Hindrances

[ryancook2002]

I'm working on the 5 hindrances, and I made a list of how each one affects me. The most frequent is sensual desire, because I eat more than I should and not always the healthiest food. Second is probably sloth-torpor / boredom because I lay around and watch tv way too much. Anybody want to share which hindrance is bugging you the most? If not, anybody want to offer advice on how you overcame the ones that are bugging me?

[Johnny Panic]

That's really hard. It's probably a tie between anger and restlessness. I get upset about politics and it lingers for a while and makes me restless. It's very difficult to see something wrong happen and not want to lash out at it.

I used to have a big problem with sloth. I started going on walks and creating art (a lot of it being satirical) as a way of dealing with that. I would definitely recommend it. It didn't sound fun at first but actually became something I look forward to.


EDIT: I've had depression and anxiety issues for as long as I can remember (hence my s/n). It got a lot better once I became more active/ creative.

[Esho]

In my case, as with Johnny, is restlessness. I have a problem with hyperactivity, hyperactive and hyperbolic language. It is my biggest problem. And makes meditation difficult

But not impossible

The solution... samatha meditation, walking meditation, serene environments and mindfulness

[ryancook2002]

Hey Johnny

It's funny how one hindrance leads to another. I also experienced the anger (from politics) leading to restlessness recently. It was on the topic of gay marriage, and I'm still restless about it because my first forum post on here was about dealing with religious fundamentalists (I just joined here today).

Good advice about walking and being creative. I'm trying to learn to play guitar, but the skills training is difficult for a lazy guy like me. But it does offer an opportunity for me to overcome my laziness every day.

[ryancook2002]

Hi Esho

I like how your smiley faces go through a transformation throughout your post. Very expressive! And good point about changing your environment as a way to deal with the struggle. Maybe in my case it means having healthy food readily available, or something like that.

[Esho]

Hi Esho

I like how your smiley faces go through a transformation throughout your post.

Thanks. Its important not to give too much drama to the issue. Acceptance of it and working to overcome the problem

Maybe in my case it means having healthy food readily available, or something like that.

Go ahead with that!

You will not regret. It is important to eat lightly so to help a proper meditation.

[ryancook2002]

Wow... I'm going to figure out how you did that quote box thing. I'm pretty new, second post, never used any other forum before.

[Aloka]

Wow... I'm going to figure out how you did that quote box thing. I'm pretty new, second post, never used any other forum before.

Hi ryancook2002,

Technical help, if needed, can be found in our Technical Help forum near the bottom of the main forums page. (for other information check Help menu, Code of Conduct and Forum Guidelines)


.....and back to the topic of the 5 hindrances again.

[Tao]

For me it's got to be anger shortly followed by sensual desire. Sometimes I eat unhealthy when I know I should go for a healthy option, sometimes when people try to offend me or get a rise out of me I get real angry.

Easier to burn bridges than to build them, and when I'm angry it's all about the fire.

[ryancook2002]

Easier to burn bridges than to build them, and when I'm angry it's all about the fire.

Hey Tao, I'm not really quoting you, I'm just testing it out (if it works). But anger gets to me too, mostly while driving. It's hard to share the road with aggressive drivers and not get bent out of shape. The only thing that really seems to help with that is thinking about who the driver might be, what difficulties they might be dealing with in their life. Their driving is almost certainly the end result of millions of influences that began somewhere outside of their control. Also, sometimes I drive aggressively if the urge hits me to quickly find a restroom. There's really no way to know that isn't the case for others