Human Development

Five hindrances

Description:
These are the mental and moral hindrances which block insight and which must be overcome before it is possible to achieve the five [jhana], stages of absorption. They are: [abhidya] - sense desire; [pradosa] - anger (ill-will); [styana] and [middha] - drowsiness (sloth and torpor); [anuddhatya] and [kaukritya] - excitability (restlessness and worry or compunction); and [vicikitsa] - doubt.