Nalanda’s Honorary Treasurer Sis. Margaret Ng presenting a gift to Bro. Benny Liow in thanking him for the Dhamma talk.

On Sunday 14 August, Bro. Benny Liow was invited to give a Dhamma talk on the ‘Five Hindrances’ at Nalanda Centre.  With reference to Avarana Sutta (AN. 5.51), the Discourse on Obstacles, he explained the five types of mental blocks to spiritual progress.

The ‘Five Hindrances’ are (1) sensual desires; (2) ill-will; (3) sloth and torpor; (4) restlessness and remorse; as well as (5) doubts and skepticism.  They are obstacles to our peace of mind.  Knowing more about them helps to identify our main problems in meditation. Thus, we should not dismiss them but study and understand them well.

The Sunday Service began with symbolic offerings to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

In the Satipatthana Sutta (MN. 10), the Buddha taught us to be mindful of the arising of hindrances and not to allow them to overwhelm our minds.  By looking dispassionately at their arising, sustenance and disappearance, without giving rise to greed or aversion towards the world, we begin to understand the true nature of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and non-self.

Trying it out – practical meditation session every Sunday at Nalanda Centre.

Bro. Benny also spoke about ways to overcome the ‘Five Hindrances’ should they arise.  We thank him for a pragmatic talk on how to overcome difficulties in meditation and to achieve serenity of mind.  Sadhu.

Group discussions were held after the Dhamma talk to deepen our learning.