samedi 11 août 2012

ARROGANCE, A STRUCTURAL DEFECT OF THE MIND


Arrogance, a Structural Defect of the Mind   KLEISHA
Arrogance arises out of ignorance, and also from attachment, thus connected to other structural defects of our minds, and in addition to the fear of change.
Here lies the beauty of trying to understand the KLEISHAS, their interconnectivity allows us to help reduce them, not singly or by any unique fashion but in a general fashion which makes us a better person, definitely a happier person, and makes our company pleasant for others.
These thoughts were provoked by a comment by an Iranian acquaintance.
How does Ignorance raise Arrogance and what does it do for your future.
An Example. From Cambodia
Two tuk-tuk drivers
One pleasant, graciously accepts the fare agreed upon and says thank you
The other has a grim face, argues for more money and leaves an unpleasant taste for the visitor to his country.
Which one of the two above gets ahead in life?
We wanted to give more money to the first tuk tuk driver, the second one got the exact fare agreed upon, left wondering why he has difficulties financially-which he would always have until he learns to control his mental structural defect. His arrogance, however small scale, arising out of ignorance, dooms his future, whereas the first one makes a pleasant impression on the visitor, is sure to succeed even in this country of intense competition and limited resources. 

I can back it up with case histories, reinforced when I spoke to Ko Maung Maung, owner of the Mandalay Inn in Siem Reap. He informed me that his manager for four years was leaving for a job at a larger hotel for higher pay, and he had encouraged him to do that, being a good Buddhist. I reminded Ko MM, remember, when I first met you, this manager of yours was driving a tuk tuk and you were impressed with him and offered him to drive your car and then promoted him so that he ended up managing your hotel! Now he has gone further ahead. He is still humble, not a trace of arrogance in him and he is bound to reach the pinnacle of his potential. I was also reminded of “William of Chaungtha Beach”, Win Htay, who had begun his adolescence as a humble street vendor and ending up owning a nice restaurant and still marching forward.
Public Education and helpful spiritual education such as a good Buddhist one, would train people to be humble and get ahead in life without rattling any sabres of arrogance.
Ego, Arrogance and Destruction of Relationships
When your ego blinds you, you care less for the opinions of others, you would say, “you believe in what you want”, which in effect means, “I know the truth and I don't care what you think”. This arrogance arising out of ignorance is destructive to relationships. Friendships are for discourses, discursivity in philosophical terms, but not to sparkle conflicts in relationships, just to satisfy ones ego. Humble people usually prefer not to have confrontations; on the contrary, the arrogant ones incite confrontations, taking a certain amount of illicit pleasure from them.
Our duty:
American Indians would say you are bound to come across all sorts of people, when you meet an arrogant person, do not antagonize them but go around them. There is no room for arrogant people in our lives. Humble people could try and bring the arrogance to the notice of those but the ego had blinded them, and the friendships are ended or eroded. It is not our duty to wake up the whole world but it is better to commune with people who are already awake.
Moral of the story:
Humility always wins in the end.
I dedicate this to my friend Joe, the humble man of Bogor with whom I spent this last week, along with some new friends from Malaysia and some old friends from Indonesia






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