Hindrances to Self Mastery

A post covering Shi Heng Yis speech on the 5 hindrances to Self Mastery, and as a result a life of clarity, meaning, and value:

Obstacles:

Sensual desire - food and sex - the two strongest forces and animalistic desires all human beings meet.

Ill will - being against something in your mind or taking action against things or people you don’t like simply because you don’t like them. This is the opposite of embracing them, embracing pain or something that opposes your ego perception of how things or people should be. Being able to overcome this will help you embrace challenges, do things that seem impossible, and accept other humans for who they are and the stage they’re at rather than who you want them to be.

Sloth - sleepiness laziness and having no motivation (Buddhism calls this imprisonment if it becomes a habit).

Restlessness - a state of monkey mind that cannot settle in the present moment (an effect of being too busy, taking on too much, the opposite of sloth and not managing time energy, or karmic laws well).

Skeptical doubt - indecisiveness. Getting lost in thoughts, what is the right path, what if this or that, what will others say, etc.

How do we overcome these obstacles to produce well-being and steady growth?

Recognize them, admitting to their power and your desire to gain control and reach your highest potential.

Accept and acknowledge yourself, your challenges, and your gifts without judgment. Every person deals with their own set of addictions or places they can easily fall.

Investigate - introspect honestly on the consequences of staying in these states for long periods. What kind of result will this produce in your life and in the lives of those you care about, internally and within the world? 

Nonidentification - The classic mantra: “I am not the body. I am not the mind. I am not my emotion.” I can simply observe these parts of myself with love while being honest and creating circumstances that support my personal growth.

In Catholicism the 7 deadly sins are similar: pride, envy, wrath (anger), sloth, gluttony, avarice, and lust. It is not a judgment call - it is an honest look at the interesting mazes we walk through on the path of being human. Shi Heng Yi finished his speech by saying he hopes to meet you at the top of the mountain, which I see as "I hope you get to tell the story of how you almost fell but overcame and reached your highest potential".

Namaste.