The universal law of being successful and happy at the same time means finding the balance.

There are 2 mistakes along the way to Mastery: Not starting it, and not going all the way.

Self-mastery = the discovery of oneself.

The Five Hindrances

1. Sensual desire — pleasures & distractions

   From the five gates of the body: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting (口腹之慾), feeling

2. Ill-will — aversion & negative thoughts

3. Slothful body & mind — lack of energy/motivation, heaviness of body, dullness of mind

4. Restlessness — unsettled/monkey mind

   • Regret about the past
   • Worry about the future
   • Unable to stay in the present

5. Skeptical doubt — indecisiveness → overthinking

How to Remove These Hindrances

1. Recognize what state of mind you’re in
2. Accept & Acknowledge — let the situations and people be the way they are. Just let it rain.
3. Investigate your emotional & mental state. Observe the sensation and ask yourself:
   • “Why did it come up?”
   • “What is the consequence if I remain in this state?”
4. Non-Identification (無我) — practice: “I’m not the body, I’m not the mind, I’m not my emotion, I can just see all these 3 aspects about me.” ^{1 2}