Eight worldly concerns

Four pairs of attachment and aversion

In Thubten Chodron’s Tibetan Buddhist teaching, the eight worldly concerns describe attachment to the desired side of each pair and aversion to its opposite. Her explanation places them within concern for the happiness of this life.

Gain and loss

Wanting money and possessions; resisting their loss or not receiving them.

Praise and blame

Seeking approval; resenting criticism or disapproval.

Reputation and disrepute

Wanting a favorable public image; fearing a damaged reputation.

Pleasure and pain

Clinging to pleasant sensory experiences; rejecting unpleasant ones.

Sources: Thubten Chodron · Eight worldly concerns · Her explanation of the eight attachments and aversions

The eight worldly conditions in AN 8.6

Bhikkhu Sujato’s translation lists:

Gain and loss, fame and disgrace, blame and praise, pleasure and pain.

The discourse says that both an ordinary person and a learned noble disciple encounter these conditions. It distinguishes their responses. Of the learned disciple, it says:

A learned noble disciple encounters gain. They reflect: ‘I’ve encountered this gain. It’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable.’ They truly understand it.

The same reflection is applied to the other conditions. The passage continues:

So gain and loss, fame and disgrace, blame and praise, and pleasure and pain don’t occupy their mind. They don’t favor gain or oppose loss. They don’t favor fame or oppose disgrace. They don’t favor praise or oppose blame. They don’t favor pleasure or oppose pain.

Worldly Conditions (2nd) · AN 8.6

Further study

Chodron discusses these concerns as obstacles to the determination to be free. Her teaching examines the motivations behind practice, including wanting approval, possessions or status.