Anandamaya Kosha, The Five Hindrances (Part 5) and Edith Eva Eger
February 2, 2025
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{Body}
The anandamaya kosha
This is Part 5 of 5.
In yoga, koshas are the five layers (or sheaths) of your being, progressing from the physical to the intangible and increasingly subtle.
The anandamaya kosha, or "bliss sheath," is the fifth and “innermost” layer of this nested self. It is the essence of joy itself — the unchanging peace that lies beneath all change. Unlike the fleeting happiness tied to external circumstances, the anandamaya kosha is the wellspring of bliss that arises from “I am”.
If the annamaya kosha is your hardware, and the prānamaya kosha is the electricity that powers it, and the manomaya kosha is your software, and the jnānamaya kosha is that which knows how to use the system, then the anandamaya kosha is the space from which all of this emerges from and exists in.
The anandamaya kosha is the experience of unity itself. It’s the deep contentment and fulfillment that comes when you transcend the ego and dissolve into pure Being. This sheath isn’t something you cultivate or learn to control — it’s your natural state, always present beneath the layers of the physical body, energy, mind, and intuition.
By merely contemplating your present experience, you can gain a clearer understanding of this level of reality. What you’re looking at right now is a computer (or phone) with voltage running through it, software that allows you to interface with its transistors, and a basic intuition for how to use its operating system.
All that’s missing here is context. Where is this experience happening? Notice the space within and around your device. An entire Universe infiltrates and surrounds this machine; it does not exist in isolation.
Same thing with you, me, and everyone else. We are all, deep down, a bottomless void of ecstasy.
{Mind}
Hindrances during meditation
This is Part 5 of 5.
During his life, the Buddha outlined various obstacles, stages, and revelations encountered on the Path to enlightenment.
In one of his well-known teachings, he describes "the Five Hindrances" — mental obstructions that block the development of one’s meditation practice, a crucial vehicle for attaining enlightenment.
The fifth and final hindrance is known as Vicikicchā, or doubt.
Unlike the other hindrances (craving, aversion, sloth, restlessness) Vicikicchā is insidious, barely visible, so subtle as to be dangerous. The doubt likes to disguise itself as reason and logic. It whispers questions like::
“Am I doing this right? Nothing seems to be happening.”
“Does meditation even work? Maybe I’m the exception.”
“Is this really true, or am I just wasting my time again?”
It’s the voice of skepticism, pulling you away from your practice by making you second-guess everything — the teachings, the teacher, and your own capability.
Left unchecked, it becomes a loop of endless uncertainty, keeping you stuck and unable to fully commit to your journey or practice.
The Buddha taught that the antidote to Vicikicchā is faith. Not blind belief, but confidence rooted in experience. You don’t overcome doubt by force; you overcome it through understanding and direct insight.
Here are a few ways to work with Vicikicchā:
Start small. Build faith by reflecting on your past successes, however small. These were brief moments when you felt your practice generated clarity, peace, or space.
Seek guidance. Talk to a trusted teacher or experienced practitioner to clarify doubts and receive encouragement.
Patience, patience, patience. Doubt very often stems from wanting immediate results. Relax. Progress unfolds over time and rarely looks the way you expect.
{Soul}
Does God really love you? Or is that just a sentimental idea born of a mind grasping for meaning in a random, indifferent, and clueless Universe?
Well, considering you are part of the Universe (God) and not separate from It, clearly It is at least as intelligent and alive as you are.
And considering that I, too, am part of the Universe (God) and not separate from It, clearly It is at least as intelligent and alive as both of us combined.
And considering the 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000+ individual animals on this planet are also part of the Universe (God), clearly It is at least as intelligent and alive as all of us put together.
But maybe It is more intelligent and alive than even that!? And maybe the more intelligent and alive a system is, the more compassionate and friendly it tends towards?
Or, in other words, perhaps the mere fact that you care about others automatically implies that the Universe — God, Creator, Source — also cares about you (because, again, you are of the whole, and thus wholly reflect Its characteristics).
But then again, maybe not…
Few things are more consequential than your opinion on this topic — whether or not you believe the Universe is looking out for you — because your answer will determine your outlook on whatever happens to you.
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