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Quotations on:
Pride and Humility
The Buddha |
One
may desire a spurious respect and precedence among one's fellow
monks, and
the veneration of outsiders. "Both monks and laity should
think it was
my doing. They should accept my authority in all matters
great or small."
This is a fool's way of thinking. His self-seeking
and conceit just increase.
One way leads to acquisition, the other leads to nirvana. Realizing
this a monk, as a disciple of the Buddha, should take no pleasure in
the
respect of others, but should devote himself to solitude.
Dhamapada (73-75)
One may desire a spurious respect and precedence among one's fellow monks,
and
the veneration of outsiders. "Both monks and laity should think it was
my doing.
They should accept my authority in all matters great or small." This is
a fool's
way of thinking. his self-seeking and conceit just increase. |
Do not find fault with others. If they behave wrongly, there is no need
to make yourself suffer. If you point out to them what is correct and they do
not practice accordingly, leave it at that. When the Buddha studied with various
teachers, he realised that their ways were lacking, but he did not disparage
them. Studying with humility and respect, he benefited from his relationship
with them, yet he realised that their systems were not complete. Still, he had
not yet become enlightened, he did not criticise or attempt to teach them. After
he found enlightenment, he respectfully remembered those had studied with and
wanted to share his newfound knowledge with them.
Ajahn Chah
What is like a smelly fart,
that, although invisible is obvious?
One's own faults, that are precisely
As obvious as the effort made to hide them."
His Holiness the 7th Dalai Lama in 'Songs
of spiritual change' (translated by Glenn Mullin)
In India when we meet and part we often say "Namaste,"
I honor the place in you where the entire universe
resides,
I honor
the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of
peace.
I honor the place
within you where if you are in that
place in you
and I am in that place
in me, there is only one of us.
Namaste`
Ram Dass, from 'Grist for the Mill'
His Holiness the Dalai Lama |
If we see pride among people who have no
idea about Dharma, it is understandable. However, if afflictive
emotions and haughtiness are present among Dharma practitioners,
it is great disgrace to practice
Although individuals may be highly intelligent,
they are sometimes dogged by skepticism and doubts. They are clever,
but they tend to be hesitant and skeptical and are never really
able to settle down. These people are the least receptive.
I think that there is a very close connection between humility and patience. Humility involves having the capacity to take a more confrontational stance, having the capacity to retaliate if you wish, yet deliberately deciding not to do so. That is what I would call genuine humility. I think that true tolerance or patience has a component or element of self-discipline and restraint--the realization that you could have acted otherwise, you could have adopted a more aggressive approach, but decided not to do so. On the other hand, being forced to adopt a certain passive response out of a feeling of helplessness or incapacitation--that I wouldn't call genuine humility. That may be a kind of meekness, but it isn't genuine tolerance.
The Art of Happiness |
One of the main obstacles is our pride.
This pride is an inflated state of mind and relies on our false
view of the transitory collection, which focuses on the existent
self, attributed to our body and mind, and distorts it. When we
are on top of a very high mountain, we look down on all the lower
peaks. Similarly, when we are full of pride, everyone else appears
lower. We are the best and everyone else is inferior. This pride
is associated with our self-preocupation and makes us act inappropriately
and disrespectfully towards others, thereby bringing us face to
face with all kinds of unpleasant and unwanted experiences. As
long as we feel and act as through we are the center of the universe,
we will never develop real concern for others. To counteract this
attitude we train ourselves always to think of them as supremely
important by considering their good qualities and by reviewing
our own faults and weaknesses."
from 'Eight Verses for Training the Mind' by Geshe Sonam Rinchen
I make a distinction between Buddhism with a Capital 'B' and
buddhism with
a small 'b'. Sri Lanka has the former, in which the state
uses Buddhism as
an instrument of power, so there are even Buddhists monks
who say the Tamils
should be eliminated. Thai Buddhists are not perfect
either. Some Thai Buddhist
monks have compromised with the kind and possess
cars and other luxuries.
In many Buddhist countries, the emphasis is on
being goody-goody, which is
not good enough.
I am for buddhism with a small
'b' which is non-violent,
practical and aims to eliminate the cause of
suffering..
Ven. Sulak
Sivaraksa
How can you be proud if you are not enlightened?
How can you be proud if even the enlightened are not?
Stonepeace
Tibetans look at a person who holds himself
above others, believing he is better than others and knows more,
and they say that person is like someone sitting on a mountain
top: it is cold there, it is hard, and nothing will grow. But
if the person puts himself in a lower position, then that person
is like a fertile field.
Allan Wallace
An authentically empowered person is humble.
This does not mean the false humility of one who stoops to be
with those who are below him or her. It is the inclusiveness of
one who responds to the beauty of each soul. ... It is the harmlessness
of one who treasures, honours and reveres life in all its forms.
Gary Zukav in 'The
Seat of the Soul'
Last
updated:
December 11, 2016
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