Ru-Yi Meditation Center
Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 46.40

Hindrances

Nīvaraṇasutta — Nīvaraṇavagga

Setting
Not specified — an abbreviated narrative frame
Speakers
The Buddha, addressing the mendicants directly
Form
A direct antithesis in two parallel halves, closing this vagga's own ten discourses
Length
1-2 minutes to read, plus a described (not translated) colophon and uddāna
Northern parallel
No individual parallel confirmed by this project's own check
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — closes this vagga's own antithetical pattern with its own most complete statement

Why this discourse

The five hindrances, this closing discourse states, are “destroyers of sight, vision, and knowledge... on the side of distress” and do not lead to extinguishment; the seven awakening factors are their precise opposite: “creators of vision and knowledge... on the side of solace,” leading directly to extinguishment — the vagga's own most complete and symmetrical antithesis, closing everything that came before it.

Reading guide

The fullest antithesis in the entire vagga

Confirmed by direct comparison, this discourse's own closing statement is the most elaborate version of the hindrance/awakening-factor contrast found anywhere in this vagga — four distinct qualities named for each side (destroyer/creator of vision and knowledge; blocking/growing wisdom; siding with distress/solace; not leading/leading to extinguishment), rather than the single or double contrasts found in SN 46.34 or 46.37.

A colophon and uddāna confirming this vagga's own count

The Pāli root closes with “Dasamaṁ” (“the tenth”) and “Nīvaraṇavaggo catuttho” (“the Hindrances chapter, the fourth”) — unambiguous, matching this project's own count without discrepancy. The closing uddāna names all ten discourses in order: two on Skillful qualities, Corruptions and Not Corruptions; two on rational application of mind and Growth; Obstacles, Without Obstacles, Trees; and this discourse itself, Hindrances.

Key terms

andhakaraṇā acakkhukaraṇā aññāṇakaraṇā — “destroyers of sight, vision, and knowledge” — the first of four qualities named for the five hindrances, the most vivid negative description in this vagga's own sequence
paññānirodhikā vighātapakkhiyā anibbānasaṁvattanikā — “they block wisdom, they're on the side of distress, and they don't lead to extinguishment” — the remaining three negative qualities, completing the fourfold description
cakkhukaraṇā ñāṇakaraṇā paññābuddhiyā — “creators of vision and knowledge... they grow wisdom” — the precise positive antithesis, applied to the seven awakening factors
avighātapakkhiyā nibbānasaṁvattanikā — “on the side of solace, and lead to extinguishment” — completing the fourfold positive antithesis
nīvaraṇavaggo catuttho — “the Hindrances chapter, the fourth” — unambiguous confirmation of this vagga's own position, matching this project's own count without discrepancy

The text

Every genuinely translated fragment of this discourse, closing the Nīvaraṇavagga. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1 — the five hindrances as destroyers“Mendicants, these five hindrances are destroyers of sight, vision, and knowledge. They block wisdom, they’re on the side of distress, and they don’t lead to extinguishment. What five? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt.

§1 (concluded) — the restatementThese five hindrances are destroyers of sight, vision, and knowledge. They block wisdom, they’re on the side of distress, and they don’t lead to extinguishment.

§2 — the seven awakening factors as creatorsThese seven awakening factors are creators of vision and knowledge. They grow wisdom, they’re on the side of solace, and they lead to extinguishment. What seven? The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity. These seven awakening factors are creators of vision and knowledge. They grow wisdom, they’re on the side of solace, and they lead to extinguishment.”

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Self-check quiz

3 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.

Question 1 of 3
How many distinct qualities does this discourse name for each side of its own antithesis, making it the vagga's own most elaborate version?
Correct: A. Confirmed by direct comparison to be more elaborate than the single or double contrasts found in SN 46.34 or 46.37.
Question 2 of 3
What does this vagga's own closing colophon confirm about its own position?
Correct: A. Confirmed without discrepancy, unlike several vaggas met throughout SN 45.
Question 3 of 3
What outcome does the discourse attribute to the seven awakening factors, in direct contrast to the five hindrances?
Correct: A. The final and most consequential term in this discourse's own fourfold antithesis.
Answered 0 of 3 · Correct 0

Further reading

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