Thanks to Brendan for leading DPX last Sunday with a meditation and talk. He played us a Ted Talk by about finding your individual path using the metaphor of climbing a mountain by Master Shi-Heng Yi. Shi-Heng Yi spoke of the 5 hindrances that get in the way of your individual path. 1.) Sensual desire. 2.) Ill will or aversion. 3.) Sloth and torpor. 4.) Restlessness. 5.) Skeptical doubt. He stressed that in order to bring meaning and value into your life, one needs to master yourself and not let the hindrances stop you. Master Shi-Heng Yi reminded us that the hindrances are inherently part of our conditioning. He presented 4 ways to align and structure your life to prevent the hindrances. 1.) recognize the hindrance. 2.) Accept and acknowledge the situation or person and let it be. 3.) Investigate why? And what are the consequences? 4.) Non- Identify. “I am not the body”, “I am not the mind”, “I am not the emotion”. “You can see these, but you are not these”. In our group discussion there were comments expressing an understanding that “whatever happens there is always an opportunity to have compassion for ourselves”. And “An opportunity to appreciate being a human being in progress”. And “The goal is simply an obstacle to overcome as quickly as possible. Pay attention to the journey and don’t be so focused on the end.”