4.
The Chapter on the Mental Hindrances
1.
The First Discourse on the Wholesome
212. "Whatever mental states, monks, are wholesome, connected with the wholesome, on the side of the wholesome, all of them are rooted in diligence, converge in diligence; diligence is declared the foremost among those mental states. For a diligent monk, monks, this is to be expected - he will develop the seven factors of enlightenment, he will cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment.
"And how, monks, does a diligent monk develop the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment? Here, monks, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus, monks, a diligent monk develops the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment." The first.
2.
The Second Discourse on the Wholesome
213. "Whatever mental states, monks, are wholesome, connected with the wholesome, on the side of the wholesome, all of them are rooted in wise attention, converge in wise attention; wise attention is declared the foremost among those mental states. For a monk accomplished in wise attention, monks, this is to be expected - he will develop the seven factors of enlightenment, he will cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment.
"And how, monks, does a monk accomplished in wise attention develop the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivate the seven factors of enlightenment? Here, monks, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus, monks, a monk accomplished in wise attention develops the seven factors of enlightenment, cultivates the seven factors of enlightenment." The second.
3.
The Discourse on Mental impurities
214. "Monks, there are these five impurities of gold, by which impurities impure gold is neither soft nor wieldy, nor luminous and is brittle, and does not rightly approach work. Which five? Iron, monks, is an impurity of gold, by which impurity impure gold is neither soft nor wieldy, nor luminous and is brittle, and does not rightly approach work. Copper, monks, is an impurity of gold, by which impurity impure gold, etc. Lead, monks, is an impurity of gold, etc. Tin, monks, is an impurity of gold, etc. Silver, monks, is an impurity of gold, by which impurity impure gold is neither soft nor wieldy, nor luminous and is brittle, and does not rightly approach work. These, monks, are the five impurities of gold, by which impurities impure gold is neither soft nor wieldy, nor luminous and is brittle, and does not rightly approach work.
"Just so, monks, there are these five impurities of the mind, by which impurities impure mind is neither soft nor wieldy, nor luminous and is brittle, and does not rightly become concentrated for the elimination of mental corruptions. Which five? Sensual desire, monks, is an impurity of the mind, by which impurity impure mind is neither soft nor wieldy, nor luminous and is brittle, and does not rightly become concentrated for the elimination of mental corruptions, etc. These, monks, are the five impurities of the mind, by which impurities impure mind is neither soft nor wieldy, nor luminous and is brittle, and does not rightly become concentrated for the elimination of mental corruptions." The third.
4.
The Discourse on Non-Impurities
215. "Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment are without obstruction, without hindrance, are not impurities of the mind; when developed and cultivated, they lead to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, monks, is without obstruction, without hindrance, is not an impurity of the mind; when developed and cultivated, it leads to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, monks, is without obstruction, without hindrance, is not an impurity of the mind; when developed and cultivated, it leads to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. These, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment which are without obstruction, without hindrance, are not impurities of the mind; when developed and cultivated, they lead to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation." The fourth.
5.
The Discourse on Unwise Attention
216. "Monks, for one attending unwisely, unarisen sensual desire arises, and arisen sensual desire leads to increase and expansion; unarisen anger arises, and arisen anger leads to increase and expansion; unarisen sloth and torpor arises, and arisen sloth and torpor leads to increase and expansion; unarisen restlessness and remorse arises, and arisen restlessness and remorse leads to increase and expansion; unarisen sceptical doubt arises, and arisen sceptical doubt leads to increase and expansion." The fifth.
6.
The Discourse on Wise Attention
217. "But, monks, for one attending wisely, the unarisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness arises, and the arisen enlightenment factor of mindfulness goes to fulfilment through development. Etc. the unarisen enlightenment factor of equanimity arises, and the arisen enlightenment factor of equanimity goes to fulfilment through development." The sixth.
7.
The Discourse on Higher Intelligence
218. "Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment, when developed and cultivated, lead to non-decline of higher intelligence. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, etc. the enlightenment factor of equanimity. These, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment which, when developed and cultivated, lead to non-decline of higher intelligence." The seventh.
8.
The Discourse on Obstructions and Mental Hindrances
219. "Monks, these five are obstructions, mental hindrances, impurities of the mind, weakeners of wisdom. Which five? Sensual desire, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, an impurity of the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Anger, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, an impurity of the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Sloth and torpor, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, an impurity of the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Restlessness and remorse, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, an impurity of the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Sceptical doubt, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, an impurity of the mind, a weakener of wisdom. These, monks, are the five obstructions, mental hindrances, impurities of the mind, weakeners of wisdom.
"Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment are without obstruction, without hindrance, are not impurities of the mind; when developed and cultivated, they lead to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, monks, is without obstruction, without hindrance, is not an impurity of the mind; when developed and cultivated, it leads to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, monks, is without obstruction, without hindrance, is not an impurity of the mind; when developed and cultivated, it leads to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. These, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment which are without obstruction, without hindrance, are not impurities of the mind; when developed and cultivated, they lead to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation.
"At the time, monks, when a noble disciple, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listens to the Teaching with ears inclined, for him the five mental hindrances are not present at that time. The seven factors of enlightenment at that time go to fulfilment through development.
"Which five mental hindrances are not present at that time? The mental hindrance of sensual desire is not present at that time, the mental hindrance of anger is not present at that time, the mental hindrance of sloth and torpor is not present at that time, the mental hindrance of restlessness and remorse is not present at that time, the mental hindrance of sceptical doubt is not present at that time. For him the five mental hindrances are not present at that time.
"Which seven factors of enlightenment at that time go to fulfilment through development? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness at that time goes to fulfilment through development. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity at that time goes to fulfilment through development. These seven factors of enlightenment at that time go to fulfilment through development. At the time, monks, when a noble disciple, having given attention, having reflected, having collected together with the whole mind, listens to the Teaching with ears inclined, for him the five mental hindrances are not present at that time. These seven factors of enlightenment at that time go to fulfilment through development." The eighth.
9.
The Discourse on the Tree
220. "There are, monks, great trees with small seeds and large bodies that climb over trees, by which trees, having been climbed over, lie broken and shattered, fallen down. And what, monks, are those great trees with small seeds and large bodies that climb over trees, by which trees, having been climbed over, lie broken and shattered, fallen down? The holy fig tree, the banyan tree, the wave-leafed fig tree, the glamorous fig tree, the marsh fig tree, the wood-apple tree - these, monks, are those great trees with small seeds and large bodies that climb over trees, by which trees, having been climbed over, lie broken and shattered, fallen down. Just so, monks, here a certain son of good family, having left behind whatever sensual pleasures, has gone forth from home into homelessness, he lies broken and shattered, fallen down, by such sensual pleasures or by those even more wicked than that.
"Monks, these five are obstructions, mental hindrances, that climb over the mind, weakeners of wisdom. Which five? Sensual desire, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, that climbs over the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Anger, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, that climbs over the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Sloth and torpor, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, that climbs over the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Restlessness and remorse, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, that climbs over the mind, a weakener of wisdom. Sceptical doubt, monks, is an obstruction, a mental hindrance, that climbs over the mind, a weakener of wisdom. These, monks, are the five obstructions, mental hindrances, that climb over the mind, weakeners of wisdom.
"Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment are without obstruction, without hindrance, do not climb over the mind; when developed and cultivated, they lead to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, monks, is without obstruction, without hindrance, does not climb over the mind; when developed and cultivated, it leads to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, monks, is without obstruction, without hindrance, does not climb over the mind; when developed and cultivated, it leads to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation. These, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment which are without obstruction, without hindrance, do not climb over the mind; when developed and cultivated, they lead to the realisation of the fruit of true knowledge and liberation." The ninth.
10.
The Discourse on the Mental Hindrances
221. "Monks, these five mental hindrances are blinding, removing vision, causing not knowing, suppressing wisdom, connected with vexation, not leading to Nibbāna. Which five? The mental hindrance of sensual desire, monks, is blinding, removing vision, causing not knowing, suppressing wisdom, connected with vexation, not leading to Nibbāna. The mental hindrance of anger, monks, etc. the mental hindrance of sloth and torpor, monks, the mental hindrance of restlessness and remorse, monks, the mental hindrance of sceptical doubt, monks, is blinding, removing vision, causing not knowing, suppressing wisdom, connected with vexation, not leading to Nibbāna. These, monks, are the five mental hindrances that are blinding, removing vision, causing not knowing, suppressing wisdom, connected with vexation, not leading to Nibbāna.
"Monks, these seven factors of enlightenment are giving vision, giving knowledge, for the full understanding of wisdom, not connected with vexation, leading to Nibbāna. Which seven? The enlightenment factor of mindfulness, monks, is giving vision, giving knowledge, for the full understanding of wisdom, not connected with vexation, leading to Nibbāna. Etc. The enlightenment factor of equanimity, monks, is giving vision, giving knowledge, for the full understanding of wisdom, not connected with vexation, leading to Nibbāna. These, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment that are giving vision, giving knowledge, for the full understanding of wisdom, not connected with vexation, leading to Nibbāna." The tenth.
The Hindrances Chapter is the fourth.
Its summary:
Obstructions, mental hindrances, tree, and mental hindrances - these are ten.