What's wrong with 'pride'?

Question

I'm not saying it's a good thing; would just like to hear your views.

It may help overcoming it. :-)

Can it be helpful, to some extent?

Is the right way "a middle path"?

What do you think?

Answer 1

We are All learning my friend. Pride, for me, in any way, shape or form is ...wrong. What is, is. There is a total difference in having a high self-esteem and being prideful. It took me years to know the difference. Pride is arrogance, no matter how you look at it. Knowing who I am, what my capabilities are, my assets, my deficits and how to achieve the Wisdom of self is the essence of accepting self. Without acceptance of self, we are prideful, we hide from our true self. A word I like to use, humility, is the opposite of pride. Once you think you are humble, you are not. It is a constant struggle between the true self and the facade self.

A very good question my friend!

I smile. I bow to you.

Namaste

Peace and Love

Answer 2

Some pride is ok, in a job well done. That type of thing, we all need a little pride, otherwise we'd all be a bunch of depressed wimps. It's the carrying of pride too far that's the problem, some people are so prideful it's a bore.

Answer 3

There's nothing wrong with pride. Without it, we would not shower in the morning, comb our hair or try to do a good job at work. The problem comes in when we lean toward arrogance which is an unrealistic perception of ourselves. It evokes false pride, which at times, even we don't believe. A balanced sense of self will keep our pride in check and keep us from denigrating ourselves.
-MM

Answer 4

Who is it that has pride? And what am I proud of? These are the questions I have asked myself. The I AM is not prideful as there is no separation, no clinging to masks. ~ : ) Although masks are worn, it is only a p-l-a-y. The middle way, "to be in the world but not of the world", Buddha could have uttered these words, to bad most don't understand. They see separation where there is only unity. I have over come the world, Christ is not separate from ones self. "The Messiah will only come when he is no longer needed". ~ : )

Answer 5

Quite often enjoy your questions as well as your answers, friend.
"To keep away from all evil, including doubt and pride, to cultivate good wholesome factors such as humility, compassion, patience, and wisdom, and to purify one’s mind = the Noble Eightfold Path & purification=insight meditation "daily", is an excellent means of dealing with inner pride.

*What is impt. for us all is that we are compassionate, gentle and forgiving with our Mind/emotions during insight meditation, & during the day as we walk compassionately and Mindfully in life toward others.

-Gaz, Anger Eating Demon, and a few others who have been genuinely, sincerely practicing The Middle Way, for 20+ years - most definately have much Wisdom we all can humbly learn from.

P.S. - one must learn the Dharma through one's own's experiences, not only during mindfulness meditation, but as we live life mindfully & compassionately for others. The way you experience the Truth of the Dharma, may be different from the way I, or Gaz, or Anger Eating Demon, or Digilook, etc. experience the Truths of the Dharma. But that does not mean that your experiences of the Dharma are unwisely
unproductive. *Am sure you insightfully comprehend the meaning of this;
for you are quite intelligent.

*Thank You for your most excellent question

With Metta, to everyone.

`

Answer 6

I really hate the whole idea of pride being a sin. There is nothing wrong with pride - it is often a helpful motivator to do your best. The problem happens when it crosses over to conceit.

Answer 7

Pride can be good and it can be bad.....ofcourse too much of it is not good!....but pride in what one does or achieves is great! It is when people are too prideous to ask for forgiveness or admit that they did something wrong that it is bad....so overall, pride is good and bad depending on how it is used :) hope this helps a little!

Answer 8

To me, pride is a destructive state of mind as it usually comes out of a place of arrogance which ends up isolating others. If we could let go if these states of mind I think we'd have less walls between us and more heartfelt discourse. I guess I think of pride as a barrier for almost any situation. Best to you. Great question!

Answer 9

There is nothing wrong with feeling good about yourself, or your accomplishments, "pride" at the expense of another, is another matter, though. One doesn't need to put down another in order to feel good about what they do or who they are, but some do that anyway, that is misplaced pride....

Answer 10

There's nothing wrong with pride on its own. It's the people who allow it to consume their being and leave no room for the ideas of equality and justice.