Eight incidental circumstances which make Dharma impossible

The eight incidental circumstances which make Dharma impossible (Tib. འཕྲལ་བྱུང་རྐྱེན་གྱི་མི་ཁོམས་བརྒྱད་, tral jung kyen gyi mikhom gyé, Wyl. ‘phral byung rkyen gyi mi khoms brgyad) are:

1. being misled by corrupting influences
2. the five poisons raging inside
3. when negative karma overtakes us
4. being distracted by laziness
5. being enslaved
6. practising out of fear
7. merely pretending to practise
8. being chronically senseless and stupid

Longchenpa’s Wish-Fulfilling Treasury explains:

Being disturbed by the five poisons, deluded, and possessed by the maras,

Being lazy and letting the sea of evil karma overflow,

Being controlled by others, seeking shelter from fear, and pretending to be dharmic―

These are the eight unfree states due to temporary conditions. (Aka Eight incidental circumstances which make Dharma impossible)

Alternative Translations

• Eight intrusive circumstances that leave no freedom to practise the Dharma (Padmakara)
• Eight unfree states due to temporary conditions (Erik Pema Kunsang)
• Eight obstructive circumstances that prevent true practice of the Dharma (Padmakara Translation Group in Treasury of Precious Qualities

Internal Links

• Eight impossible states where mind cuts us off from the Dharma
• Eight freedoms
• Five circumstantial advantages
• Five personal advantages