Five Hindrances: Week 1

Before the group meeting

This week we will discuss the following Dharma talk:

AudioDharma - The Five Hindrances: Introduction

Pro tip: Read the discussion questions below, before listening to the talk and make some notes on them while listening. This way, you can get the most out of the group meeting!

During the group meeting

At the group meeting, we are going to discuss the following questions:

1. Is there something you didn't understand?

2. Is there something you wholeheartedly disagree with?

3. Do you recognize some of the Five Hindrances in your own life?

4. How do they currently affect you?

Don't worry! You only have to share what you're comfortable with. There is no pressure for you to share anything that you would rather keep private.

After the group meeting

The whole course is about one thing—learning how to RAIN the Five Hindrances:

• Recognize the hindrance

• Accept that it is there

• Investigate what it looks like

• Non-identify with the hindrance

Whatever exercise we do, it will always be aimed at helping you RAIN, but it is not a complete set of exercises in itself. Everybody is different, so experiment and be creative—make it RAIN!

Exercises:

This week we are going to explore the following questions:

1. Which of the Five Hindrances is most dominant in your life? Which is the weakest? And are they the same during meditation and daily life?

2. When do they arise? Are they the result of internal feelings or the reaction to external circumstances? To they often occur in combination with something else?

3. How do they affect you? In what way do they change your behavior? Would you be happier if you could handle them differently?

Pro tip: It can be beneficial to keep a journal close to your meditation spot, so that you can keep track of your hindrances.