Can anybody recommend some good material to read regarding the hindrances.
thank you!
SAT/LAH
Gassho, Doug
thank you!
SAT/LAH
Gassho, Doug
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I wish I could help, but I'm feeling a little lazy today.
Actually, no particular writer comes to mind, but I remember that Domyo covered them in a series of episodes a few years back LINK. She is always very solid and dependable.
I don't know this series, but I know the teacher. Tim Burkett did a series of essays awhile back, and they should be solid. LINK
Also, another book I have not read, and not strictly Zen, but Gil Fronsdal has something from a Mindfulness/Vipassana perspective that was well received by many folks. LINK
Maybe I will write such a book someday. But probably never get around to it.
Perhaps others have some additional suggestions too. In a sense, all our Soto Zen Practice is medicine for the Five Hindrances.
Gassho, J
stlahALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE -
Hi Doug
In addition to what Jundo has suggested, Master Keizan's writing Zazen Yojinki (https://thedewdrop.org/zazen-yojinki-full-text/) talks about the five obstructions (hindrances).
The Buddha said, “Listening and thinking are like being outside of the gate; zazen is returning home and sitting in peace.” How true this is! When we are listening and thinking, the various views have not been put to rest and the mind is still running over. Therefore other activities are like being outside of the gate. Zazen alone brings everything to rest and, flowing freely, reaches everywhere. So zazen is like returning home and sitting in peace.
The delusions of the five-obstructions all arise out of basic ignorance. Being ignorant means not clarifying yourself. To practice zazen is to throw light on yourself. Even though the five obstructions are eliminated, if basic ignorance is not eliminated, you are not a buddha-ancestor. If you wish to eliminate basic ignorance, zazen practice of the way is the key...
Sometimes your body may feel hot or cold, rough or smooth, stiff or loose, heavy or light, or astonishingly wide-awake. Such sensations are caused by a disharmony of mind and breath. You should regulate your breathing as follows: open your mouth for a little while, letting long breaths be long and short breaths be short, and harmonize it gradually. Follow your breath for a while; when awareness comes, your breathing will be naturally harmonized. After that, breathe naturally through your nose.
Your mind may feel as though it is sinking or floating, dull or sharp, or as though you can see outside the room, inside your body, or the body of buddhas or bodhisattvas. Sometimes, you may feel as though you have wisdom and can understand the sutras or commentaries thoroughly. These unusual and strange conditions are all sicknesses that occur when the mind and breath are not in harmony. When you have this kind of sickness, settle your mind on your feet. When you feel dull, place your mind on your hairline (three inches above the center of the eyebrows) or between your eyes. When your mind is distracted, place it on the tip of your nose or on your lower abdomen, one and a half inches below the navel (tanden). Usually, place your mind on the left palm during sitting. When you sit for a long time, even though you do not try to calm your mind, it will, of its own accord, be free of distraction.
Traditional Buddhist teachings offer antidotes for each hindrance, much as Keizan does here, but I tend just to notice them as part of what is going on without either trying to fix them or attach to them, the same as I do with everything else in sitting practice.
Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday/lah-Comment
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Hi Douglas - if you mean the nivarana or avarana, then there's plenty to study in the Anguttara Nikaya, with 2 decent sections: likewise the Samyutta Nikaya, the Majjhima Nikaya, the Suttanipata, and the Digha Nikaya all have multiple references. However there's a decent summary of nivarana in Bhukkhu Bodhi's Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon, and also good coverage in Bhikkhu Payutto's Essential Buddhadhamma. Candrakirti seems to deal with it, in the Pancaskandharprakara.
The best summary I found is in the Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Buswell and Lopez, under avarana.
It seems to crop up in Dogen, at least the Tanahashi translation where the Great Master references it 6 times, as far as I can see: though keige-su may not relate directly to nivarana.
I'm also looking for guidance from Jundo and the other monks on this.
Gassho
Hosui
sat/lah todayComment
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Hi Douglas,
I heard about this book. Maybe worth to take a look.
Apparently the author is a soto zen ordained priest. As explained in the link below
Gassho!
SatLahLast edited by Junsho; 05-02-2025, 12:16 PM.Junshō 純聲 - Pure Voice, Genuine Speech
“If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.” - Linji YixuanComment
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Gil Fronsdal is more of an Insight/Vipassana teacher these days, although he did have Zen training, and there are some Zen influences in his writings.
Apparently the author is a soto zen ordained priest. As explained in the link below
Gassho!
SatLah
Theravadan teachers might approach these things with a little different flavor then Zen folks, but it is all good! Anything helpful is helpful!good coverage in Bhikkhu Payutto's Essential Buddhadhamma. Candrakirti seems to deal with it, in the Pancaskandharprakara.
Gassho, Jundo
stlahALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLEComment
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