The Dhamma Letter

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Dhamma Letter No. 31

www.dhammaletter.com

Dhamma Letter No. 31

Q&A No. 11

Bhikkhuni Kosalla Vipassini
May 25, 2021
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Dhamma Letter No. 31

www.dhammaletter.com

Q: How can I remove my strong greed and be in peace?

A: The Buddha described not only the five hindrances (Nivarana in Pāli), which block the meditator’s ability to see things as they really are, but also the solutions to them.

The five hindrances (pañcanīvaraṇa, 五蓋) are:

  1. Sensory desire (kāmacchanda)

  2. Ill-will (vyāpāda)

  3. Sloth-and-torpor (thīna-middha)

  4. Restlessness-and-worry (uddhacca-kukkucca)

  5. Doubt (vicikiccha)

These five hindrances are directly correlated with the five factors of Jhana (禪定, dhyana), which are the meditator’s skillful means for checking and finally overcoming all five of them.

  1. Vitaka (applied thinking) overcomes sloth and torpor

  2. Vicara (sustained thinking) overcomes doubt

  3. Piti (rapture) overcomes ill will

  4. Sukha (happiness) overcomes restlessness and worry

  5. Ekagatta (One-pointedness) overcomes sensory desire

The reduction and eradication of greed, which arises through contact with the five senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching objects, can be done by cultivating Jhana (禪定). For example, a meditator can use a meditation method called the Ten kinds of foulness (ASUBHA) to check and overcome the arising of lust.

More meditation methods (like Samatha and Vipassana) will be discussed later, all of which can be applied as needed over a lifetime of practice. The essential point is that the more one understands the Dhamma, the more one can let go of not only greed, but all the hindrances!

May you be liberated from any bondages!

May you be happy and peaceful!

May you develop wisdom through practice during this lifetime!

With Metta,

Ayyā Kosallā


We have begun translating the English version of The Dhamma Letter to Korean. Please click here for the Korean version.

한국어로 담마레터를 읽고 싶으신 분은 여기를 클릭 해주세요.


If you have any questions related to dhamma, please feel free to ask. You can reach Ayya Kosalla directly at bhikkhuni.kosalla@gmail.com. We will answer your questions and include them in future Dhamma Letters.


Bhikkuni Kosalla Vipassini resides in Mahabodhi Meditation Vihara in Arizona, USA. Donations are gratefully accepted, whether you provide needed requisites for the monastic, or offer funds. If you are inspired to donate, you may do so.

Mahabodhi Meditation Vihara: P.O. Box 27611 Scottsdale, AZ 85255-9998 Contact: mahabmedi@gmail.com

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All donations to the Mahabodhi Meditation Vihara are tax-deductible in the United States in accordance with IRS code section 501(c)(3) EIN 92-1744707. To request a receipt for your donation, please e-mail to mahabmedi@gmail.com.


Buddha Sāsanaṁ Ciraṁ Tiṭṭhatu! 
May the Buddha’s teachings last a long time!

​Bhavatu Sabba Sotiṁ ca Maṅgalaṁ ca!!  
May everyone be led on the path of peace and blessing!!

Sādhu Sādhu Sādhu !

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Dhamma Letter No. 31

www.dhammaletter.com
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