The 8 things that control our lives without us noticing | The Eight Worldly Conditions
(Buddha's Wisdom) AI. Aug. 27, 2026:
🔍 THE EIGHT WORLDLY CONDITIONS SHAPING OUR LIVES — EVEN WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL. More than 2,600 years ago, the historical Buddha described Eight Worldly Conditions or Winds that continually affect human life:
(1) gain and (2) loss
(3) praise and (4) blame
(5) pleasure and (6) pain
(7) status and (8) disgrace.
I'm not bored or lonely. And I'm not a monkey!
Known today as the Eight Worldly Winds, this Buddhist teaching reveals why success, approval, comfort, criticism, disappointment, and reputation can move the mind/heart far more than we realize.
The surprising part? Buddhism doesn’t only warn us about loss, pain, blame, and disgrace. Gain, praise, pleasure, and status can consume us, too.
DISCOVER
Why the Eight Worldly Conditions always appear as four opposing pairs
Why the discourse says the pleasant four consume an untrained mind exactly as the painful four do
What the Buddha actually taught about gain and loss, praise and blame, pleasure and pain, status and disgrace
Why the conditions we want can control us as powerfully as the ones we resist
How a famous psychology experiment about sitting alone with your thoughts became widely misunderstood
Why Buddhism sees freedom not as escaping life’s ups and downs, but as understanding their impermanent nature
Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation of AN 8.6, which renders the three marks of each condition as inconstant, stressful, subject to change https://amzn.to/4xpbP6g
Thanissaro Bhikkhu on yasa, translated here as "status" rather than "fame"
Wilson, T. D. et al. (2014), "Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind," Science, Vol. 345
Sun Wukong appears as a story from Journey to the West, referenced as literature rather than as doctrine
Fox, K. C. R., Thompson, E., Andrews-Hanna, J. R. & Christoff, K. (2014), Is thinking really aversive? The authors challenged the popular interpretation of the experiment, noting that many participants who used the shock described curiosity as a motivation.
⚖️ FAIR USE DISCLAIMER: This video references The Social Network (2010, Columbia Pictures) for commentary, criticism, and educational analysis under Section 107 of the US Copyright Act. All rights to the film remain with the copyright holders. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
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Beginner's Mind (Japanese 初心 or shoshin) is a concept from Zen Buddhism. It means it's better to have an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of expectations or preconceptions when practicing meditation and exploring Dharma. Even at an advanced level, approach Truth as a beginner would.
Beginner's Mind is especially used in the study of Zen Buddhism and Japanese martial arts [1]. It became popular outside Japan because of Shunryū Suzuki's book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.
The practice of shoshin acts as a counter to the hubris and closed-mindedness often associated with thinking of oneself as an adept or expert [2].
When we let ourselves think we know everything, we leave no room for surprises, but reality is full of surprises.
For example, in the Einstellung Effect, a person becomes so accustomed to a certain way of doing things that s/he does not consider or acknowledge new ideas or approaches [3], such as thinking outside the box. Like let's say someone asks you, "Who are YOU?"
One more TikTok, hookup, sext, hit of dopamine
"I'm me," you say. Then this exchange takes place:
"You're not who you think you are."
"I'm who other people think I am."
"No, you're not even that."
"But, but, what else is there? If I'm not who I think I am, and I'm not who others think I am, do I just not exist?"
"No, you are who you think others think you are."
"Oh, yeah, because we're social creatures, right? There's always that [performative] factor of being watched, even if we only think we're being watched."
"Something like that."
"Ah, what do you know?"
"Hey, at least I got you to think outside the box, realize it's not binary -- a this or that, thesis or antithesis. There's often a synthesis, an interaction, a third or fourth option not thought of within the confines of the assumptions surrounding the question."
"Oh, yeah, huh?"
"Monkey."
The word shoshin combines sho (Japanese 初, "beginner" or "initial") and shin (Japanese 心, "mind" or "heart") [4], which is not necessarily the brain but the intuition, knowing, heart, or the ability to discern. More
The Christian and Jewish Bibles have so little to say about masturbation that in a mindboggling reach, Church officials (guilty Catholics or officious Protestants or killjoy Jews) could only come up with the story of Onan and the awkward, inapplicable synonymous term "onanism." Nothing could be less connected to masturbation.
A Jewish man's brother dies, leaving his wife without a child. By Jewish custom and (levirate) law, he has to impregnate her in his absence. But just as he finishes the fun part his duty, he thinks better of it, reflecting on how troublesome another child and/or wife will be for him and not wanting to be burdened by those responsibilities, he withdraws as he finishes. God is so p'd off, we're told, that He smites (murders) him on the spot for "spilling his seed" on the ground rather than the fertile woman. Voila! Masturbation. Which as we all know involves having procreative sex with a partner but then changing your mind, right? 🙄
Buddhism and sexuality In Buddhism, prohibitions against masturbation apply to monastics. By extension lay people may undertake to avoid them, and that is healthy and good, but one can no more find a "commandment" against it for ordinary people in Buddhist texts as one could locate one in Christian texts. Inciting lust, particularly through porn, is terribly harmful, and the Buddha did say something to the effect that it would be better to swallow a red-hot iron ball. But even that is in reference to being an "immoral monastic" swallowing food offered as alms by laypeople. If one insists on having sex (or fornicating, which means doing it without being married), go Tantric.
A man nudged his wife for some nookie in front of their child. She asked him, "What?" - "How about we, you know?" - "What, are you crazy? You're going to ask me for that in front of our baby?!" - "Well, what do you want me to do?" - "Next time you want some whoopie, ask me to do 'a load of laundry.'" - "Oh, O.K." - Later that night, the wife primps and preps and makes a dramatic entrance in the bedroom. But the husband rolls over, turning his back to her. She pokes him and angrily and says, "I thought you wanted me to do a load of laundry!?" - "Oh, that's O.K. It was a small load. I did it by hand."
Fortunately, Wiki has this caveat: The word onanism is not based on the biblical story of Onan itself but on an interpretation of that biblical story. For the word onanism is not found in any form in biblical texts. Thus, the etymological connection of onanism (as masturbation) with Onan's name is religiously misleading" [62][47]. More
The No Kings protests, also known internationally as the No Dictators or No Tyrants protests, is a series of demonstrations, largely in the United States, against what the organizers describe as authoritarian policies of Donald Trump and corruption in his administration [3][4][5].
What will it accomplish? - I'dunno. - What is it meant to accomplish? - Absolutely nothing, by design. - It just makes us feel good.
Protests first took place on June 14, 2025 (labelled as "No Kings Day" by the 5051 organizers and participants) on the same day as the U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade and Trump's 79th birthday.
We demand more experimental vaccines!
It's George Soros funded? Agenda 2030? Permits were applied for and police consulted for a nice autumn day of funny signs safe for everyone. Organizers have planned the "No Kings protests 2.0" for Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 [6]. More
(NoKings.org) In June 2025, millions of everyday Americans from every walk of life peacefully took to the streets and declared with one voice: "No Kings." The world saw the power of the people, and Pres. Trump’s attempt at a royal coronation collapsed under the strength of a movement rising against his abuses of power. Now, he’s doubling down — sending militarized [ICE] agents into our communities, silencing voters, and handing billionaires giveaways while families struggle. This isn’t just politics. It’s democracy versus dictatorship. And together, we’re choosing democracy. [And alone, Trump chooses dictatorship. Maybe we should crown him president and put him on the cover of TIME?]
Protest, eat cake, just don't ask me about Epstein
Even as Pres. Trump has cracked down on dissent and illegally sent military and paramilitary troops into multiple cities to conduct police activities (posse comitatus), organizers of Saturday's anti-authoritarian "No Kings" protests expect millions to join at least 2,500 rallies across all 50 states and several U.S. territories.
The turnout could surpass the 5 million protesters who turned out for "No Kings Day" events in June 2025.
We don't do kings...unless they do us first.
"We are engaging in the most American activity in the world, which is coming together in peaceful protest of our government," says Jewish Leah Greenberg, co-founder and co-executive director of the progressive organization Indivisible.
ICE was invented using the pretext of 9/11.
Trump's threats against the protests are a "classic exercise of the authoritarian playbook, to try to create fear, to try to threaten, to try to make people back off preemptively," she adds.
"There will be no fear, but the fear of what will happen to us if we don't mobilize," says Alderman Byron Sigcho Lopez of the 25th Ward in Chicago, where mass protests are expected.
A nice summer No Kings protest day in sunny SoCal, downtown Los Angeles, June 14, 2025
Is 'No Kings' real or controlled opposition?
Indivisible Movement is a crock. I did not authorize it. AOC, Hillary, and Joe don't back it.
"Controlled opposition" means a group that stands as a placeholder for actual opposition, but who are completely ineffective.
Therefore, a ruler controls even the so-called "opposition" in an adversarial relationship. It is as if one's defense attorney were bought off by lawyers for the prosecution to ensure a conviction.
Hey, Leah, stay in your lane! I'm the Savior here
In this sense, everything is controlled by the ruling group, or the Uniparty, without necessarily a direct conspiracy taking place.
Example in 1984
In George Orwell's dystopian novelNineteen Eighty-Four, anyone who thought s/he was rising up against fascism and the Dictator Big Brother would get behind the [Jewish] "opposition" leader Emmanuel Goldstein and his organization "The Brotherhood."
It was fake, as the failed protagonist (Winston Smith) painfully found out. There was no real opposition. It was just a trick of the Inner Party (O'Brien) and Big Brother and the Thought Police, controlled opposition. Read the novel; there's a reason it's famous.
The Jimmy Dore Show is a sarcastic, satirical, and very informative show that, while on the Left, is accused of being on the Right because it dares to stick to the truth rather than following the mainstream media's talking points on my subjects dear to liberals, progressives, and radicals. It airs weekdays at about 4:00-6:00 pm on YouTube and Rumble and at jimmydore.com.
Democracy Now!is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations M-F 8:00-9:00 am ET. Go more in-depth and watch livestream atdemocracynow.org.
(BBC Global) Oct. 6, 2025: Over the last 20 years, there has been a decline in the amount time Americans spend at parties, especially among young people.
Derek Thompson and Katty Kay dive into what the effects of decreased socializing are among young people and what can be done about it.
The BBC is a British public broadcast service. Subscribe to BBC Global. For the latest news, analyses, and features visit: bbc.com
#BBC #entertainment #GenZ #Zoomers
Ashley Banfield, Blabby Gabby (Drop Dead Serious); Women of Crime; Team Double Standard, Amanda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Ashley Wells, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
How governments spy on protestors—and how to avoid it | Incognito Mode | WIRED (WIRED) Law enforcement’s ability to track and profile peaceful political protestors has become increasingly multifaceted and technology-driven.
In this edition of Incognito Mode, WIRED Senior Editor, Security, and Investigations Andrew Couts and WIRED Senior Writer Lily Hay Newman discuss the technologies used by cops that put citizens' privacy at risk — and how to avoid them.
Shop for products discussed in this episode of Incognito Mode:
Silent Pocket SLNT Faraday Waterproof Backpack: amzn.to/42ePTOg.
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When buying something through these affiliate links, WIRED earns a commission.
0:00 How governments spy on protestors
0:44 Facial recognition
5:31 Social media
9:24 IMSI catchers
12:17 Geofencing
13:40 Data brokers
16:46 License plate readers
18:33 Drones
20:10 Emerging tech
23:23 How to protect yourself
Director: Efrat Kashai. Director of Photography: Brad Wickham. Editor: Matthew Colby. Host: Andrew Couts. Guest: Lily Newman. Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi. Associate Producer: Paul Gulyas. Production Manager: Peter Brunette. Production Coordinator: Rhyan Lark. Camera Operator: Mar Alfonso. Gaffer: Niklas Moller. Sound Mixer: Sean Paulsen. Production Assistant: Malaia Simms. Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin. Supervising Editor: Erica DeLeo. Assistant Editor: Justin Symonds.
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ABOUT: WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture.
WIRED, April 16, 2025; Pfc. Sandoval, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Americans exaggerate how often they actually go to church
I'm the most religious of all. - Touch it. - No.
(ReligionForBreakfast) New research using smartphone location data reveals a massive gap between how often Americans say they attend religious services and how often they actually do.
00:00 Intro
00:43 Problems with self-reported surveys
2:20 How the smartphone study worked
5:12 The results
[Cellphones are spying on me, my location, activities, and every single thing we say in private like wearing a wire for The Man even when we think the phones are off?] Are surveys wrong? Are memories fuzzy?
Here's what the data really shows about religion in America.
Why Buddhism accepts other religions (while others do not)
Discover how the historical Buddha's radical approach to religious and spiritual acceptance changed history forever and why this solution might be exactly what our divided world needs today.
This is the story of how the Buddha's Dharma or "Doctrine" built bridges while others built walls. DISCOVER:
Why the Buddha shocked religious leaders with his revolutionary approach
How ancient temples prove Buddhism's unique acceptance of other faiths
The surprising reason other religions couldn't follow the Buddha's path
How Buddhist ideas strengthened other religious traditions [particularly what came to be known as Hinduism, derived from the Vedic and Brahminical religions of proto-India]
Why modern scientists are fascinated by Buddhism's inclusive approach
Why companies the world over implement "mindfulness" (sati) training courses
🎬 TIMESTAMPS
00:00 The most accepting religion?
02:05 Pattern of history
04:26 The defense of faith
06:42 Buddha's revolutionary move
08:52 Mind-blowing success
11:57 The Buddhist secret
14:47 Challenge
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Religion for Breakfast, March 27, 2025; Buddha's Wisdom, Jan. 8, 2025; Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
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