Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor

This is part 5 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

A lazy person will find any excuse to slack off and not strive for liberation.

Textbook

Read Chapter 4 of:

From Craving to Liberation: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 1 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Analayo’s Craving chapter 4

Suttas

AN 8.80: Grounds for Laziness (.pdf)

Thag 3.5: Mātaṅgaputta (.pdf)

Iti 34: Ardour (.pdf)

AN 7.74: The Araka Sutta (.pdf)

Similes

Read Hecker similes numbered: 21, 50, 54 and 75.

Reflections

What rhetorical strategies does the Buddha employ to combat sloth?

Continue to Part 6, Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry

...or go back to part 4