Eight worldly preoccupations

The eight worldly preoccupations or samsaric dharmas (Tib. འཇིག་རྟེན་ཆོས་བརྒྱད་, jikten chö gyé, Wyl. ‘jig rten chos brgyad) are where all one’s actions are governed by:

• hope for happiness and fear of suffering,
• hope for fame and fear of insignificance,
• hope for praise and fear of blame,
• hope for gain and fear of loss;

basically attachment and aversion.

They are mentioned in verse 29 of Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend.

Alternative Translations

• eight worldly concerns
• eight mundane obsessions
• eight worldly dharmas

External Links

• Advice on abandoning the eight worldly concerns by Nyala Pema Dündul