Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

3.7.8  Mastering the Hinderances¹

Again, monks, how does a monk dwell, observing mental contents in mental contents?

Here, monks, a monk dwells, observing mental contents in mental contents, as regards the five hindrances. How, monks, does a monk dwell, observing mental contents in mental contents, as regards the five hindrances?

Here, monks, a monk, whenever sense desire is present in him, he understands properly that, “Sense desire is present in me.” Whenever sense desire is absent from him, he understands properly that, “Sense desire is absent from me.” He understands properly, how sense desire that has not yet arisen in him, comes to arise. He understands properly, how sense desire that has now arisen in him, gets eradicated. He understands properly, how sense desire that has now been eradicated, will in future no longer arise in him.

Whenever aversion is present in him, he understands properly that, “Aversion is present in me.” Whenever aversion is absent from him, he understands properly that, “Aversion is absent from me.” He understands properly, how aversion that has not yet arisen in him, comes to arise. He understands properly, how aversion that has now arisen in him, gets eradicated. He understands properly, how aversion that has now been eradicated, will in future no longer arise in him.

Whenever sloth and torpor are present in him, he understands properly that, “Sloth and torpor are present in me.” Whenever sloth and torpor are absent from him, he understands properly that, “Sloth and torpor are absent from me.” He understands properly, how sloth and torpor that have not yet arisen in him, come to arise. He understands properly, how sloth and torpor that have now arisen in him, get eradicated. He understands properly, how sloth and torpor that have now been eradicated, will in future no longer arise in him.

Whenever agitation and remorse are present in him, he understands properly that, “Agitation and remorse are present in me.” Whenever agitation and remorse are absent from him, he understands properly that, “Agitation and remorse are absent from me.” He understands properly, how agitation and remorse that have not yet arisen in him, come to arise. He understands properly, how agitation and remorse that have now arisen in him, get eradicated. He understands properly, how agitation and remorse that have now been eradicated, will in future no longer arise in him.

Whenever doubt is present in him, he understands properly that, “Doubt is present in me.” Whenever doubt is absent from him, he understands properly that, “Doubt is absent from me.” He understands properly, how doubt that has not yet arisen in him, comes to arise. He understands properly, how doubt that has now arisen in him, gets eradicated. He understands properly, how doubt that has now been eradicated, will in future no longer arise in him.

Thus he dwells observing mental contents in mental contents internally, or he dwells observing mental contents in mental contents externally, or he dwells observing mental contents in mental contents both internally and externally. Thus he dwells observing the phenomenon of arising in the mental contents, thus he dwells observing the phenomenon of passing away in the mental contents, thus he dwells observing the phenomenon of arising and passing away in the mental contents. Now his awareness is established: “These are mental contents!” Thus he develops his awareness to such an extent that there is mere understanding along with mere awareness. In this way he dwells detached, without clinging towards anything in the world [of mind and matter]. This is how, monks, a monk dwells observing mental contents in mental contents as regards the five hindrances.

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