The Buddha explains how frequently paying attention to certain things can lead to the arising and expansion of hindrances and awakening factors.

Hindrances

"Bhikkhus,

  1. by frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for sensual desire (passion or lust for sensual pleasures), unarisen sensual desire arises, and arisen sensual desire increases and expands.

  2. Similarly, by frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for ill-will (aversion, contempt, anger, resentment), unarisen ill-will arises, and arisen ill-will increases and expands.

  3. 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.

  4. By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for restlessness and worry (agitation and edginess, fidgeting, fiddling, uneasiness), unarisen restlessness and worry arises, and arisen restlessness and worry increases and expands.

  5. By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for doubt, unarisen doubt arises, and arisen doubt increases and expands.

Awakening Factors

Bhikkhus,

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of energy (willpower, determination), unarisen energy arises, and arisen energy reaches full development through cultivation.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of collectedness (stability of mind, mental composure), unarisen collectedness arises, and arisen collectedness reaches full development through cultivation.

  7. By frequently paying attention to the things serving as a basis for the awakening factor of equanimity (mental poise), unarisen equanimity arises, and arisen equanimity reaches full development through cultivation."

  • By attending to A beautiful mental image: frequently giving careless attention to the sign of beautiful (read MN 13) there is arising and expansion of Hindrance of sensual desire (passion or lust for sensual pleasures)

  • By attending to An aversive mental image: frequently giving careless attention to the sign of resistance there is arising and expansion of Hindrance of ill-will (aversion, contempt, anger, resentment)

  • By attending to Dissatisfaction, laziness, yawning, passing out after a meal, and sluggishness of mind; frequently giving careless attention to these (read AN 8.80) there is arising and expansion of Hindrance of dullness and drowsiness

  • By attending to An untamed mind: lack of sense restraint, frequently giving careless attention to an unsettled mind there is arising and expansion of Hindrance of restlessness and worry (agitation and edginess, fidgeting, fiddling, uneasiness)

  • By attending to Frequently giving careless attention to things that lead to doubt, to confusion, to conflict (read MN 16) there is arising and expansion of Hindrance of doubt

  • By attending to Following precepts, applying sense restraint, and practicing breathing-mindfulness meditation (read MN 107) there is arising and expansion of Awakening factor of mindfulness

  • By attending to 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 there is arising and expansion of Awakening factor of investigation of mental qualities

  • By attending to Taking initiative, persistence, and continuous effort (read AN 8.80) there is arising and expansion of Awakening factor of energy

  • By attending to Cultivation of jhāna 1 (read MN 39) there is arising and expansion of Awakening factor of joy

  • By attending to Cultivation of jhāna 2 (read MN 39) there is arising and expansion of Awakening factor of tranquility

  • By attending to Cultivation of jhāna 3 (read MN 39) there is arising and expansion of Awakening factor of collectedness

  • By attending to Cultivation of jhāna 4 (read MN 39) there is arising and expansion of Awakening factor of equanimity