Classic Five Hindrances

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Classic Five Hindrances

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Updated on:

September 29, 2020

Classic Five Hindrances. In Buddhism, the five hindrances are mental factors that hinder progress in meditation and in our daily lives.

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Here’s a Sample of the “Classic Five Hindrances” Guided Meditation Script:

Sit comfortably, yet tall, in a safe and quiet place
Close your eyes, or lower your gaze towards the earth
Turn your attention inwards

Breathe patiently in and out through your nose
And focus your attention on breath

Set the intention, to watch the breath
Breath as your anchor for practice
Breath, as what you return to
Each time you notice you’ve been distracted

(pause 3 breaths)

With breath awareness as intention, consider the following...
Are you being pulled towards a pleasant or attractive thought?

Each time you notice the mind wandering towards an object of desire
Gently apply the antidote
Focus more tightly on the breath

Classic Five Hindrances, Classic Five Hindrances

If the draw of this pleasant thought or sensation is far too strong
Bring repulsion to mind
If it’s a person that you’re craving,
Bring to mind all their very human, yet repulsive, bodily functions
If it’s a place that you’re craving,
Bring to mind its negative qualities
If it’s an object that you’re craving,
Bring to mind its lack of intrinsic value

Find balance when it comes to pleasant thoughts
Stay with the breath

(pause 3 breaths)

More Meditation Scripts

About the author

Sara-Mai Conway

Sara-Mai Conway is a writer, yoga and meditation instructor living and working in Baja Sur, Mexico. In addition to online offerings, she teaches donation-based community classes in her tiny, off-grid hometown on the Pacific coast. She is a certified 500-hour Remedial Yoga and Applied Mindfulness Advanced teacher with Bodhi Yoga Spain under the Independent Yoga Network (UK).