What gets in the way of resting in peacefulness and calm? Sometimes it feels easy to settle, to be present, to practice. Other times, we feel scattered, restless, heavy, or filled with doubt. The Buddha described five hindrances that interfere with our clarity and drain energy.

Sense Desire (Kāmacchanda) – Craving, thirst, and longing—the pull toward pleasant experiences and sensations.

Aversion (Vyāpāda) – Pushing away, resisting, or rejecting—frustration, irritation, and unwillingness to accept what is.

Sloth & Torpor (Thīna-Middha) – Dullness, heaviness, and low energy—a sluggish mind lacking interest or vitality.

Restlessness & Worry (Uddhacca-Kukkucca) – A mind that won’t settle—anxious, agitated, ruminating, or caught in obsessive loops.

Doubt (Vicikicchā) – Lack of conviction or trust in the practice, the teachings, or one’s own ability.

We all meet these obstacles. They are common and natural.

The practice is learning to recognize them, meet them with patience, and see them for what they are—passing waves in the mind, fleeting appearances that cloud the otherwise open, relaxed heart-mind (citta).

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