The following talk was given at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California.

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In this fifth talk on the topic of knowing and not knowing,

I'll focus on another aspect of not knowing. And that's the difference

between the hindrance of doubt and wise or skillful doubt, doubt that's useful. So in the hindrance

of doubt, that hindrance can be one of the trickiest because it causes us to not fully apply ourselves in the moment.

It makes it easy to get lost in our thinking, you know, going back and forth within decision, you know, just holding back from

applying ourselves in the moment.

We can question our own ability.

We can question the method we're using, the teacher or the teachings.

You might think, you know, I don't think I can do this, or am I doing it right?

Or should I try another method and go back and forth?

Maybe I'll try this.

Maybe I'll try that.

Is it true what the teacher said about the meditation?

It's the true of what the teaching said about practice, about the teachings.

Every one of those doubts might be useful, but not during meditation.

I like to think of the hindrance of doubt as premature questioning.

It just isn't the right time.

It's not a useful time.

It keeps us from going deeper in meditation,

from really engaging in the practice.

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