The Five Hindrances / Veils Animated

On the Three-Fold Training
Concentration Cultivation / Meditation

Originally Posted by rbeck at March 17, 2005 12:00 AM
Updated and Reposted Posted by rbeck November 10, 2009 06:43 PM

Basic Buddhism has several concepts that explain the mental states or other obstacles that one must overcome to advance in practice. In Soka Gakkai, one likely hears about "three obstacles and four devils" 三障四魔 {sansho-shima}, three poisons 三毒 {san-doku}, and 'earthly desires' 煩悩 {bonno); commonly referred to as the 5, 6, 10, or 108 afflictions. There are others; such as the 'seven obsessions (proliferations, proclivities)' and 'four outflows {taints, cankers, inflows, leaks}.'

This can be confusing. Most seem to be re-listings of basic human afflictions. Sources usually differ on the translations and even the originals. Sorting out how they specifically apply to our practice can be confusing. One that we do not hear much about is the Five Hindrances (veils, covers, lids, obscurations). This is a practical concept, and fairly easy to grasp. In terms of Nichiren Practice; the Five Veils or Hindrances can be understood as distracting mental states that arise when we sit down to chant. On many occasions my effort to sit down and do "Gongyo" {daily chanting services} goes something like this:

1. I start to feel drawn to other things that suddenly seem more interesting; activities to indulge my 5 senses; like watching TV, eating a chili dog, etc.

2. I start thinking of things that happened that ticked me off. Or things in my environment begin to distract and annoy me. In the past, the dog would want to go out, or pick up her water bowl and throw it at me. The grandkids get loud. Or my wife thinks of other things I should I should be doing, and starts pestering me, or she turns up the TV volume in the other room to drown me out. Sometimes I blow up and a spat ensues.

3. I start feeling very tired, my brain gets foggy, and my eyes glaze over. It seems like a good idea to take a nice cat nap, maybe do some lucid (lucid, not lurid) dreaming, and get back to chanting later.

4. I start feeling restless. My mind races and I can not concentrate. I start remembering things I need to do. Pay this bill, run that errand, or call so and so. Okay, I am back, where were we? Oh, yeah, I was having an anxiety attack. Sometimes I feel overcome by remorse or despair.

5. I feel very stupid chanting to this piece of paper. Or I have serious doubts that I can ever break through this cycle of confusion. I am just going in circles. Maybe this is all a waste of time?

Some time ago, I was studying numbered lists from the Pali Canon. I came across the 5 hindrances (Pancha Nivarana). Here was a perfect explanation of what happens; what arises, in order, (if I even get past the first one) when I try to chant.

1. Lust, sensual arousal (kamacchanda 貪欲 {tonyoku})
2. Enmity, Animosity (vyapada 瞋恚 {shinni} or 瞋怒 {shindo})
3. lazy-nature and drowsiness (thina-middha {沈 jin / chin})
4. Restlessness and anxiety (uddhacca-kukkucca 掉悔 {chokai})
5. Mistrust, cynical doubt; sour grapes (vicikiccha 疑 {gi}.

The concept of Five Hindrances is from the Pali Canon, and deals specifically with obstacles that prevent one from entering Access Concentration; the entry level to Cultivative, Concentration. and Mindfulness-Insight Meditations. The same concept was re-expressed in Mahayana as 五蓋 {gogai}: The Five Veils, Obstructions, or Covers. While not discussed much in Nichiren Buddhism, the Five Veils is a core concept in Tiantai and is the discussed in the Meditation Manual "The Smaller Concentration and Insight."

I do not know if Nichiren refers directly to the Five Veils or not. He does refer frequently to Three Obstacles and Four Devils (Sansho Shima). I think the latter concept was developed by Miao-Lo, a Chinese Patriarch of the Tiantai (T'ien Tai) School, and is from the Mahayana Canon. The primary Nichiren practice of chanting the Odaimoku; while observing the Mandala Honzon, is based on Tiantai Shikan, or Tranquility-Insight Meditation. The original terms are Samatha / Shama-tha & Vipassana / Vi-Pashya-na

If others have sessions like I describe, please know that THIS IS NORMAL. The Five Veils are exactly what we need to 'lift' in order to advance in our practice!I am now at the point where it generally takes less than 20 minutes to dispose of all 5. If I can do that in the morning, my entire day goes relatively smoothly.

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There are five impediments and hindrances, overgrowths of the mind that stultify insight. What five? Sensual desire is an impediment and hindrance, an overgrowth of the mind that stultifies insight. Ill-will... Sloth and torpor... Restlessness and remorse... Skeptical doubt are impediments and hindrances, overgrowths of the mind that stultify insight.

Without having overcome these five, it is impossible for a monk whose insight thus lacks strength and power, to know his own true good, the good of others, and the good of both; nor will he be capable of realizing that superhuman state of distinctive achievement, the knowledge and vision enabling the attainment of sanctity.

But if a monk has overcome these five impediments and hindrances, these overgrowths of the mind that stultify insight, then it is possible that, with his strong insight, he can know his own true good, the good of others, and the good of both; and he will be capable of realizing that superhuman state of distinctive achievement, the knowledge and vision enabling the attainment of sanctity.
AN 5:51

Reading List

*The Path of Purification: Visuddhimagga
*Meditation: The Buddhist Way of Tranquility and Insight
*The Essentials of Buddhist Meditation
*Stopping and Seeing: A Comprehensive Course in Buddhist Meditation

Friday, June 5, 2009

The Five Veils; Hindrances to Meditation

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Posted by rbeck at March 17, 2005 12:00 AM
Comments

That was very cool. Not only a succinct and clear description of the five hinderances but the little icons were perfect.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo,
Ryuei
Posted by: Ryuei at March 18, 2005 02:21 PM

That made my morning Robin. :-)
Posted by: chris at March 18, 2005 03:48 AM

Originally Posted by rbeck at March 17, 2005 12:00 AM

Updated and Re

Posted by rbeck at November 10, 2009 06:43 PM