Dharma talk on 15/10/93
(page 84-86 Achievement of Rainbow Light Body Volume seven)
Today I am going to talk about "pride", that is, self-conceit, or looking down on others.
Generally speaking, human beings have the common traits of greed, hatred, ignorance, doubt and pride. And the Hinayana School of Buddhism has prescribed that the "impartial mind" be used as the antidote. By treating all human beings as equal, we will never be arrogant. The word "no" is stressed in the Buddhist saying: "No ego, no human and no sentient being." The act of a Bodhisattva is for the good of others; he does not show his pride. Hence the Mahayana School of Buddhism lays stress on altruism.
If we are compassionate towards those less fortunate, less capable, and less intelligent human beings, we will not be arrogant and look down on them.
In short, compassion, altruism and impartiality are used by Mahayana and Hinayana, respectively, to deal with personal pride.
The Tantrayana school uses a slightly different approach. It proclaims that human pride can be transformed into a Buddha dignity. What is Buddha dignity ? It is the unrivaled pride of a Buddha. The difference between these two types of pride is very subtle.
In order to succor others, an enlightened cultivator will make great vows like all the other Buddhas . In so doing he will exude dignity like that of a Buddha when he succors sentient beings compassionately and fearlessly.
Sakyamuni Buddha was venerated and respected by many . He exuded the Buddha dignity we just talked about. By devoting his whole life, money and power towards dharma teaching, he liberated many sentient beings. He did not take pride in what he did , and thus earned the admiration of many . His pride disappeared when he gained enlightenment.
In conclusion , this is how pride is dealt with:
Hinayana stresses on impartiality.
Mahayana emphasizes on altruism.
And Tantrayana transforms pride to dignity .
As you know, all kinds of antidotes are prescribed by Buddhism to cure the five poisons of greed , hatred, ignorance, doubt and pride. It would be better still if we can transcend them.
Friday, January 4, 2008
The Antidotes Against Pride
