Observing hindrances & seeing impermanence vs right effort I'm not sure whether it has been poorly taught by a monk but as far as I know the Buddha never really taught to just merely watch the hindrances, right? The sixth factor of the N8P is right effort and it calls us to do something about the hindrances. But why then does the Buddha at other times say that we have to see the impermanence, the unstability (non self) and the unsatisfactory nature of thoughts, feelings, emotions etc? Should we do both approaches or mainly right effort?
Val, hindrences have to be overcome by right effort and phenomenas, as they really are, can then be observed on a more refined level, a level that is then not so much subject of defilements. Right effort is required to build upon the foundations to errect the whole path and serves as entrance upon the Samadhi section and at the same time connects the other single elements of wheel so that it might beginn to roll for an end of suffering.

&quot;One tries to abandon wrong view &amp; to enter into right view: This is one's right effort...
&quot;One tries to abandon wrong resolve &amp; to enter into right resolve: This is one's right effort...
&quot;One tries to abandon wrong speech &amp; to enter into right speech: This is one's right effort...
&quot;One tries to abandon wrong action &amp; to enter into right action: This is one's right effort...
&quot;One tries to abandon wrong livelihood &amp; to enter into right livelihood: This is one's right effort.&quot;
— MN 117

There is no such as right concentration if there is not also the factor of right effort involved:

&quot;Now what, monks, is noble right concentration with its supports &amp; requisite conditions? Any singleness of mind equipped with these seven factors — right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, &amp; right mindfulness — is called noble right concentration with its supports &amp; requisite conditions.&quot;
— MN 117

The single factors are not to be seen as being abound once reaching a certain but as a coming together of all, like the single supports of a wooden wheel.
Of what is finally right effort on even the most subtile levels on knows after the gain of path and fruit.
Just this right effort, in simply ways taught by the Buddha to his son will bring one to the final liberation and to develope all needed factors.

&quot;Exertion is most helpful for the final attainment of the truth, Bharadvaja. If one didn't make an exertion, one wouldn't finally attain the truth. Because one makes an exertion, one finally attains the truth. Therefore, exertion is most helpful for the final attainment of the truth.&quot;...

So get up, dreamer, and go for an initiative!
[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma and not meant for commercial purpose or other low wordily gains by means of trade and exchange.]