8 Worldly Conditions

Exploring the Facts of Life –
the Eight Worldly Conditions

- according to the view point of Ven. Narada Mahathera
Optimist:
Life is absolutely rosy
Pessimist:
The world is full of thorny
Realistic Standpoint:
The world is abounds with
beautiful roses and prickly
thorns as well.
They appreciate roses as it is and understand

the nature of the thorns, view them as they are
and will take precaution not to be wounded.
8 Worldly
Conditions
"These eight worldly
conditions, bhikkhus,
ceaselessly revolve
around the world while
the world ceaselessly
revolves around the eight
worldly conditions."
-Lokavipatti Sutta-
8 Worldly Conditions:
Vicissitudes of Life
(Atthalokadhamma)
Desirable Undesirable
Gain (labha) Loss (alabha)
Fame (yasa) Defame(ayasa)
Praise(pasamsa) Blame(ninda)
Happiness(sukha) Pain (dukha)

Gain (lobha) Vs Loss (alaha)
• Business world: profit
and loss
- material gains/
happiness though
temporary, does
conduce to health and
longevity
Problem arises in case of lose
- often lead to mental derangement
- When unbearable, think of suicide
The recommend remedy:
- Exhibit moral courage and maintain a balance
mind.
- Console oneself thinking-
d. “ someone had benefited thereby though
unrighteously, may he be well and happy”
e. “Its only a minor loss”
6. Philosophical attitude- “There is nothing to be
called Me or Mine”
Visakha, the Buddha’s Chief female
lay disciple,lost her expensive
garment in a monastery.
Instead of grieving over the

temporary loss, she took it as an
opportunity to perform a meritorious
act/ practice a sublime virtue.
Fame (yasa) Vs Defame (ayasa)
Fame:
- Most welcome, gladden our hearts
- Most laymen desire to become famous,
willing to pay at any price.
- Most people do even a good action with an
ulterior motive.
Fame:
- If we are worthy of fame, it will come to us
unsought, the bee will be attracted to the
flower, the flower does not invite the bee.
Defame:
- It is palatable either to the ear or mind.
- The pain of mind is still greater when the
so-called report is unjust and absolutely
false.
- It take years or lifetime to build up good
reputation but it can be ruin in just a very
short time.
- We may live the life of a
Buddha, but we will not be
exempt from criticism,
attacks and insults.
Some antagonist of
the Buddha spread the
rumour that a lady used to
spend night in the monastery,
Buddha and his disciple
murdered that lady…
Sometimes, it is needless to waste
time in correcting the false reports
unless the situation compel you to
make clarification.
The enemy is gratified when he sees

that you are hurt. If you are
indifference, such misinterpretation
will fall on deaf ears.
Useful Advise: The World

is full of thorns and pebbles.
It is impossible to remove
them.
But if we have to walk in
spite of such obstacles, it is
advisable to wear a pairs of
slippers and walk
harmlessly.
Praise (pasamsa) Vs Blame (ninda)
Being praised – elated
Being blamed – depressed
The wise: do not exhibit either elation or
depression like a solid rock that is not shaken by
the wind they remain unmoved.
Praise: if worthy, is pleasing to the ears.

Flattery: unworthy, though pleasing, it is deceptive
Worldly standpoint: a word of praise goes a long way,

sometimes it is used to obtain favour.
Blame!!!
The Buddha says: They who speak much are blamed.
They who speak a little are blamed. They who are
silent are also blamed. In this world there is none
who is not blamed.
The deluded and wicked are prone to seek only the

ugliness in others but not the good and beautiful.
One may help others to the best of
one’s ability, but later the very persons
whom one has helped will find fault
with him, even rejoice for his downfall.
Devadatta, a pupil and cousin of the

Buddha, who made an unsuccessful
attempt to crush Him to death by
hurling a rock from above.
Buddha was invited by a Brahmin for
alms to his house.When Buddha
visited his house, the Brahmin try to
insults Buddha through words.
The Buddha did not retaliate, but

politely gave back what the Brahmin
gave him.
Blame are the common lot of humanity.

When being blamed, we should think that
we are being given an opportunity to practice
patience. Instead of being offended, we should
be grateful to our adversaries.
Happiness (sukha) Vs Pain (dukha)
What can be endured with ease – sukha
What is difficult to bear – dukha
Sensual Pleasure – illusory and temporary

Material possessions- genuine happiness?
Real happiness – is found within
4 kinds of happiness for Layman:
• Happiness of possession (atthi sukha)

• Enjoyment of such possessions (bhoga sukha)
• Not falling into debt (ananasukha)
• Leading a blameless life (anavajjasukha)
Nibbanic bliss- bliss of relief from suffering,

is the highest form of happiness.
Happiness (sukha) Vs Pain
(dukha)
Pain ( Dukha)
2. Old Age
3. Decease
4. Separation with the loved one
5. Meet with the unpleasant
5. Death
Pain ( Dukha)
Sometimes, death comes not singly but in numbers
Which may even cause insanity
Kisagotami: required by Budhha to get

some mustard seed from a house where
no one has died.
The Buddha said:When touched by worldly
conditions the mind of an Arahant never
waves. Admist gain and loss, fame and
defame, praise and blame, happiness and
pain, let us try to maintain a balanced mind.
8 Winds of Change
The Buddha: World as an unending flux
of becoming
“What exist is changeable and what is
not changeable does not exist”
Impermanent (Anicca)
• The World is a passing phenomenon.
Thus all gods and human beings and
animals and material forms – everything in
this universe – is subject to the law of
impermanency
Suffering
• If our mind seeks a permanent existence
but life creates an impermanent physical
body. +
We take this as life, and then
unsatisfactoriness disturbs the mind.
=
Suffering
Lotus
• We are living in muddy world.
Numerous are the lotuses that
spring therefrom. Without being
contaminated by the mud, they
adorn the world.
Like lotuses we should try to lead

beamless noble lives, ignore the
mud that may be thrown to us.
Lotus
• Cultivate non-
attachment:
alone we come,
alone we go.
• Non-attachment
is happiness in
this world.

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Exploring the Facts of Life –

the Eight Worldly Conditions

They appreciate roses as it is and understand

Fame (yasa) Defame(ayasa)

Happiness(sukha) Pain (dukha)

Instead of grieving over the

The enemy is gratified when he sees

Useful Advise: The World

Praise: if worthy, is pleasing to the ears.

Worldly standpoint: a word of praise goes a long way,

The deluded and wicked are prone to seek only the

Devadatta, a pupil and cousin of the

The Buddha did not retaliate, but

Blame are the common lot of humanity.

Sensual Pleasure – illusory and temporary

• Happiness of possession (atthi sukha)

Nibbanic bliss- bliss of relief from suffering,

Kisagotami: required by Budhha to get

Like lotuses we should try to lead

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