Eight Worldly Conditions of Buddhism

[edepot]

In Buddhism, desire is one of the precursors of suffering. The 8-fold path leads one towards harmony with the world.
A master is unmoved by the 8 worldly conditions...

1) gain/benefit
2) loss/devastation
3) fame/acclaim
4) defame/bad repute
5) praise/approval
6) blame/ridicule
7) pleasure/happiness
8) pain/suffering


"The Eight Winds Cannot Move Me

Su Dongpo was a famous Buddhist poet of the Song Dynasty assigned to the official post at Guazhuo (located at the northern shore of the Yangtze River). Across the river, on the southern shore, is Jinshan (Golden Mountain) Temple (where Zen/Chan Master Foyin lived). Su Dongpo, one day, feeling accomplished in his practice, wrote a poem and asked his servant to give it to Chan Master Foyin for feedback. Here is the content of the poem:

"Bowing with my highest respect
To the deva of devas,
Whose fine light illuminates the whole universe,
The eight winds cannot move me,
For I am sitting upright on the golden purple lotus blossom."

("The deva of devas" figuratively refer to "the Buddha", who is actually not a god, but surpasses all the gods and is "Teacher of men and gods." The "eight winds" are the eight worldly conditions - gain and loss, fame and defame, praise and blame, pleasure and pain. "The golden purple lotus blossom" is a symbol of purity and a "throne" of spiritual attainment.)

After receiving the poem from the attendant and reading it, Chan Master Foyin picked up the brush and wrote down one word as his comment. When the attendant came back with the poem, Su Dongpo, expecting words of praise from the Chan Master, quickly opened it to read the comment. However, on that page, nothing was written except the word "Fart!" ("Pi" in Chinese, which means "utter nonsense") Upon seeing such an insult, Su Dongpo was ablaze with the fire of anger. Immediately, he boarded a boat and crossed the Yangtze River to argue with Chan Master Foyin.

Before the boat even pulled onto the shore, Chan Master Foyin was already standing there waiting for Su Dongpo. Upon seeing Foyin, Su Dongpo said, "Chan Master, we are such intimate Dharma friends! It is fine that you do not compliment my practice or my poem. But how can you insult me like this?"

Innocently, as if nothing had happened, the Chan Master asked, "How have I insulted you?" Without saying another word, Su Dongpo simply showed the word "Fart" to Chan Master Foyin.

Laughing wholeheartedly, the Chan Master said, "Oh! Didn't you say that the eight winds cannot move you? How come you are sent across the river with just a fart?" Hearing what Foyin said, Su Dongpo was extremely embarrassed."