Dear kalyāṇa-mittatā!
We have published a translation of a Dhamma desana by Venerable Rakwane Gnanaseeha, the abbot of Chittaviveka Monastery in Sri Lanka, dedicated to the explanation of pañca nīvaraṇāni — the five hindrances. This is one of the most important topics in the Buddha’s Teaching. Bhante thoroughly explains all five hindrances, focusing on their practical application — both in sitting meditation and in daily life.
“Nīvaraṇa is something that closes off. Pañca nīvaraṇāni are the five hindrances that close reality off from us. One could say that these five hindrances are our enemies. But we don’t all perceive these hindrances as our enemies: we take them for our friends, for our helpers, and therein lies the problem. First and foremost, we must realize that they are not our friends — they obstruct us. Today’s Dhamma-desana is devoted to this.”