Why it is that pride goes before a fall - Swami Nikhilananda Saraswati.

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Wednesday, July 27, 2022. 06:00.

Why it is that pride goes before a fall :

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Pride is self-admiration, considering ourselves to be superior to others Inherent is the feeling that others are inferior. As human beings we are governed by emotions that are both negative and positive Pride is a negative quality Pride manifests in us as feelings and thoughts that proclaim that we are better than others in terms of wealth, appearance, status, popularity, youthful looks, religion and country. Pride with respect to lower qualities can be beneficial With respect to the Absolute it is.negative.

Society accords pride a high position in the hierarchy of qualities Pride can lift one's sense of self and bolster confidence Self-esteem helps us overcome dejection and fear Someone could be in a total state of depression brought on by shame or guilt, considering the extreme step of suicide At such a moment, it is self-pride that motivates the individual to rise from the depths of confusion, non-action and depression. The Mahabharata also substantiates this Standing between the two armies,.Arjuna was completely dejected, confused and unable to fight the war.

In this situation Krishna reminded him of his antecedents and the glory of his family, firmly exhorting him to rise above negative emotionsPride nevertheless has the ability to help a person out of the lower realms of fear and dejection A soldier afraid to fight could be encouraged to overcome his fear by invoking the greatness of the nation or the name of the Lord During India's struggle for freedom, it was pride in the nation that led people to give up their comforts and in extreme cases even.their lives.

In considering ourselves superior, we automatically make others inferior A braggart evokes feelings of restlessness, resentment and discomfiture in others Intrinsically, pride has the ability to divide Too much of pride in any aspect can lead to fanaticism and this separates, rather than unify Pride also sours relationships bringing with it a sense of righteousness People find it difficult to admit they are wrong because such an admission would mean a fall from the image they hold of themselves.Though aware, they do not want to do anything in order to resolve issues.

They would prefer to abandon the relationship than their pride Ravana saw his sons killed and his army destroyed but till the end neither did he relinquish his pride nor did he surrender to Rama Dhritarashtra never imagined that the Kauravas would lose When great commanders of his army, Bhishma Pitamah and Karna, fell in battle, his pride refused to let him give upPride or mada is an intoxicant to which people get addicted For this they are willing to sacrifice comfort, family, society and.relationships.

Fear is its best friend We know that wealth gets eroded, lands can be confiscated and good looks diminish with age. Our self-image is built upon the edifice of such fleeting and ephemeral things With no solid base of its own, pride is forever in need of sycophants to extol its virtuesPride is the absence of humility It is caused by the ignorance of Divinity Tulsidas says that true knowledge is free of all pride. Through satsang we become aware of the transitory nature of both our possessions.and achievements.

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