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Agony and Ecstasy

A comparative study of the five hindrances, together with the five states of concentration or mental absorption.

A comparative study of the five hindrances, together with the five states of concentration or mental absorption.

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20<br />

express itself in harmful deeds or words; it can show itself even in silence.<br />

Thus, in the Brahmajāla Sutta (D. I. 25) an instance is given<br />

where some recluses <strong>and</strong> brahmanas refrained from expressing any<br />

opinion, fearing to be influenced by their wish (ch<strong>and</strong>a) or desire<br />

(rāga), by their ill-feeling (dosa) or resentment (paṭigha).<br />

It occurs together with a feeling of hate (dosa), envy (issā),<br />

meanness (macchariya), worry (kukkucca) <strong>and</strong> agitation (uddhacca),<br />

the last two of which, however, are treated as separate factors as<br />

hindrances (nīvaraṇa), as we shall see later. The morbid states<br />

of mind, called sloth (thīna), <strong>and</strong> its physical counterpart, torpor<br />

(middha), are found combining with hate <strong>and</strong> aversion. They, too,<br />

are treated separately as hindrances (nīvaraṇa). In these mental<br />

states there is no happiness of mind, not even wicked joy, because<br />

they are always associated with melancholy (domanassa sahagata).<br />

Malice then is an annoyance (āghāta) arising at the thought that<br />

somebody is doing to me now, or has done in the past, or will do<br />

so in the future, harm or any kind of disadvantageous action by<br />

thought, word or deed; or that he will do so, has done so, or is doing<br />

so now to somebody dear to me. This annoyance may arise also,<br />

when somebody is doing, has done, or will do some good turn to<br />

a person I dislike. All this is real aversion, resentment, repugnance<br />

<strong>and</strong> hostility (paṭivirodha). But annoyance can also arise consciously<br />

unmotivated (asaṅkhārika), e.g. when there is too much or not<br />

enough of rain, or sunshine, or wind; or when stumbling over a treestump.<br />

As this kind of annoyance arises concerning things <strong>and</strong> not<br />

concerning persons, it is said to be groundless (aṭṭhāna), because<br />

unconscious elements can have no purpose in opposing our wishes.<br />

But in a sense, all forms of annoyance are unreasonable, <strong>and</strong> thus<br />

hate <strong>and</strong> ill-will are always combined with delusion (moha).<br />

Ill-will (kopa), irritation (pakopa), indignation (sampakopa) indicate<br />

an ascending scale in degrees of anger, which is a mental<br />

vexation with a tendency to resist <strong>and</strong> oppose, mind becomes upset<br />

(cittassa vyāpatti) <strong>and</strong> begins to abhor <strong>and</strong> detest (manopa-

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