Eight impossible states where mind cuts us off from the Dharma

The eight impossible states where mind cuts us off from the Dharma (Tib. རིས་ཆད་བློ་ཡི་མི་ཁོམས་བརྒྱད་, riché lo yi mikhom gyé, Wyl. ris chad blo yi mi khoms brgyad) are:

1. having little renunciation
2. lacking the jewel of devotion
3. caught in the bonds of worldly ties and cravings
4. having crude, degenerate behaviour
5. never holding back from negative, harmful actions
6. lacking the slightest real interest
7. vows all broken
8. samaya commitments torn to shreds

Longchenpa’s Wish-Fulfilling Treasury explains:

Being bound by fetters and having extremely unwholesome conduct,

Not feeling weary about samsara and not possessing the slightest faith,

Engaging in unvirtuous misdeeds and separating mind and Dharma.

And corrupting one’s precepts and samayas―

These are called the eight unfree states due to an unfortunate frame of mind. [aka eight impossible states where mind cuts us off from the Dharma.

Alternative Translations

• Eight incompatible propensities that leave no freedom to practise the Dharma
• Eight unfree states due to an unfortunate frame of mind (Erik Pema Kunsang)
• Eight incompatible tendencies that prevent true practice of the Dharma (Padmakara Translation Group in Treasury of Precious Qualities)

Internal Links

• Eight freedoms
• Eight incidental circumstances which make Dharma impossible
• Five personal advantages
• Five circumstantial advantages