Hindrances of malice, lethargy and sleepiness

• Different forms of malice
• Disadvantages of anger and advantages of overcoming it
• Love, kindness and forgiveness as antidotes
• Lethargy and sleepiness
• Physical and mental
• Causes, function and antidotes
• Nagarjuna’s quote on sleep
• Restlessness and regret
• Physical, verbal and mental
• Causes, function and antidotes

55 Hindrances of Malice, Lethargy and Sleepiness (download)

Contemplation points

1. What is malice and how does it interrupt concentration? Pinpoint examples of it in your own experience. How does it lead us to inaccurate thoughts and views? How does it lead us to interact with others? What are the short-term (this life) and long-term (future lives) results of malice? Make examples of this from your own life.
2. Spend some time contemplating the Buddha’s words about anger. Do you have resistance come up in your own mind when you think about abandoning all anger? Can you see how anger leads to the opposite of the following and why abandoning anger achieves them? Look back over your own states of anger as you contemplate each one:
   • If one kills anger, the mind will be peaceful and secure.
   • If one slays anger, the mind will have no regret.
   • It is anger which is the root of venomousness.
   • It is anger which destroys all forms of goodness.
   • If one slays anger, all buddhas offer praise.
   • If one slays anger, one has no more distress.
3. Some of the antidotes of anger from the teaching include: turning your mind to the kindness of others, releasing the judgmental/vengeful attitude, and cultivating forgiveness and love. Why are each of these so potent to overcoming anger? Take some time to consider how these antidotes could help to transform your experience as you interact with the world around you.
4. What do lethargy and sleepiness look like in meditation and how do they interrupt concentration? Pinpoint examples of it in your own experience.
5. What kinds of things contribute to lethargy and sleepiness? The text discusses many antidotes that we can apply to overcome these. What are some of these and which are particularly helpful for you?
6. What do restlessness and regret look like in meditation and how do they interrupt concentration? Pinpoint examples of it in your own experience. What are some of the antidotes that were suggested in the teaching to overcome these?