Craving and Practice

What often happens to practitioners is a craving to make progress in meditation. When the insight of lust, hatred, and delusion progresses to a certain extent, practitioners do not experience much lust or hatred in their daily lives compared to before, and their minds become much more equanimous. However, if a craving for progress arises, it becomes a significant obstacle to practice. Then, the progress stalls and feels like it is regressing, causing stress. Craving for progress is lust, and hatred naturally arises if things do not go as desired. Comparing yourself to other practitioners increases your craving and can lead to a negative spiral. In other words, your lust, hatred, and delusion are amplified.

When things don't go as planned, doubt can creep in. Questions like 'Why isn’t it working anymore?' or 'Am I doing something wrong?' can amplify hindrances. This can make progress in practice challenging. That's why it's crucial to check for the five hindrances before every practice session.