also aware of the moods of the mind passing through and sometimes getting kicked around by the hindrances?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Ajahn Liem] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of mind] [Hindrances] [Thai Forest Tradition] // [Teaching Dhamma] [Patience]


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 6 – Nov. 27, 2014

Download audio (0:52)
7. Comment: I’ve recently been blessed with two local Dhamma teachers separately teaching on the hindrances. Both suggested noticing when the hindrances are not present. That’s been a hard concept to recognize. Today’s teachings on looking at the opposite of a hindrance when it is present allowed me to become consciously aware and look at ‘why is the opposite not present in this moment’ and ‘what I need to release the hindrance?’ I guess I’m a right-brain person. Thank you for the change in perspective. [Hindrances] [Cessation] [Gratitude]


Jhāna: A Practical Approach, Session 2 – Oct. 10, 2015

Download audio (2:41)
1. “What do you do when things like knee pain arise?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Meditation/General advice] [Pain] [Aversion] [Hindrances] // [Compassion]


Download audio (3:38)
2. “Is there ever a dominant hindrance, but then in the service of that, the mind picks up other hindrances?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Aversion] [Hindrances] // [Sensual desire] [Sloth and torpor]


Download audio (2:01)
3. “Sometimes I just notice that the state that is there [a hindrance] is going to go away. Isn’t that a skillful way of looking at it?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Impermanence] [Skillful qualities] [Hindrances] // [Clear comprehension] [Habits]

Sutta: MN 20: The Removal of Distracting Thoughts [Right Effort] [Similes]


Download audio (2:25)
4. “If a hindrance comes up, one thing to do is to acknowledge it and observe it, but on the other hand, one can bring up its opposite. Do you do either depending on what is needed? Sometimes when I bring up the opposite, it prevents me from seeing it.” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Sloth and torpor] [Right Effort] [Hindrances]


Download audio (1:46)
5. “Do you have any advice for obsessive thoughts, thinking the same thing again and again?” Answered by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Proliferation] [Hindrances] // [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of body]


2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 4 – Nov. 24, 2015

Download audio (5:27)
13. “What is the difference between a fetter and a hindrance?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Fetters ] [Hindrances ] // [Pāli] [Stream entry] [Tranquility] [Attachment to precepts and practices] [Stages of awakening] [Saṃsāra]


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 16 – Jun. 13, 2021

Download audio (2:49)
14. “During the Q&A yesterday afternoon, I heard the recommendation to set a boundary (Session 12, question 6). I feel that creating a boundary is falling into the category of the Five Hindrances. The Buddha taught us to practice the brahmaviharas which are boundless. Please clarify why we need to set a boundary.” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Hindrances] [Divine Abidings] // [Aversion] [Abuse/violence] [Leadership]


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 18 – Jun. 14, 2021

Download audio (3:32)
11. The first two reviewing knowledges of one who has made progress on the path: Freedom from the hindrances and serenity of mind. Teaching by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Meditation/Results] [Hindrances] [Tranquility] [Communal harmony] // [Principles of Cordiality] [Right View] [Abhayagiri] [Conflict]

Sutta: MN 48: Kosambi Sutta.


Madison Insight Retreat 2023, Session 2 – Oct. 14, 2023

Download audio (4:21)
1. “By moving to lovingkindness [meditation], I may be missing some of the deeper insights and wisdom that are present in feelings of angher, ill-will, and resentment. I think this is what is referred to as spiritual bypassing. Can you speak to this distinction or provide suggestions for accessing the wisdom that may be present within or underneath the hindrances?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Goodwill] [Aversion] [Ill-will] [Spiritual bypass ] [Discernment] [Hindrances] // [Truth] [Suffering] [Gratification]

Quote: “Sensual desire is just trying to get a relief from suffering. Even anger and ill-will...and the same with all the rest of the hindrances. They are looking for some relief from suffering in some way, shape, or form.” [Sensual desire] [Hindrances]


Download audio (3:04)
8. “Can you offer practical advice for working with hindrances and cultivating sīla without taking it personally, that is, trying to perfect the personality?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Hindrances] [Virtue] [Self-identity view] // [Dhamma] [Relinquishment]

Quote:Kae nun lae (Thai) – It’s just this much.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Suchness]