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Brickwall Unlimited

What Feeds and Starves the Hindrances

SN 46.51, the Āhāra Sutta — set 3, Learning to Look at Your Own Mind

Reading time: about 9 min · 1,522 words

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Before you read

Anything that grows is being fed something. This text takes that literally: each of the five hindrances has a diet, and so does each of the seven awakening factors, and you can starve the one while feeding the other.

The mechanism is attention. Whatever you keep giving unwise attention to grows; whatever you stop feeding weakens on its own.

It is schematic and short, and it turns the general advice of the texts before it into something you can actually act on — not "be less distracted", but "stop feeding this particular thing".

Translation

The Setting

At Savatthi.

"Bhikkhus, I will explain what feeds and what starves the five hindrances and the seven awakening factors. Listen carefully and pay close attention. I will speak."

"Yes, Bhante," the bhikkhus replied.

The Buddha said this:

What Feeds The Hindrances

"And what feeds the arising of sensual desire when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There is the attractive sign. Repeated unwise attention there feeds the arising of sensual desire when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what feeds the arising of ill will when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There is the sign of resistance. Repeated unwise attention there feeds the arising of ill will when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what feeds the arising of sloth and torpor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There are discontent, sluggishness, yawning, after-meal drowsiness, and the sinking of the heart. Repeated unwise attention there feeds the arising of sloth and torpor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what feeds the arising of restlessness and worry when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There is the heart's unrest. Repeated unwise attention there feeds the arising of restlessness and worry when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what feeds the arising of doubt when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There are qualities that support uncertainty. Repeated unwise attention there feeds the arising of doubt when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

What Feeds The Awakening Factors

"And what feeds the arising of the remembering awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that support the remembering awakening factor. Repeated wise attention there feeds the arising of the remembering awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what feeds the arising of the discernment-of-qualities awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, low and refined, dark and bright counterparts. Repeated wise attention there feeds the arising of the discernment-of-qualities awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what feeds the arising of the energy awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are the energy of getting started, the energy of stepping forward, and the energy of pressing on. Repeated wise attention there feeds the arising of the energy awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what feeds the arising of the rejoicing awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that support the rejoicing awakening factor. Repeated wise attention there feeds the arising of the rejoicing awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what feeds the arising of the relaxation awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are bodily relaxation and relaxation of the heart. Repeated wise attention there feeds the arising of the relaxation awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what feeds the arising of the unification awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are the calm sign and the sign of non-scatter. Repeated wise attention there feeds the arising of the unification awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what feeds the arising of the dynamic-balance awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that support the dynamic-balance awakening factor. Repeated wise attention there feeds the arising of the dynamic-balance awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

What Starves The Hindrances

"And what starves the arising of sensual desire when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There is the unattractive sign. Repeated wise attention there starves the arising of sensual desire when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what starves the arising of ill will when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There is the liberation of mind through friendliness. Repeated wise attention there starves the arising of ill will when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what starves the arising of sloth and torpor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There are the energy of getting started, the energy of stepping forward, and the energy of pressing on. Repeated wise attention there starves the arising of sloth and torpor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what starves the arising of restlessness and worry when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There is the settling of the heart. Repeated wise attention there starves the arising of restlessness and worry when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

"And what starves the arising of doubt when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion?

There are qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, low and refined, dark and bright counterparts. Repeated wise attention there starves the arising of doubt when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its increase and expansion.

What Starves The Awakening Factors

"And what starves the arising of the remembering awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that support the remembering awakening factor. Repeated non-attention there starves the arising of the remembering awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what starves the arising of the discernment-of-qualities awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that are skillful and unskillful, blameworthy and blameless, low and refined, dark and bright counterparts. Repeated non-attention there starves the arising of the discernment-of-qualities awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what starves the arising of the energy awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are the energy of getting started, the energy of stepping forward, and the energy of pressing on. Repeated non-attention there starves the arising of the energy awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what starves the arising of the rejoicing awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that support the rejoicing awakening factor. Repeated non-attention there starves the arising of the rejoicing awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what starves the arising of the relaxation awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are bodily relaxation and relaxation of the heart. Repeated non-attention there starves the arising of the relaxation awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what starves the arising of the unification awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are the calm sign and the sign of non-scatter. Repeated non-attention there starves the arising of the unification awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment.

"And what starves the arising of the dynamic-balance awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment?

There are qualities that support the dynamic-balance awakening factor. Repeated non-attention there starves the arising of the dynamic-balance awakening factor when it has not yet arisen, or, if it has arisen, its development and fulfillment."

The first discourse is finished.

Words used in this translation (18)
awakening
Coming fully awake to how things are. Sometimes translated "enlightenment," a word this project avoids as needlessly mystical.
awakening factor
One of seven qualities developed and kept in balance on the way to waking up.
Bhante
A respectful way of addressing a senior monastic, roughly "venerable sir." Left untranslated because English has no natural equivalent.
bhikkhus
Buddhist monks -- those who have left household life to practise full time. The Buddha's usual way of addressing the assembly, roughly "friends" in force.
discernment-of-qualities
This project's rendering of "dhammavicaya" -- sorting out what is actually going on in experience, and which qualities help and which do not. One of the seven awakening factors.
doubt
Uncertainty and indecision, especially about the practice and the teaching. As one of the five hindrances, it keeps the mind wavering instead of committing.
five hindrances
The five things that reliably hinder the mind and pull it off task: sensual desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, and doubt.
friendliness
This project's rendering of "mettā" (often translated "loving-kindness") -- an intentionally cultivated goodwill extended outward, including to people you don't know.
heart
This project's rendering of "citta": the feeling side of mind. It takes on moods, wants, leans, and reacts. Practice can gladden, steady, train, and release it. Some call it the "heart-mind" or "feeling mind". Here "heart" does not mean only emotion, or the physical organ.
ill will
Hostility toward others or situations: pushing things away and wishing them harm. As one of the five hindrances, it pulls the mind off track.
rejoicing
This project's rendering of "pīti" (often translated "rapture") -- the bright, uplifted gladness that shows up when practice is going well.
relaxation
This project's rendering of "passaddhi" -- the settling of body and mind that follows gladness and leads into unification of mind.
remembering
This project's rendering of "sati". It means actively keeping what matters in mind and coming back to it when you lose it. It is not bare attention to whatever happens to be present.
resistance
A reflexive pushing-away from what's unwanted, arising automatically in response to unpleasant feeling.
restlessness and worry
When agitation and nagging worry or regret pull you off track. One of the five hindrances.
sensual desire
When wanting something pleasant pulls you off track. One of the five hindrances.
sloth and torpor
When sluggishness, heaviness, and sinking energy pull you off track. One of the five hindrances.
unification
Short for unification of mind (samādhi) inside a longer phrase, such as "born of unification" or "the faculty of unification."
Source and corrections