Pride - One Of The Ten Fetters

What is Pride? Is it a good thing or a bad thing? Many religions consider pride a bad thing. Christianity considers pride to be one of the “Seven Deadly Sins” and in Buddhism it is one of the “Ten Fetters.” The ten fetters are considered things that stand in the way of enlightenment and keep us stuck in the suffering cyclic existence. 
 
Yet, when we accomplish a new skill such as foreign language or golf or tennis – don’t we feel a sense of pride? And what about organizations that encourage pride within a group such as “Gay Pride” or “Black Pride. I think it is worth spending a little time examining the meaning behind this word: “pride.” 
 
The type of pride that is characterized by a haughty attitude or a feeling of superiority, while devaluing others is the type of pride considered problematic by Buddhism and other religions. This type of pride is really a type of arrogance whereby the person unjustifiably feels they are better than others. From the Buddhist perspective this not only reinforces the wrong view that we are separate and distinct from others, but that we are somehow also superior.  
 
Alan Wallace says, "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." 
 
Unfortunately the answer to the problem of pride is not as simple as prescribing meditation (or more meditation) or more spiritual practice. The reason is because spiritual practice itself is not immune to pride. Pride can sneak its way into every part of our lives. For example, if we are not careful we can feel superior or more advanced than others in our spiritual practice. We may feel that our meditation practice is superior to others, or that we give more than others, or we are more compassionate or that we are more virtuous, or a myriad of other characteristics. All of these dangers lie in wait for the unwary spiritual traveler. Trunpga Rinpoche coined a term for this – he called it “spiritual materialism” and even wrote a book by this name. Spiritual materialism is when we use our spiritual practice to feed our ego. 
 
So, then what is the solution to the problem of pride? 
 
In Tibetan Buddhism we have something called the five Buddha families. One of the five Buddhas is Ratnasambhava whose Wisdom of Equality sees all things with divine impartiality and recognizes the divine equality of all beings, transmuting the poison of spiritual, intellectual and human pride. Humility is the antithesis of pride. But when one is in pride, humility is the furthest thing from their mind. 
 
The basis of pride is ignorance or spiritual blindness. But there are many subtle manifestations of pride that trap us. I think one of the best detectors of pride within us, is to look at how much you are bothered by another’s pride. If you feel attacked from another’s pride, and you respond with criticism that the other people are worse than you, you are most likely controlled by the poison of pride to some degree. Another strong indicator is competitiveness. If your happiness depends on defeating others or being better than others, you have built the illusion of the ego. 
 
The greatest tool to overcome pride is to practice gratitude. It is very easy to be grateful for everything you have, everything you do, and everything that comes your way. If you practice gratitude, even if you don’t initially feel it, you will find that gratitude will begin to melt the hardness of heart where pride has encased it in shrouds of pride. 
 
Gratitude is love in action 
 
Gratitude as love, will melt all manifestations of pride. Love will heal. Love will bind you to all that Is Real. There is only one Way. And that Way is to Be who you Are and let go of that which is not real - pride. 
 
So, in this coming week try to be mindful of feelings of pride. When you experience feeling of pride, try to replace them with feeling of gratitude. Also in your meditation, if you meditate on emptiness and begin to realize that in the ultimate sense there is no difference between “self” and “other” then how can you possibly feel superior? And if at the same time while meditating on emptiness you also cultivate the compassionate heart of bodhichitta – you will be applying the antidotes to pride. 

 

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