Vicikiccha - One of The Five Impediments

Vicikiccha

Abstract

When we are travelling by the train and the train is moving towards its destination at high speed, at that time if we are sitting at a window and also looking outside through the window then we observe that the trees, the hills, standing-trains, edifices situated nearby railway tracks etc. which are coming into the way of the moving train, give impression that all of these things are moving rapidly instead of the train in which we are travelling. Similarly when clouds are gathering in the sky and moving from one direction to the other, then if we see in the sky that either the Sun or the Moon or mountains tops etc. are being observed that the Sun or The Moon or mountains tops, as the situation is, running in the sky rather than the clouds are moving. Such types of situations are creating doubts in our minds.  We are living with the myth for thousands of years that the Sun rises in the morning and downs in the evening; however, the Sun is never rising and never downs. It is always at its place and shining, emitting light rays from its body and illuminating the whole of the galaxy. Only the Earth is moving around its axis that causes days and nights, not the movement of the Sun. And mirage is also a similar example of such type of confusions. We are confused about which one is true and which one is false. When we are in perplexity and such type of condition arises around us then it is known as Vicikicchā [1](Doubt) in Pāli[2].  

Vicikicchā is the strongest impediment among the five impediments as The Buddha, The Enlightened One preached to the Monks and made aware them to abandon and overcome the same as soon as it arises during the period of meditation. Vicikicchā has no boundaries, no dimensions and no measurement in all the way. If it has not been abandoned, then it grows by leaps and bounds in day and night. In this material mundane world not only the laypeople but also the noble beings are overpowered by Vicikicchā.  The Thatagata Buddha preached about the five impediments- Sense Desire (Kāmacchanda), Ill-Will (Vyapāda), Sloth and Torpor (Thin-Mida), Restlessness and Drowsiness (Udaccā- Kokuccā) and Doubt    (Vicikicchā), those are creating obstacles during the period of meditation training (Vipassanā- Sadhanā) in

[1] Vicikiccha is one of the five Nivarna, Described in  Dhammanupassnā, Mahāsttipaṭṭhāna Sutta

[2] Pāli is the Language in ancient India particularly at the time of Buddha.