| The Buddha spoke of five mental and emotional states that cloud the natural clarity of the heart: desire, aversion, restlessness, sloth and torpor, and doubt. These are known as the nīvaraṇāni, the hindrances, the universal experiences that make meditation feel difficult. The word nīvaraṇa means “to cover over,” so when unseen, the hindrances obscure reality, pull us out of presence, and lead us to believe that something must be fixed or changed before we can truly rest in the here and now.
On retreat, these forces often become amplified. But this intensity is not a problem—it’s a gift. It offers us the rare chance to witness the mind’s subtle strategies for disconnection with fresh eyes. Each hindrance is not a barrier, but a doorway. When met with patience, curiosity, and compassion, their grip begins to loosen. What once felt like an obstruction reveals itself as instruction. |
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2025-09-16
Obstacles on the Path: Sense Desire & Aversion (Retreat at Spirit Rock)
55:51
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Gullu Singh
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Talk Synopsis: Clearing the Poisons – Greed and Aversion
This talk explores how the Buddha’s teachings on dukkha and the three unwholesome roots—greed, aversion, and delusion—relate to the common mental obstacles that arise in meditation and daily life. Framed through the lens of the five hindrances, the talk looks closely at how these energies obscure attention and contribute to suffering.
The talk includes a practical discussion of temperament—how some of us tend more toward craving, others toward irritation or confusion—and how understanding these patterns can support clarity and compassion. Rather than trying to get rid of these states, the emphasis is on recognizing and relating to them with awareness, in line with the Buddha’s instruction to know dukkha and its causes.
Grounded in the Four Noble Truths, the talk points toward a path of practice that works with what's difficult—not as a problem to fix, but as a doorway to insight and freedom.
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