Light of Dharma — Free Buddhist Meditation, Sutta Pitaka & Nāgārjuna Philosophy Sanctuary

A 100% free, ad-free, self-paced sanctuary for mindfulness meditation, canonical chanting, and Buddhist philosophical inquiry.

Core Curricula & Study Tracks

Light of Dharma offers four deep-learning paths grounded in authentic canonical texts:

28-Day Sanctuary Course: Daily contemplation, breath meditation, and reflective journaling exploring Dukkha, Anicca, Anatta, the 5 Hindrances, and the Noble Eightfold Path.
Nāgārjuna & the Middle Way: 10 gateways into Madhyamaka philosophy, Mūlamadhyamakakārikā analysis, and dialectical inquiry beyond nihilism and eternalism.
The Wheel & The Web: 16 modules on the 12 links of Dependent Origination (Paṭicca-samuppāda), the Bhavacakra mandala, and interactive psychological labs.
Sacred Sutta Library: Canonical discourses with authentic Pali phonetics, Chinese Buddhist translations with Pinyin, and meditative commentaries.
Dharma Journal & Practice Ledger: Personal contemplative reflections, Pali terminology glossary, and habit tracking.

The 10 Canonical Suttas & Sūtras

Nāgārjuna & the Middle Way (10 Gateways)

Direct Course Navigation

Guided Buddhist Topic Hubs (Question-Led Inquiries)

Buddhist Terms in Context (Canonical Glossary)

Free Group Study & Facilitator Resources

Editorial Transparency & Machine-Readable Access

Public Dharma glossary

Nīvaraṇa

Pronunciation: nee-VAH-rah-na

Canonical definition: The collective name for five states that obstruct clarity and concentration.

Morphological structure

ni- (down, away) + √var (cover, obstruct): an obstruction or hindrance.

Canonical usage

The collective name for five states that obstruct clarity and concentration.

Common misunderstanding

A hindrance is a conditioned visitor, not proof that someone is bad at meditation.

Practical significance

Accurate recognition allows a tailored antidote instead of self-judgment.

Source anchor

Satipaṭṭhāna teaching framework