Eliminating Five Hindrances

Lord Buddha taught meditators to eliminate the Five Hindrances, which cause darkness and obscure wisdom. With careful, deep concentration, meditators develop and know the appropriate mental icons or Nimitta and the proper use of these Nimitta icons in deep meditation. The commentary explains the methods for eliminating each of the Five Hindrances as follows:

Monks, meditators must repeatedly develop and practice Right, deep meditation with firm Attainment Concentration (Ceto-vimutti). Such Right, deep meditation does not nourish the Sensual Desire which has not yet arisen to arise or develop the Sensual Desire which has already arisen to progress further (Samyutta-nikāya, 19/536/147).

Eliminating Ill Will

The commentary lists six practices for eliminating Ill Will (Sa×yutta-nikāya Atthakatha, 235):

1. Sharing Loving Kindness using the Mettā Nimitta icon: The meditator, first, studies the principles and methods for Right, deep meditation practice to share loving kindness using the Mettā Nimitta with both universal and non-universal methods, in all directions or any one direction. This practice can eliminate Ill Will.
2. Repeatedly developing Loving kindness Meditation: The meditator, then, performs this Right, deep meditation for sharing loving kindness using the Mettā Nimitta over and over again, sharing loving kindness with all world beings. This practice can eliminate Ill Will.
3. Contemplating that all beings are based on their own karma: The meditator reflects that one own self and all others are rooted in their own karma, born of their karma and die with their karma. For example, when angry, how do I react? Can I destroy his virtue? I arrive with my own karma and I leave with my karma. Being angry with others is like holding a hot coal. There is no flame to burn the other person,; only you get burned. It is like one who throws dust against the wind. It all comes back. This practice can eliminate Ill Will.
4. Continuously repeating this contemplation: The meditator constantly reiterates this contemplation [number three] that everyone is rooted in their own karma, over and over again. This practice can eliminate Ill Will.
5. Keeping good companions: The meditator associates only with virtuous colleagues who are practicing Right Loving-kindness Meditation, like Phra Assugatta Thera did. This practice can eliminate Ill Will.
6. Speaking only peaceful words that spread comfort and tranquility: The meditator only talks to spread peace or Loving-kindness Meditation, regardless of posture, whether standing or sitting. This practice can eliminate Ill Will.

Ill Will is eliminated by these six practices and will no longer arise when one attains Arahant Mentality.

Eliminating Drowsiness

Monks, meditators must continuously maintain effort, diligence, and perseverance to develop and practice Right, deep meditation, eliminating drowsiness. Such Right, deep meditation does not nourish the drowsiness which has not yet arisen to arise or develop the drowsiness which has already arisen to progress further (Samyutta-nikāya, 19/537/147).

The commentary lists six practices for eliminating Drowsiness (Samyutta-nikāya Atthakatha, 235-236):

1. Meditating with the Nimitta for excessive food: The meditator contemplates with the Nimitta for excessive food that Drowsiness does not arise for those who eat only four or five mouthfuls of rice, followed by water. This is just enough for sustaining life and calmness. This practice will eliminate Drowsiness.
2. Improving one’s posture: When Drowsiness or discouragement arises in a particular posture, The meditator changes that posture to continue pursuing the practice. This practice will eliminate Drowsiness.
3. Contemplating light (Āloka-sannā): The meditator contemplates moonlight or a lamp or torch during night and the light of the sun during the day as a meditation object. This practice will eliminate Drowsiness.
4. Staying outdoors: The meditator always lives outdoors to clear the mind. This practice will eliminate Drowsiness.
5. Associating with good companions: One associates with good companions who have eliminated Drowsiness, like Phra Mahakassapa who eliminated Drowsiness by staying outdoors. This practice will eliminate Drowsiness.
6. Speaking only peaceful words that spread comfort and tranquility: The meditator only talks to spread peace or the benefits of Dhutaïga Austere Moral Practices, regardless of posture, whether standing or sitting.

This practice will eliminate Drowsiness.Drowsiness is eliminated by these six practices and will no longer arise when one attains the Arahant Mentality.

Eliminating Restlessness

Monks, meditators must continuously maintain effort, diligence, and perseverance to develop and practice Right, deep concentration, eliminating Restlessness. Such Right, deep Concentration does not nourish the Restlessness which has not yet arisen to arise or develop the Restlessness which has already arisen to progress further (Samyutta-nikāya, 19/538/147).

The commentary lists six practices for eliminating Restlessness (Samyutta-nikāya Atthakatha, 236):

1. Intensive Study: The meditator studies Pali and Sayings of Lord Buddha, section by section. Or, one researches deeply to understand the meaning. With this practice, Restlessness will be eliminated by the virtue of great learning.
2. Asking questions: The meditator asks frequently what should be done and what should not be done. This practice will eliminate Restlessness.
3. Becoming Proficient in Vinaya: The meditator develops proficiency in rigorously following the Discipline. This practice will eliminate Restlessness.
4. Associating with a virtuous monk: The meditator associates with an experienced, knowledgeable senior monk who has good concentration of mind and has eliminated Restlessness. This practice will eliminate Restlessness.
5. Associating with good companions: The meditator associates only with virtuous companions who have overcome Reastlessness. This practice will eliminate Restlessness.
6. Speaking only peaceful words that spread comfort and tranquility: The meditator only talks to spread peace or for the benefit of studies of Pali or the Sayings of Lord Buddha or regarding what should or should not be done, regardless of posture, whether standing or sitting. This practice will eliminate Restlessness.

Restlessness is eliminated by these six practices and will no longer arise when one attains Arahant Mentality.

Eliminating Doubt

Monks, meditators must continuously maintain effort, diligence, and perseverance to develop and practice Right, deep concentration, eliminating Restlessness. Such Right, deep Concentration does not nourish the Restlessness which has not yet arisen to arise or develop the Restlessness which has already arisen to progress further (Samyutta-nikāya, 19/539/147-148).

The commentary lists six practices for eliminating Doubt (Sa×yutta-nikāya Atthakatha, 237):

1. Intensive Study: The meditator studies Pali and Sayings of Lord Buddha, section by section. Or, one researches deeply to understand the meaning. With this practice, Doubt will be eliminated by the virtue of great learning.
2. Asking questions: The meditator asks frequently what should be done and what should not be done. This practice will eliminate Doubt.
3. Becoming Proficient in Vinaya: The meditator develops proficiency in rigorously following the Discipline. This practice will eliminate Doubt.
4. Associating with a virtuous monk: The meditator associates with an experienced, knowledgeable senior monk who has good concentration of mind and has eliminated Restlessness. This practice will eliminate Doubt.Developing strong, stable faith: The meditator repeatedly contemplates and nourishes faith in the Triple Gem, beyond any doubt . This practice will eliminate Doubt.
5. Associating with good companions: The meditator associates only with devoted companions with strong faith in the Triple Gem. This practice will eliminate Doubt.
6. Speaking only peaceful words that spread comfort and tranquility: The meditator only talks to spread peace or converse about the Triple Gem, reciting the virtues to strengthen faith, regardless of posture, whether standing or sitting. This practice will eliminate Doubt.

Doubt is eliminated by these six practices and will no longer arise when one attains Sotāpatti-magga. [In this verse Lord Buddha changed the refrain by three bases earlier, before Phra Arahant.

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