The Buddha teaches on the five hindrances and the seven awakening factors regarding without obstacles, showing how hindrances are fueled and awakening factors are nourished through application of mind.

SN 46.38 Without Obstacles

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbaṁ cetaso samannāharitvā ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, imassa pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti. Satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

Katame pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti? Kāmacchandanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, byāpādanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, thinamiddhanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, vicikicchānīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti. Imassa pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti.

Katame satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti? Satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati. Ime satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti. Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbaṁ cetaso samannāharitvā ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, imassa pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti. Ime satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchantī”ti.

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbaṁ cetaso samannāharitvā ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, imassa pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti. Satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

“Mendicants, sometimes a noble disciple pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens to the teaching. At such a time the five hindrances are absent, and the seven awakening factors are fully developed.

Katame pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti?

What are the five hindrances that are absent?

Kāmacchandanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, byāpādanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, thinamiddhanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti, vicikicchānīvaraṇaṁ tasmiṁ samaye na hoti.

Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt.

Imassa pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti.

These are the five hindrances that are absent.

Katame satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti?

And what are the seven awakening factors that are fully developed?

Satisambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgo tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchati.

The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.

Ime satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchanti.

These are the seven awakening factors that are fully developed.

Yasmiṁ, bhikkhave, samaye ariyasāvako aṭṭhiṁ katvā manasi katvā sabbaṁ cetaso samannāharitvā ohitasoto dhammaṁ suṇāti, imassa pañca nīvaraṇā tasmiṁ samaye na honti. Ime satta bojjhaṅgā tasmiṁ samaye bhāvanāpāripūriṁ gacchantī”ti.

Sometimes a noble disciple pays attention, applies the mind, concentrates wholeheartedly, and actively listens to the teaching. At such a time the five hindrances are absent, and the seven awakening factors are fully developed.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Qualities:

Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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Drowsiness

Drowsiness

A heaviness or stiffness of the mind that leads to sleepiness. It shrouds clarity like a fog, making the mind unwieldy and prone to drifting away from its object.

Also known as: sleepiness, torpor, feeling lethargic, lit. stiffness (of mind/body due to tiredness)
Pāli: middha
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Dullness

Dullness

Mental stagnation and lack of driving power. It is an inertia where the mind feels thick and incapable of active engagement or investigation.

Also known as: lack of mental clarity or alertness, inertia, mental sluggishness, inattentiveness or lack of sharpness
Pāli: thina
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Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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Tranquility

Tranquility

A mental quality of calm and stillness that arises when the body and mind are unburdened by agitation.

Also known as: calmness, peacefulness, serenity
Pāli: passaddhi, santi, upasama, upasanta
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Last updated on July 27, 2026