Generalized Anxiety, what kilesa is that?

[Alex123]

Hello all,

1) I wonder, what kilesa is GA?
2) What akusala root feeds it? (most likely either moha or dosa)
3) What kind of perversion/vipallasa is it related to?

Thanks,

Alex

[daverupa]

There is no list of kilesas in the suttas; I'd lump it into one or another hindrance and get to work on it alongside other medical interventions - sometimes it can be genetic.

Maybe flurry-n-worry, as a category, covers anxiety in general.

[Babadhari]

i'm no expert but perhaps uddhacca (restlessness) ?

[Alex123]

i'm no expert but perhaps uddhacca (restlessness) ?

I thought about that too, but it seems that uddhacca is related to restlessness of a monk who thinks he may have broken Vinaya. In the context of meditation, that of course matters.

Six things are conducive to the abandonment of restlessness and remorse:

1. Knowledge of the Buddhist scriptures (Doctrine and Discipline);

2. Asking questions about them;

3. Familiarity with the Vinaya (the Code of Monastic Discipline, and for lay followers, with the principles of moral conduct);

4. Association with those mature in age and experience, who possess dignity, restraint and calm;

5. Noble friendship;

6. Suitable conversation.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... .html#rest

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

I am wondering what you mean by “Generalized Anxiety.”

What about shame and dread? Isn't that also some kind of anxiety about what people might say if they learn about our misdeeds, or where we might be reborn after death due to those misdeeds.

Hiri and Ottappa are wholesome dhammas.

[Alex123]

Bhante,

I am wondering what you mean by “Generalized Anxiety.”

When I feel irrational anxiety about many mundane actions that do not deserve such anxiety. Lets say: asking directions from a stranger on the street, talking on the phone, driving in unknown places, etc. Obviously none of this is related to misdeeds or shameful acts.

[kmath]

Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosable. There's a description here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/genera ... er/DS00502

[Mkoll]

Whenever there is questions about psychological disorders, I think that either a person actually has disorder (it's psychophysical) or they are deluding themself into believing they have a disorder (purely psychological). Regardless of the source, I've found this part of MN 2 to be most helpful. Here is my summary of it.

MN 2: Sabbāsava Sutta, All the Taints

What are the taints to be abandoned by seeing?

He understands what is fit for attention and what is unfit for attention. Since that is so, he does not attend to those things unfit for attention and he attends to those things fit for attention.

Things unfit for attention are those things that when given attention to, increase and give rise to the taints of sensual desire, being, and ignorance.
"There is the case where an uninstructed, run-of-the-mill person... doesn't discern what ideas are fit for attention, or what ideas are unfit for attention... This is how he attends inappropriately: 'Was I in the past? Was I not in the past? What was I in the past? How was I in the past? Having been what, what was I in the past? Shall I be in the future? Shall I not be in the future? What shall I be in the future? How shall I be in the future? Having been what, what shall I be in the future?' Or else he is inwardly perplexed about the immediate present: 'Am I? Am I not? What am I? How am I? Where has this being come from? Where is it bound?'"

Things fit for attention are those things that, when given attention to, don't give rise to taints and abandon arisen taints (sense desire, being, and ignorance).
He attends wisely to the 4 Noble Truths and attains to stream entry.

So I would say that the kilesa is unwise attention and believing that in reality a permanent self exists which can be ascribed attributes like a "disorder".

[befriend]

i also have anxiety, and what i know is helping me is that i do not look for pleasure as my home. i turn my mind towards burning up craving not increasing craving. When a desire arises say for a chocolate bar i don't eat the chocolate bar, i let the desire burn itself up it hurts but its not me that's hurting its the defilment that's hurting. the more i do this the more relaxed i am in daily life. but i make sure i balance my craving so i drink atleast 2 cups of coffee a day, so my renunciation becomes workable. with metta, befriend

[Babadhari]

i also have anxiety, and what i know is helping me is that i do not look for pleasure as my home. i turn my mind towards burning up craving not increasing craving. When a desire arises say for a chocolate bar i don't eat the chocolate bar, i let the desire burn itself up it hurts but its not me that's hurting its the defilment that's hurting. the more i do this the more relaxed i am in daily life. but i make sure i balance my craving so i drink atleast 2 cups of coffee a day, so my renunciation becomes workable. with metta, befriend

hi befriend

does the coffee increase your anxiety?

[befriend]

I don't know I cant remember a time I went without coffee but someone who has anxiety said that when they work out hard in the morning, and don't drink coffee they are a lot less anxious.

[Babadhari]

i dont drink coffee often anymore, but when i do i get very strong sensations from it. i view it as an intoxicant at this point.

[Mkoll]

i dont drink coffee often anymore, but when i do i get very strong sensations from it.

Likewise. My mind is racing and I can't stop urinating! Even black tea is too much. Green tea or chocolate is as far as I'd like to go.

befriend: try quitting or weaning yourself off of coffee and you'll probably get all sorts of unpleasant withdrawal systems. But if you go through it all the way I bet life would look a lot different and in a good way.

[befriend]

thank you for that impetus, I think you are right, the renunciation and the lack of stimulating caffeine would undoubtedly help me. , befriend

[Alex123]

There is no list of kilesas in the suttas; I'd lump it into one or another hindrance and get to work on it alongside other medical interventions - sometimes it can be genetic.

Maybe flurry-n-worry, as a category, covers anxiety in general.

It seems that generalized anxiety is different from remorse&regret because remorse&regret is related to issues of Dhamma. Also it is 9th fetter, and I think that Anagami don't have generalized anxiety.

So far, my best guess is that it is mix of dosa + delusion .