Hindrances for real happiness.
"áĄá
á
ášáĄáá˝ááš á
ááášááşáášá¸ááŹááá áĄááŹá¸áĄááŽá¸ááşáŹá¸"
Man experiences stress and suffering because of five psychological states which envelop his whole personality. They are called Nivarana in the Pali language, meaning hindrances. They hinder happiness and overcloud man's vision of himself, his environment and the interaction between the two. The thicker and more strong these hindrances, the greater the stress and suffering man experiences. The thinner and âmore sparse these hindrances, the less his sufferingâ with a corresponding increase in happiness.
áá°áᏠááášáááŻáášá áááŻáášáá˝áŹ ááŤááŹáá˛áˇ á ááášááŹáášáąáá¸áᏠáĄáąáťááąá (á ) ááşááłá¸áąážááŹáášáˇ á ááášááá áŽá¸áááá˝áášáˇ ááášá¸áá˛ááŻááĄááśá áŹá¸áááŹááŤá ááŤá áááŹááŹáá˝áŹáąááŹáˇ áĄáááášááášáĄááŹá¸ááŽá¸áᯠáĄáááá¸áŤáášááá˛áˇ "ááŽááá" áááŻá áąáááááŻááŤááášá ááŽááááááŹá¸áąááźáᏠá ááášááşáášá¸ááŹááááᯠááŹá¸ááŽá¸áťááŽá¸ áá°áá˝áášáˇ áá°áááášááášá¸ááşáášáĄáťáááš áááŻáá˝á ášááŻáĄážááŹá¸á áĄáťááášáĄáá˝áášáĄááşáłáá¸áťááłáááááŻá፠ááťááášáááŻáášáąáĄáŹááš áááášááśáŻá¸áááᯠááśáŻá¸ááŹá¸ááŹááŤá áááášáááŻáá°ááášáżááŽá¸ áĄáááášáĄááášáĄáŹá¸ážááŽá¸áąá á ááášááááŽá¸áááá˝áášáˇ ááášá¸áá˛ááŻáᥠáááŻááśá áŹá¸ááąá áťáá ášááŤááášá áááášááşá˛áťááŽá¸ áĄáááášáĄáááš áĄáŹá¸ááášá¸áąá á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáá áááŻá¸áťááášáˇááŹáťááášá¸áá˝áášáˇáĄáá° ááášá¸áá˛ááŻááĄááśá áŹá¸áááááášá¸ ááášááŹááźáŹá¸ááŤááášá
These five hindrances (Nivarana) are the desire for sensual pleasures (Kamacchanda), anger (Byapara), sloth and torpor (Htinamiddha), distraction and remorse (Uddhaccakukkucca), and doubt (Vicikiccha). The Pali Canon illustrates the effect of these hindrances with the help of five similes. The mind overpowered by the desire for sense pleasures is compared to colored water which prevents a true reflection of an object on the water. Thusâ a man obsessed with the desire for sense pleasuresâis unable to get a true perspective of either himself, other people and his environment. The mind oppressed by anger is compared to boiling water which cannot give an accurate reflection. A man overpowered by anger is unable to discern an issue properly.
áĄáááášáĄááášáĄááŹá¸áĄááŽá¸ ááŽááá (á ) ááşááłá¸ááąááŹáˇ ááŹáááŻáášáĄáŹááśáŻ ááśá áŹá¸áááŻáá ááŹáá á§ááľ ááŽáááá ááşáŹááŤá ááŽáááá áááááááś ááŽáááá áĽááśá áĽááŻáá áłá ἠááŽáááá ááá áááá á§áŹ ááŽááááááŻá áťáá ášááŤááášá ááŤá áá áŹáąááá˝áŹáąááŹáˇ á¤ááŽááá (á ) ááŤá¸áá˛á áĄááşááłá¸ááášáąááŹáášááááᯠáĽááᏠ(á ) áᯠáĄáá°áá˝áášáˇ áááŻáášáąááŹášááŹá¸ááŤááášá ááŹáá á§ááľáááášá¸áááŻá¸ááśááá˛áˇ á ááášááŻá áąááá˛á áĄááŹáááłáłáá ášááŻáá˛á áĄá á ášáĄáá˝áášááśáŻááááš ááťááášááąáĄáŹááš ááŹá¸ááŽá¸ááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áĄáąááŹáášáá˝áááášáˇ áąááá˛á áááŻáášá¸ááááášá¸ááŹá¸ááŤááášá áĄá˛ááŽáááŻááŤáᲠááŹáááŻáášáĄáŹááśáŻááášááášááááᯠá áźá˛ááášá¸áá°áᏠáá°ááááŻáášáá°áąááŹá áĄáťááŹá¸áá°áąááźáááŻáąááŹá áá°áááášááášá¸ááşáášáááŻáąáᏠáá˝áášáá˝áášááášáááš ááťááášáááŻáášáąááŹáˇááŤáá°á¸á ááşáŹááŤá ááááŽá¸ááśááá˛áˇ á ááášáááŻáąááŹáˇ ááśáŻáááášááááááşááş áá˝áášáá˝áášááášáááš ááąááŹášáťááá˛áˇ áá°ááźáášáąáááášáˇ áąááá˝áášáˇ áááŻáášá¸ááááášá¸ááŹá¸ááŤááášá áąááŤáááşáŹááŤá áááášá¸áááŻá¸ááśááá°áᏠááá áĽáá ášááášááᯠáá˝áášáá˝áášááášáááš ááťááášáááŻáášáąááŹáˇááŤáá°á¸á
When the mind is in the grip of sloth and torpor it is like moss covered water: light cannot even penetrate the water and a reflection is impossible. The man sinks into a torpor of laziness does not even make an effort at correct understanding. When the mind is in doubt like turbulent tossed water, which also fails to give a true reflection. The man in distraction and remorse, forever restless, is unable to make a proper assessment of an issue. When the mind is in doubt it is compared to muddy water placed in darkness which cannot reflect an image well. Thus all âthe five hindrances (Nivarana) deprive the mind of understandingâ and happiness and cause much stress and suffering.
áááááááśááśá áŹá¸áá˛áˇ á ááášáᏠáąááá˝áááášáąááá˛áˇ áąááá˛ááá°ááŤááášá áĄááášá¸áąááŹáášá áąááá˛ááᯠááąááŹáášááźáášá¸áááŻáášáťáá ášáťááŽá¸ ááśáŻáááášááášáááŻá ááťáá ášáááŻáášáąááŹáˇááŤáá°á¸á ááşáášá¸áááááŻáášá¸ááááášá¸áąááá°ááŹááášá¸ áá˝áášáá˝áášááášáááš ááŹá¸ááášáąáĄáŹááš áĄáŹá¸ááŻáášáá ááťááłáąááŹáˇááŤáá°á¸á áááśáŻá¸áťááášáááŻáášáá˛áˇ á ááášááŹááášá¸ áá˝áášáá˝áášááášáááš ááśáŻáááášáááášááášáˇ áąáááášáááŻá áááášááášáąááá˛áˇ áąááá˛ááá°ááŤááášá áĽááśá áĽááŻáá áłá áĽáťáá ášáťááŽá¸ áĄáťáá˛ááášá¸ áááŹááżáááášáťáá ášáąááá°áᏠááá áĽáá ášááášááᯠáá˝áášáá˝áášááášáááš ááşáášáˇááşááášááŻáśá¸áťááášáá áááŻáášáááŻáášááŤáá°á¸á áááśáŻá¸áťááášáááŻáášáá˛áˇ á ááášáááŻáąááŹáˇ ááśáŻáááášáąááŹáášá¸áąááŹáášá¸áááášáááŻáášááášáˇ áĄáąáá˝áŹáášáá˛áá˝áŹááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áááśááąááá˛á áááŻáášá¸ááááášá¸ááŤááášá ááŽááášá¸áá˛á áĄáááášáĄááášáĄááŹá¸áĄááŽá¸ (ááŽááá) ááŤá¸ááŤá¸áᏠááááŹá¸ááášáá˛áˇá ááášá ááşáášá¸ááŹáá˛áˇá ááášááᯠááŹááŽá¸áááášááášáťááŽá¸ á ááášááááŽá¸áááá˝áášáˇ ááášá¸áá˛ááŻááĄááşáŹá¸ áąáááąááŤáášáąá áᏠáťáá ášááŤááášá
Happiness through moral development
áááŻáášááşáášáˇáááŹá¸ááźáśááťáááłá¸áááá˝ ááá˝ááąáᏠá
ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáá
Buddhism puts forward a methodical plan of action for the gradual elimination of stress and the increase of happiness and understanding. The first step recommended in this plan is the observance of the Five Precepts comprising the abstinence from killing, stealing, illicit sex, falsehood and intoxicants. Stress is greatly enhanced by guilt, and these precepts help man to free his conscience of the sense of guilt.
áťááášááŻááśá á ááášááááŽá¸ááááᯠááťááášá¸áťááášá¸ ááášáá˝áŹá¸áżááŽá¸ á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáááá˝áášáˇ ááášááááŹá¸ááášáá áááŻá¸ááźáŹá¸ááášáĄááźááš áąááŹáášááźáášáááášáˇ á áá ášááşáá˛áˇ áĄá áŽáĄá áĽášáá ášáááš ááŻáášáąááŹáš áááášáážááŹá¸áąááŹášáá°áá˛áˇááŤááášá áĄá áŽáĄá áĽášáá˛á ááááĄááášáˇáá˝áŹ ááášáťááášáááá˝ áąáá˝áŹáášááşáĽášáťááášá¸á áááŻá¸áááá˝ áąáá˝áŹáášááşáĽášáťááášá¸á áá°áá áášá¸ááášá¸ááşáłáá¸áąááŹáášáąáᏠáááášááášááśáááá˝ áąáá˝áŹáášááşáĽášáťááášá¸á áááášááŹáąáťááŹáááŻáááá˝ áąáá˝áŹáášááşáĽášáťááášá¸á áá°á¸áá ášáąáá ᏠáąááŹáášá áŹá¸áááá˝ áąáá˝áŹáášááşáĽášáťááášá¸ááşáŹá¸ ááŤááášáá˛áˇ ááŤá¸ááŤá¸ááŽá áąá áŹáášáˇááášáášá¸áťááášá¸áťáá ášááŤááášá áááášáťááŹáááśáŻáťááášá¸áᏠá ááášááááŽá¸ááááᯠáááŻá¸ááŹáąá ááŤááášá ááŽáááŻáášááşáášáˇááŽáááşáŹá¸ááąááŹáˇ áá°ááᯠáááášáťááŹáááśáŻáá˛áˇ á ááášááśá áŹá¸áááá˝ áááášáąáťááŹáášáąáĄáŹááš áĄáá°ááŽáąáá¸ááŤááášá
The Dhammapada says the evil-doer suffers here and hereafter; on the other hand, the man who does good deeds rejoices here and hereafter. Buddhism firmly believes that evil increases stress while good increases happiness.
ááąááŹáášá¸áá áťááłáá°áᏠááŽáááá˝áŹáąáᏠáąááŹáášáááá˝áŹá፠ááášá¸áá˛ááŻááĄááśá áŹá¸áááášá áĄáťááŹá¸áá ášááášáĄáąááá˛á áąááŹáášá¸ááááŻáááŻááš áťááłáá°ááąááŹáˇ ááŽáááąáᏠáąááŹáášáááá˝áŹá፠ááášá¸áąáťááŹáášááášá¸ááŹááśá áŹá¸áááášáᯠáááźáááąááááŹáąááŹášáá˝áŹ áááášáážááŹá¸ááŹá¸ááŤááášá ááąááŹáášá¸ááá á ááášááŽá¸ááŽá¸ááááᯠáááŻá¸ááźáŹá¸ááŹáąá ááášá áąááŹáášá¸ááá á ááášááşáášá¸ááŹááááᯠáááŻá¸ááźáŹá¸ááŹáąá ááášáááŻá ááŻááśááŹááŹá áĄáááŻáášáĄáᏠááśáŻážááášááŤááášá
In addition to the observance of the Five Precepts throughout life, Buddhism advocates the periodical observance of the Eight Precepts by laymen. These additional precepts attempt to train man for leading a simple life catering to one's needs rather than one's greed. A simple life where wants are few and are easily satisfied is highly extolled in Buddhism. It is the avaricious and the acquisitive mentality that is responsible for so much stress that we experience.
áááá ášáąáá˝áşáŹáášááśáŻá¸ ááŤá¸ááŤá¸ááŽá áąá áŹáášáˇáááášá¸áťááášá¸áĄáťáááš ááášááśáťááášáˇá áźáášááŹá¸ááŹá ááŹááášáá°ááşáŹá¸ áĄááŤáĄáŹá¸áąááşáŹášá áźáŹ áá˝á ášááŤá¸ááŽá áąá áŹáášáˇáááášá¸áťááášá¸ááᯠááŻááśááŹááŹá áąááŹáášááśááŤááášá ááŽáťááášáˇá áźáášááŽáááşáŹá¸áᏠáá°ááŹá¸áąááźááᯠáąááŹááĄá áŹá¸ áááŻááşáášáááľáááŻáᏠáťááášáˇááášá¸ááášáˇ áááŻá¸á áášá¸áá˛áˇ áááá˛á áąááááŻáášáááš áąááˇááşáášáˇáąáá¸áááŻá áĄáŹá¸ááŻáášááŹáťáá ášááŤááášá áááŻá¸á áášá¸áá˛áˇ áááá˝áŹ áááŻáĄáášáááľáąááźááášá¸ááŤááášá áĄá˛ááŽááᯠáąááŹáááášá¸áá˛áˇ áĄááŻááááľáąááźááᯠááŻááśááŤááá˝áŹ áĄáá°á¸ ááşáŽá¸áááášá¸ááŤááášá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá áĄááźáášáĄáá˝áźáś á ááášááááŽá¸áá ááśá áŹá¸áááŹáᏠáĄáááŻáááźáášážááŽá¸áá˛áˇ áááááąááŹáá ááášá áááŹá¸ááśáťáá ášááŤááášá
Happiness through controlling senses
áĄáŹááśáŻáąááźááᯠáááášá¸ááşáłáášááŹáá˝ ááá˝ááąáᏠá
ááášááşáášá¸ááŹáá
The next step in the process of training is the control of the sense faculties. When our sense faculties are uncontrolled we experience severe strain. We have to first understand what is meant by being uncontrolled in the sense faculties. When a person sees a beautiful form with his eyes, he gets attracted to it; when he sees an unpleasant object, he rejects it. Similarly with the other senses too. Thus the person who has no control over his senses is constantly attracted to and rejecting sense data and that penetrates his sense faculties constantly.
á ááášááᯠáąááˇááşáášáˇáąáá¸áá˛áˇ ááŻáášááášá¸á áĽášáá˛áá˝ áąááŹáášáá ášááášáˇá áĄáŹááśáŻááśá áŹá¸áááąááźááᯠáááášá¸ááşáłáášáťááášá¸áťáá ášááŤááášá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááá˛á áĄáŹááśáŻááśá áŹá¸áááąááźááᯠááááášá¸ááşáłáášáááš áťááášá¸ááášáá˛áˇ á ááášááášááášá¸áá ááśá áŹá¸áááŤááášá áĄáŹááśáŻááśá áŹá¸áááąááźááᯠááááášá¸ááşáłáášáťááášá¸áááŻáᏠááŹáááŻáąáťááŹááŹáá˛áááŻá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻá áĄááášááśáŻá¸ ááŹá¸ááášááŹá¸áááŤááášá áá°áá ášáąááŹáášáᏠáá˝ááŹááᯠááşáášá ááá˛á áťááášáááš áĄá˛ááŤááᯠá ááášááášá áŹá¸ááźáŹá¸ááŤááášá ááá˝áá˛áˇáĄááŹááᯠáťááášáááš ááášááşááŤááášá áĄáťááŹá¸áĄáŹááśáŻáąááźáá˛á áąááźáááášááášá¸ áĄááŹá¸áá°ááŤáá˛á áĄá˛áááŻáĄáŹá¸áťááášáˇ áĄáŹááśáŻáąááźáĄáąáá ááááášá¸ááşáłáášáá°áᏠáĄáŹááśáŻáá˝áŹ áąááááŹááá˝áş áĄááşáášáĄááášáąááźááᯠáĄááášááťáááš á ááášááášá áŹá¸áááŻááš ááášááşáááŻáášáťáá ášááŤááášá áĄá˛ááŤá áĄáŹááśáŻááśá áŹá¸áááá˛ááᯠáĄááášááťáááš áááŻá¸áąááŹáášááášáąááŹáášááŤááášá
When pulled in different directions by sense stimuli, we become confused and distressed. Our sense faculties have different spheres of activities and different objects, and as each sense faculty is a lord in its own sphere, and as they can individually and collectively dominate man, they are called in Pali Indriyas, meaning 'lords' or 'masters.'
áĄáŹááśáŻááᯠáááśááąááŹášáąáá¸áťááášá¸áťááášáˇ ááá°ááźá˛áťááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áĄáŹááśáŻáá°áááąááźááᯠáá˛áźáąááŹáášááá˛áˇáĄá፠áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááᏠá ááášáááášáąááźá¸ááŹáťááŽá¸ á ááášáá ášáá ááśá áŹá¸áááŤáąááŹáˇááášá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻááá˛á áĄáŹááśáŻááśá áŹá¸áááąááźáá˝áŹ ááá°ááźá˛áťááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áááášáá˝áŹá¸áá ááášááášáąááźáá˛á ááá°ááźá˛áťááŹá¸áá˛áˇ áĄáŹááśáŻáąááźáá˝áááŤááášá áá ášááŻá áŽáᏠáá°ááááŻáášááŹááášááášáá˝áŹ áĄáá˝áášáááášáťáá ášááŤááášá áá°áááŻáá áá ášááŻááşáášá¸áĄáááŻáášáťáá ášáąá áĄá áŻáááŻáášáťáá ášáąá áá°ááᯠá ááŻá¸áááŻá¸áťááášáá˝áášááŤááášá ááášá¸áááŻáááᯠááŤá áá áŹáąááá˝áŹ á ááŻá¸áááŻá¸ááşáášáá˝áášáá° áááŻááááŻááš áĄáŻáášááşáłáášáá°áááŻá áĄáááá¸áŤáášááá˛áˇ áŁáąáťááľááşáŹá¸áááŻááąááááŤááášá
If we allow the sense faculties to dominate us, we get terribly confused. If we assert ourselves and control our sense faculties, we can have unalloyed pleasure which is uncontaminated by defilements. It is also called spiritual pleasure. Whereas sense pleasures increase stress, this type of spiritual pleasure reduces stressfulness and increases peace of mind and contentment.
áááášáááŻá áĄáŹááśáŻááśá
áŹá¸áááąááźá á
ááŻá¸áááŻá¸áťááášáá˝áášááŹááᯠáá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻáá ááźáášáˇáťááłáááŻáášáááš áĄááźáášáĄááášá¸ á
ááášáááášáąááźá¸áá ááśá
áŹá¸ááá˝áŹáťáá
ášááŤááášá áá˝áźáášáąááŹášáááŻáá áĄáąáá¸áááŻáťááłáťááŽá¸ áĄáŹááśáŻááśá
áŹá¸áááąááźááᯠáááášá¸ááşáłáášááášáąááŹáˇ áááąáááŹáąááźáá˛á áá
ášááášá¸ááááá˝ááá˛áˇ áĄáááźáášá¸áá˛áˇ á
ááášážááášáá°á¸áá ááśá
áŹá¸ááááŻáášááŤááášá ááŽá
ááášážááášáá°á¸ááááᯠá
ááášáááŻáášá¸áááŻáášáᏠáąááşáŹášáááášáááááŻáááášá¸ áąáááááŻááŤááášá áĄáŹááśáŻáĄáąááşáŹášáĄááŤá¸áąááźá á
ááášááááŽá¸ááááᯠáááŻá¸ááźáŹá¸áąá
áąáááášáˇ ááŽá
ááášáááŻáášá¸áááŻáášáᏠáąááşáŹášáááášááááąááŹáˇ á
ááášááááŽá¸ááááᯠáąááşáŹáˇááşáąá
áťááŽá¸ á
ááášáąáĄá¸ááşáášá¸áááá˝áášáˇ áąááşááášáá˝á
ášááášáá áááŻá¸ááźáŹá¸ááŹáąá
ááŤááášá