The Five Faults

Maitreya says in his Discrimination of the Middle Way and the Extremes (Madhyantavibhanga):

The cause of its arising (calm abiding) is to observe the relinquishing of the five faults and the application of the eight antidotes.

The five faults to be relinquished are:

1)    Laziness: not wishing to cultivate meditative stabilisation.

2)    Forgetfulness: not remembering the object of meditation.

3)    Lethargy and excitement: interruptions of meditative stabilisation.

4)    Non-application of the antidotes: occurring when lethargy and excitement arise.

5)    Over-application of the antidotes: continuing to apply the antidotes even though lethargy and excitement have been extinguished.