Satipatthana Sutta Study

Dhammas: Hindrances

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[HINDRANCES]

"And how, monks,
does s/he in regard to dhammas abide contemplating dhammas?

Here in regard to dhammas s/he abides contemplating dhammas
in terms of the five hindrances.
And how does s/he in regard to dhammas
abide contemplating dhammas in terms of the five hindrances?

"If sensual desire is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is sensual desire in me';
if sensual desire is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no sensual desire in me';
and s/he knows how unarisen sensual desire can arise,
how arisen sensual desire can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed sensual desire can be prevented.

"If aversion is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is aversion in me';
if aversion is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no aversion in me';
and s/he knows how unarisen aversion can arise,
how arisen aversion can be re-moved,
and how a future arising of the removed aversion can be prevented.

"If sloth-and-torpor is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is sloth-and torpor in me';
if sloth-and-torpor is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no sloth-and-torpor in me';
and s/he knows how unarisen sloth-and-torpor can arise,
how arisen sloth-and-torpor can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed sloth-and-torpor can be prevented."

If restlessness-and-worry is present in him/her,
S/he knows 'there is restlessness-and-worry in me';
if restlessness-and-worry is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no restlessness-and-worry in me';
and s/he knows how unarisen restlessness-and-worry can arise,
how arisen restlessness-and-worry can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed restlessness and-worry can be prevented.

"If doubt is present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is doubt in me';
if doubt is not present in him/her,
s/he knows 'there is no doubt in me';
and s/he knows how unarisen doubt can arise,
how arisen doubt can be removed,
and how a future arising of the removed doubt can be prevented.


[REFRAIN]
"In this way,
in regard to dhammas s/he abides contemplating dhammas internally,
or s/he abides contemplating dhammas externally,
or s/he abides contemplating dhammas both internally and externally.

S/He abides contemplating the nature of arising in dhammas,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of passing away in dhammas,
or s/he abides contemplating the nature of both arising and passing in dhammas.

Mindfulness that 'there are dhammas
is established in him/her
to the extent necessary for
bare knowledge
and continuous mindfulness.

And s/he abides independent,
not clinging to anything in the world.
"That is how in regard to dhammas
s/he abides contemplating dhammas in terms of the five hindrances.

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Satipatthana Sutta Study - © 2005 Mary Rees
Sutta text modified from translation by Analayo. Please see his original translation and excellent commentary: Satipatthana : The Direct Path to Realization. Birmingham, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2003.