Kausidya (Sanskrit; Tibetan Wylie: le lo) is a Buddhist term translated as "laziness" or "spiritual sloth". It is defined as clinging to unwholesome activities such as lying down and stretching out, and to procrastinate, and not being enthusiastic about or engaging in virtuous activity.[1][2] It is identified as:
Laziness (kausidya) is to cling to unwholesome activities such as lying down, resting, or stretching out, and to procrastinate, without taking delight in and engaging in what is virtuous. It is the opponent of diligence (vīrya).[2]
What is laziness (kausidya)? It is an unwilling mind, associated with bewilderment-erring, relying on the pleasures of drowsiness, lying down and not getting up. Its function is to obstruct and hinder one in applying himself to positive things.[1]
Alan Wallace explains that kausidya (lelo in Tibetan) refers to a very specific type of laziness, that is concerned only with virtuous activity. Wallace explains:
[...] lelo in Tibetan, is often translated as ‘laziness,’ but it is much more specific. If a person is working sixteen hours a day, hellbent on earning a whole lot of money with absolutely no concern for virtue, from a Buddhist perspective you could say that person is subject to lelo. A workaholic is clearly not lazy, but such a person is seen as lelo in the sense of being completely lethargic and slothful with regard to the cultivation of virtue and purification of the mind. Our translation of this term is ‘spiritual sloth,’ which we have taken from the Christian tradition, where it is very comparable to the Buddhist notion.[3]
Three types
The Mahayana tradition identifies three types of laziness: not wanting to do anything; discouragement; and busyness.[4][5]
Laziness of not wanting to do anything
We'd rather stay in bed half an hour later than get up and meditate.[4]
Sakyong Mipham explains this type of laziness from the meditative point of view: "The mind has withdrawn into itself. [...] It feels impossible to do anything. We feel like a snake crawling along the ground."[5]
Laziness of discouragement (or feeling ourselves unworthy)
This involves thinking, "I can't do this., or self doubt"[4]
Sakyong Mipham states: "We feel discouraged, deflated, or outnumbered by the obstacles that arise in our practice. We take them personally. Our belief in the solidity of obstacles grows, and our belief in our ability to practice shrinks."[5]
Laziness of being busy with worldly things.
Tenzin Palmo states: "This is the point—we fill our lives with activities. Many of them are really very good activities but if we are not careful, they can just be an escape. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do good and necessary things, but there has to be breathing in as well as breathing out."[4]
Sakyong Mipham states: "Speediness is laziness when we use it as a way to avoid working with our minds."[5]
Goleman, Daniel (2008), Destructive Emotions: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama, Bantam, Kindle Edition
Guenther, Herbert V.; Kawamura, Leslie S. (1975), Mind in Buddhist Psychology: A Translation of Ye-shes rgyal-mtshan's "The Necklace of Clear Understanding, Dharma Publishing. Kindle Edition
Kunsang, Erik Pema (2004), Gateway to Knowledge, Vol. 1, North Atlantic Books
Sakyong Mimpham (2003), Turning the Mind into an Ally, Riverhead Books, pp. 84–101
Further reading
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche (1993), The Practice of Tranquility & Insight: A Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation, Snow Lion, Kindle Edition
Traleg Kyabgon (2001), The Essence of Buddhism, Shambhala
External links
Looking into Laziness, by Pema Chodron, Shambhala Sun
Three Kinds of Laziness, by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, Tricycle
Primary Minds and the 51 Mental Factors
January 21, 2023
kauśīdya, kausidya, sanskrit, tibetan, wylie, buddhist, term, translated, laziness, spiritual, sloth, defined, clinging, unwholesome, activities, such, lying, down, stretching, procrastinate, being, enthusiastic, about, engaging, virtuous, activity, identified. Kausidya Sanskrit Tibetan Wylie le lo is a Buddhist term translated as laziness or spiritual sloth It is defined as clinging to unwholesome activities such as lying down and stretching out and to procrastinate and not being enthusiastic about or engaging in virtuous activity 1 2 It is identified as One of the twenty subsidiary unwholesome mental factors within the Mahayana Abhidharma teachings One of the five faults or obstacles to shamatha meditation within the Mahayana teachings Closely related to the Pali term thina that is identified as one of the fourteen unwholesome mental factors within the Theravada Abhidharma teachingsTranslations ofKausidyaEnglishlaziness spiritual slothSanskritkausidya kausidyaTibetanལ ལ Wylie le lo THL lelo Glossary of Buddhism Contents 1 Explanation 2 Three types 3 Antidotes 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External linksExplanation EditMipham Rinpoche states Laziness kausidya is to cling to unwholesome activities such as lying down resting or stretching out and to procrastinate without taking delight in and engaging in what is virtuous It is the opponent of diligence virya 2 The Abhidharma samuccaya states What is laziness kausidya It is an unwilling mind associated with bewilderment erring relying on the pleasures of drowsiness lying down and not getting up Its function is to obstruct and hinder one in applying himself to positive things 1 Alan Wallace explains that kausidya lelo in Tibetan refers to a very specific type of laziness that is concerned only with virtuous activity Wallace explains lelo in Tibetan is often translated as laziness but it is much more specific If a person is working sixteen hours a day hellbent on earning a whole lot of money with absolutely no concern for virtue from a Buddhist perspective you could say that person is subject to lelo A workaholic is clearly not lazy but such a person is seen as lelo in the sense of being completely lethargic and slothful with regard to the cultivation of virtue and purification of the mind Our translation of this term is spiritual sloth which we have taken from the Christian tradition where it is very comparable to the Buddhist notion 3 Three types EditThe Mahayana tradition identifies three types of laziness not wanting to do anything discouragement and busyness 4 5 Laziness of not wanting to do anythingWe d rather stay in bed half an hour later than get up and meditate 4 Sakyong Mipham explains this type of laziness from the meditative point of view The mind has withdrawn into itself It feels impossible to do anything We feel like a snake crawling along the ground 5 Laziness of discouragement or feeling ourselves unworthy This involves thinking I can t do this or self doubt 4 Sakyong Mipham states We feel discouraged deflated or outnumbered by the obstacles that arise in our practice We take them personally Our belief in the solidity of obstacles grows and our belief in our ability to practice shrinks 5 Laziness of being busy with worldly things Tenzin Palmo states This is the point we fill our lives with activities Many of them are really very good activities but if we are not careful they can just be an escape I m not saying that you shouldn t do good and necessary things but there has to be breathing in as well as breathing out 4 Sakyong Mipham states Speediness is laziness when we use it as a way to avoid working with our minds 5 Antidotes EditMain article Five faults and eight antidotes Traditional texts identify four antidotes to laziness in the context of meditation practice Sakyong Mipham identifies these antidotes as follows 5 Suppleness involves being curious having a sense of appreciation and imagination Trust develops from experiencing the benefits of meditation practice Aspiration is trust with a sense of determination Effort an engaged mind that moves toward the act of meditation See also EditMental factors Buddhism ThinaReferences Edit a b Guenther 1975 Kindle Locations 967 968 a b Kunsang 2004 p 25 Goleman 2008 Kindle Locations 2489 2493 a b c d Three Kinds of Laziness by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo Tricycle a b c d e Sakyong Mimpham 2003 pp 84 101Sources EditGoleman Daniel 2008 Destructive Emotions A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama Bantam Kindle Edition Guenther Herbert V Kawamura Leslie S 1975 Mind in Buddhist Psychology A Translation of Ye shes rgyal mtshan s The Necklace of Clear Understanding Dharma Publishing Kindle Edition Kunsang Erik Pema 2004 Gateway to Knowledge Vol 1 North Atlantic Books Sakyong Mimpham 2003 Turning the Mind into an Ally Riverhead Books pp 84 101Further reading EditKhenchen Thrangu Rinpoche 1993 The Practice of Tranquility amp Insight A Guide to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Snow Lion Kindle Edition Traleg Kyabgon 2001 The Essence of Buddhism ShambhalaExternal links EditLooking into Laziness by Pema Chodron Shambhala Sun Three Kinds of Laziness by Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo Tricycle Primary Minds and the 51 Mental Factors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kausidya amp oldid 1060256875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
