Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
46. Bojjhanga Saṁyutta
IV. Nīvaraṇa-Vaggo

V: The Great Chapter
46: Kindred Sayings on the Limbs of Wisdom
IV. On Hindrances

Sutta 40

Nīvaraṇa Suttaṁ

Hindrance

 

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THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

Monks, there are these five hindrances
which cause blindness,
loss of sight
and ignorance;
which obstruct insight,
consort with pain¹
and conduce not to Nibbāna.

Which five?

The hindrance of sensual desire, monks,
causes blindness,
loss of sight
and ignorance;
which obstruct insight,
consort with pain
and conduce not to Nibbāna.

The hindrance of malevolence, monks,
causes blindness,
loss of sight
and ignorance;
which obstruct insight,
consort with pain
and conduce not to Nibbāna.

The hindrance of sloth and torpor, monks,
causes blindness,
loss of sight
and ignorance;
which obstruct insight,
consort with pain
and conduce not to Nibbāna.

The hindrance of excitement and flurry, monks,
causes blindness,
loss of sight
and ignorance;
which obstruct insight,
consort with pain
and conduce not to Nibbāna.

The hindrance of doubt and wavering, monks,
causes blindness,
loss of sight
and ignorance;
which obstruct insight,
consort with pain
and conduce not to Nibbāna.

These seven limbs of wisdom, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

What are the seven?

They are the limb of wisdom that is mindfulness, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

The limb of wisdom that is investigation of the Norm, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

The limb of wisdom that is energy, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

The limb of wisdom that is zest, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

The limb of wisdom that is tranquillity, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

The limb of wisdom that is concentration, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

The limb of wisdom that is equanimity, monks,
cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

These are the seven limbs of wisdom, monks, which cause sight,
knowledge,
growth of insight:
they consort not with pain,
and conduce to Nibbāna.

 

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¹ M. i, 115, vighzta-pakkhika (cf. supra, text iv, 1); Itiv. 81. Gomy. - dukkha-pakkhika.