𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗹𝗶'𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝗴𝗮𝘀𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮

In Yoga Sutra, Patanjali lists nine obstacles (antarayah) that obstruct spiritual progress:

 व्याधि स्त्यान संशय प्रमाद आलस्य अविरति भ्रान्तिदर्शन अलब्धभूमिकत्व अनवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपाः तेऽन्तरायाः ॥

The Nine Obstacles:

1. Vyadhi (व्याधि) – Illness: Physical or mental disorder that weakens concentration.

2. Styana (स्त्यान) – Apathy or dullness: Inertia and disinterest in sadhana.

3. Samsaya (संशय) – Doubt: Distrust in the teacher, method, or the Self.

4. Pramada (प्रमाद) – Carelessness: Neglect of practice or moral discipline.

5. Alasya (आलस्य) – Laziness: Reluctance to exert effort in spiritual pursuit.

6. Avirati (अविरति) – Sensual indulgence: Attachment to worldly pleasures.

7. Bhranti Darsana (भ्रान्तिदर्शन) – Delusion or false perception: Mistaking the non-Self for the Self.

8. Alabdha Bhumikatva (अलब्धभूमिकत्व) – Failure to attain stages of concentration: Inability to progress despite effort.

9. Anavasthitatva (अनवस्थितत्व) – Instability: Regression after progress due to lack of perseverance.

 These lead to chitta-viksepa — distraction of the mind — and must be countered through abhyasa (constant practice) and vairagya (detachment).

 Hindrances According to Vedanta

In Vedanta, the obstacles are internal and rooted in maya, manifesting as ignorance (अविद्या) and its offspring — desire and ego.

1. Avidya (अविद्या) – Ignorance: The root cause of bondage “अविद्यया मृत्युम् तीर्त्वा विद्यया अमृतम् अश्नुते” –“By ignorance one crosses death; by knowledge one attains immortality.” Ignorance veils the true Self and projects the false identity of ‘I am the body-mind.’

2. Kama (काम) and Krodha (क्रोध) – Desire and Anger: ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंस: सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते |सङ्गात्सञ्जायते काम: कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते || “From attachment arises desire, from desire anger is born.” These two form the chain binding man to saṁsāra. Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya – The Six Enemies (षड्रिपवः) These pollute the mind and veil the light of knowledge.

4. Maya and Ahankara:  “अहं कर्ता इति मन्यते” – The false notion “I am the doer.” Ego (ahamkara) sustains duality; surrender and discrimination (viveka) dissolve it.

5. Vasanas (Latent Impressions): Even after understanding, deep-seated tendencies drag the mind outward. “वासनाक्षय एव मोक्षः” – The exhaustion of vasanas alone is liberation.

6. Lack of   Mumuksutva (Intense Desire for  Liberation)

Without burning yearning for Truth, the effort remains half-hearted.

Overcoming the Hindrances

Both Yoga and Vedanta converge in prescription:

1. Abhyasa (Practice) – Persistent spiritual discipline.

2. Vairagya (Dispassion) – Freedom from craving and aversion.

3. Sraddha (Faith), Bhakti (Devotion), and Satsanga (Company of the wise) — nourish the inner flame.

4. Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksa, Sraddha, Samadhana – the sixfold inner wealth (as per Vivekachudamaṇi).

5. Self-inquiry (Atma-vichara) – to discern the real from the unreal. “यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति, तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च॥” (Gita) “When your intellect crosses the mire of delusion, you shall rise above what is yet to be heard and what has been heard.”

The journey to the Self is not about acquiring anything new — it is about removing what veils the ever-present Truth.