This recording also includes some instruction on The Hindrances by Gavin Milne.

This talk covers the unhindered mind, the causes of hindrances, and remedies.

Practices for cultivating appreciative fullness and collectiveness using the Jhana factors. Hindrances are also briefly explored

The Five Hindrances and some techniques for working with difficult emotions

The purpose of insight as seeing clearly into the three universal characteristics of anicca - impermanence, dukkha - unsatisfactoriness, and anatta - not-self, and how the five hindrances of sensual desire, ill will or aversion, sloth and torpor, restlessness and remorse, and sceptical doubt get in the way of clear seeing

How to loosen the grip of the hindrances; realizing that we have a natural energetic body, and how seeing the body as an energy system can support our understanding of the Dhamma

An explanation of hindrances and how they are conditioned by sense contact but amplified to fantastic proportions by shared social contact, “from 5 to 50 decibels”

Working with the Five Hindrances

What are the principal obstacles in Meditation and how do we work with them so they become grounds for insight and compassion.

There are five factors that are supported for deepening concentration, known as the jhana factors. These factors are developed in any kind of intensive meditation practice, but are particularly supportive for the development of samadhi. They also serve to counterbalance the hindrances. When the hindrances are not active, the mind and heart can be buoyant and open, allowing concentration and insight to deepen.

This talk provide practical advice for working with hindrances to practice

Mindfulness is the data collection system for intuitive awareness and letting go of thinking

Sariputta said (SN 21.1): “There is nothing in the world with whose change there would arise in me sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair.” It is hard to remember the Buddha’s teachings when the mind is beset with fear and anxiety. But we can escape from these bonds by disempowering the hindrances, calming the mind and seeing with greater wisdom. For this process to bear fruit, we have to fully trust the path alone and not put our trust in the world. A talk given at a 7 day SIMT retreat in the Chapin Mill Zen Retreat Centre, Batavia, Rochester, NY.

The jhana factors serve as antidotes to the five hindrances as well as supports in developing the Noble Eightfold Path. But they are not enough in and of themselves to establish wisdom. Studying the body and mind through samatha and vipassana, we come to understand the Four Noble Truths. As we transform consciousness, we transcend the world. A talk given at a 7 day Satipaññā Insight Meditation Toronto retreat in the Chapin Mill Zen Retreat Centre, Batavia, NY.

Mindfulness and compassion meet the hindrances - recognizing, allowing, investigating with intimate attention and nourishing with compassion.

Emphasis on the contemplations of the five hindrances and the sixth sense bases and six sense objects. Also a brief introduction to the path consciousness and stream entry (sotapana path and fruition)

On retreat you don't control what you experience, But you can develop skill in working with what would otherwise derail your practice

Offering myself to bring forth citta – awareness. This prepared the ground for skillfulness and the willingness to meet hindrances.

Evening reflection on how we need to apply the practice differently as our path progresses - and a reminder of how we can get caught by the hindrances, and how to get un-caught.

Finding beauty and peace through wisely practicing with the five hindrances.

These seven qualities offer an effective framework for cultivating the mind, overcoming the hindrances, and balancing the energetic and calming forces that develop in meditation. When cultivated and balanced, the mind is ripe for awakening. This series will explore each factor to reveal its importance, function, and role in the process of awakening.

Meeting the meditators humanity

Working from hindrances to mindfulness, and the value of a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich

Tonight we will review the Buddha's teaching on the Seven Factors of Awakening. There are the inherent qualities of mind that when recognized and developed in balance with each other inevitably lead onward to awakening. They include mindfulness, investigation, energy/persistence, joy, tranquility, concentration/steadiness and equanimity. Joseph Goldstein calls these factors, "The sap that runs through the Buddha's tree of liberation; a powerful healing medicine that we must actually develop in our own minds." In the Buddhist tradition, it is thought that just to be reminded of these inherent qualities, to bring them to mind, is considered to be deeply healing and protecting. Are we willing to learn to recognize them, and learn how to feed or strengthen these aspects of the mind. Here is a link to the Ahara Sutta, a discourse of the Buddha's where he describes how to strengthen and weaken the factors of awakening This discourse also describes how to feed and weaken the five hindrances

This is the first talk in a speaker series titled "Recollective Meditations." Shaila Catherine speaks about the meditation practice known as recollection of the Buddha, Buddhanusati. The practice involves the contemplation of qualities associated with the awakened mind. Each quality highlights a feature that the Buddha brought to perfection — in conduct, virtue, mental development, wisdom, teaching abilities, social influence, and mental powers. The reflection on these virtuous qualities of the Buddha establishes faith, confidence and inspiration for the path, deepens concentration, inhibits hindrances, strengthens joy, and refreshes the mind. It also serves as a classic protection against doubt. By contemplating the accomplishments of the Buddha, we may sense the potential for awakening within our own lives.

What are the hindrances to meditation and how do we work constructively with them?

the doors to the deathless; right view the essential reference; that which can arise and be gladdened; 11 doors or entry points –4 jhanas, 4 bhrama-viharas and three immaterial states; the Buddha advised meditators to “absorb”, rather than concentrate / tightening up; a sponge must absorb to open up, not contract; need to drench ourselves in withdrawal; viveka, vitaka, vichara, piti and sukka; in the body; using wise (rather than hard or tight) attention; withdrawal from unwise attention; intention (the inclination of the heart) comes before attention and replaces immature lunging in or irresolute attention; make the intention one pointed as the mind settles down and the attention will follow; necessary wise preparation; a wise cow in the mountains; shortcoming of language; tracking the breath through the body, its beginnings and endings; a careful and deliberate enjoying is to be encouraged; open and soften; spread it through the body by directing it; first jhana; seeing the presence and absence of hindrances and learning though the simplicity of the experience of it; it’s like THIS now; not rushed , not biased or corrupted by the mind turning things upside down/ getting things wrong; appreciate the comparative slowness of the dawning quality on the citta; the open moments; pausing at the end of things; what’s helpful now?

coming out of self view; bringing forth energy; recalling the spiritual faculties; applying wise energy regardless of the system used; calm as a consequence of faith and confidence; two recollections; don’t let the citta be bound by historical or domestic considerations; willingness to do the work; feeding the citta; mindfulness of the body, the inevitable decay of the body; what is it that evades or finds truth uncomfortable; differing views of Samadhi; the” I-am” looking for support; learning to push away the hindrances through experience; noticing craving, ill will and resistance; using metta, compassion, mudita, upekkha to approach unification of the citta by removal of the 5 hindrances; now is the time to rise up to it; restlessness, boredom, doubt; know them as they are not as myself; this is not worthy of this citta; using the wisdom factor to find appropriate attention; who is that?; feel how it is; going beyond thought; discernment of the release of grasping; the shift moment and the growth of confidence in it; noticing the struggle to find something; what about the measurelessness/ the sign-less?

The retreat setting is structured to support our practice of restraint and withdrawal. As we re-enter our daily lives, we can consider what structures and practices to put into place to keep these going. Our ability to withdraw allows for the unification and strength needed for discernment, to know how to counteract the hindrances.

[Begins 3:25] On this eve of New Year’s Day, Ajahn Sucitto recommends a Buddhist resolution: Look near, look far. We can use this to work with the hindrances. Look near: look right into your heart, into how the body and breathing are affected. Look far: consider the consequences, where contentment and happiness actually come from. The hindrances can help us adjust our lives, they tell us where we’re off track. [Ends58:45]

Meditation is not a set of techniques; it is authentic, direct access to your inner heart/felt subjective experiences. Many times what’s found there is dukkha. Much of it can be resolved just by developing the inner body and clearing the hindrances.

Balance between samadhi and vipassana; hindrances as cause for liberation; teachings of Ajahn Chah.

This talk explores how to cultivate wise relationship to the energies of desire, aversion, sleepiness, restlessness and doubt.

Overview of the foundations of mindfulness. The hindrances are observed as part of the 4th foundation. Understanding the hindrances both in terms of how they need to be kept in balance as as expressions of development.