The 'eight winds' are eight influences that agitate and inflame the human heart and mind. They consist of four favorable circumstances (prosperity, honor, praise, and pleasure) and four setbacks (decline, disgrace, censure, and suffering). Their contents are roughly as follows:
• Prosperity: to obtain what one desires
• Decline: to suffer loss
• Honor: to be admired and praised in one’s absence
• Disgrace: to be criticized and defamed in one’s absence (behind one’s back)
• Praise: to be admired and praised directly
• Censure: to be criticized and defamed directly
• Pleasure: to be happy in body and mind
• Suffering: to suffer in body and mind
People naturally seek out the four favorable circumstances and try to avoid the four setbacks. This is why their defenses can be penetrated by these eight winds. The four favorable circumstances are viewed as rewards of the world of Heaven and the four setbacks as retributions of the three evil paths. For the most part, life consists of repeated encounters with these eight winds, what is termed in Buddhism 'transmigration of the six paths.'"
http://www.nst.org/articles/guideposts-in-faith/do-not-be-swayed-by-the-eight-winds/
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