Page 133 - The Buddha‘s Noble Eightfold Path

(iii) The Hindrance of Restlessness and Anxiety. This Hindrance is

very much in evidence in modern Western society. You could
hardly say that modern Western society was peaceful, or that it

was calm and placid. You would have to say that it was restless,
agitated, anxious, even tormented — and most of the people you
meet are like this. They don't give an impression of peacefulness.

With hardly any of them do you feel that you could sit down
beside them and be at peace. Most people are consumed by

worry, anxiety, restlessness and haste. Sometimes it seems
impossible just to sit quietly even for a few minutes. When one
tries to meditate, there is the noise of traffic, and of people

rushing past. According to Buddhism, restlessness, worry,
anxiety, haste of any kind is a Hindrance. This does not mean that

one should not sometimes do things quickly, but this is quite a
different thing from a mental state of restlessness, when one
turns restlessly from one thing to another because nothing really

satisfies and one does not know where to turn for something
which will satisfy.

(iv) The Hindrance of Sloth and Torpor. One could also say, inertia
and stagnation — or going all stiff and dry as it were. People who

get into this state feel that nothing matters. 'Why bother to make
an effort? It's nothing to do with me. Just let things slide.'

Nowadays this is a very common attitude. Frequently it is a
reaction to all the restlessness and anxiety, but even so it is a
Hindrance. Often, of course, people try to rationalize it. Some

that you think are calm and quiet may simply be stagnating, just
as others you think of as busy, active people may be merely

restless.

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