The Buddha explains how frequently paying attention to certain things can lead to the arising and expansion of hindrances and awakening factors.
Ṭhāniya sutta - Serving As A Basis
Hindrances
"1. Bhikkhus, by frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for sensual desire, unarisen sensual desire arises, and arisen sensual desire increases and expands.
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Similarly, by frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for ill-will, unarisen ill-will arises, and arisen ill-will increases and expands.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for dullness and drowsiness, unarisen dullness and drowsiness arises, and arisen dullness and drowsiness increases and expands.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for restlessness and worry, unarisen restlessness and worry arises, and arisen restlessness and worry increases and expands.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for doubt, unarisen doubt arises, and arisen doubt increases and expands.
Awakening Factors
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Bhikkhus, by frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of mindfulness, unarisen mindfulness arises, and arisen mindfulness reaches full development through cultivation.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of investigation of mental qualities, unarisen investigation arises, and arisen investigation reaches full development through cultivation.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of energy, unarisen energy arises, and arisen energy reaches full development through cultivation.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of joy, unarisen [heartfelt] joy arises, and arisen [heartfelt] joy reaches full development through cultivation.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of tranquility, unarisen tranquility arises, and arisen tranquility reaches full development through cultivation.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of collectedness, unarisen collectedness arises, and arisen collectedness reaches full development through cultivation.
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By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of equanimity, unarisen equanimity arises, and arisen equanimity reaches full development through cultivation."
| By attending to these things | there is an arising and expansion of |
|---|---|
| A beautiful mental image: frequently giving careless attention to the sign of beautiful | Hindrance of sensual desire (passion or lust for sensual pleasures) |
| An aversive mental image: frequently giving careless attention to the sign of resistance | Hindrance of ill-will (aversion, contempt, anger, resentment) |
| Dissatisfaction, laziness, yawning, passing out after a meal, and sluggishness of mind; frequently giving careless attention to these (read AN 8.80) | Hindrance of dullness and drowsiness |
| An untamed mind: lack of sense restraint, frequently giving careless attention to an unsettled mind | Hindrance of restlessness and worry (agitation and edginess, fidgeting, fiddling, uneasiness) |
| Frequently giving careless attention to things that lead to doubt, to confusion, to conflict (read MN 16) | Hindrance of doubt |
| Following precepts, applying sense restraint, and practicing breathing-mindfulness meditation (read MN 107) | Awakening factor of mindfulness |
| Understanding what is wholesome and unwholesome, blamable and blameless, inferior and superior, and dark and bright, learning the teachings of the Buddha with careful attention | Awakening factor of investigation of mental qualities |
| Taking initiative, persistence, and applying continuous effort (read AN 8.80) | Awakening factor of energy |
| Cultivation of jhāna 1 (read MN 39) | Awakening factor of joy |
| Cultivation of jhāna 2 " | Awakening factor of tranquility |
| Cultivation of jhāna 3 " | Awakening factor of collectedness |
| Cultivation of jhāna 4 " | Awakening factor of equanimity |