From Buddhism: Antarayika-Dhamma (3) Obstructing Physical Conditions

The Anguttara Nikaya deals with eight obstructing conditions, which can be considered physical. Birth in hell; in the animal world; among the spirits of the dead; among the long-lived deva community; in outlying countries among unintelligent barbarians where there is no scope for monks and nuns, for lay disciples, male or female; in the middle country yet holding wrong views; in the middle country as a man foolish and unable to distinguish between good and bad.

All these forms of birth are considered obstructing conditions at a time when the Buddha has appeared on earth. It is said that even if one is born in the middle country and is possessed of intelligence, if a Buddha has not appeared on earth at that time, it is an obstructing condition. Because of this, birth or residence in a suitable environment is considered to be a blessing.

In connection with the admission to the Order of monks occur certain obstructing conditions which are also physical. Disease such as leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption and epilepsy prevent a person from embracing the life of a monk. There are other disqualifications such as not being a human, a man, freed from slavery, unindebted, and disqualifications which obstruct an individual from entering the Order of monks, there are others such as not completing twenty years and lack of a bowl and robes that prevent him from receiving the higher ordination.

In the case of the admission of women into the Order of nuns some other obstructing conditions in addition to those mentioned above, are given. If a woman were to be seen without sexual characteristics, who is defective in sex, bloodless, of stagnant blood, who is always dressed and dripping, deformed, who is a female eunuch, a manlike woman, whose sexuality is indistinct and who is a hermaphrodite, such a woman is not to be admitted into the Order.

These obstructing conditions which are has physical disease and disqualification, came to be multiplied, with the passage of time, as a result of the growth and evolution of the community of monks and the admission of undesirable people into the Order. On other hand, the obstructions that are mental seem to constitute and stumbling blocks, for they lie on the way to the attainment of the perfect happiness of Nibbana.