Dhamma Talk Video 79: Arahantship precludes an Inferiority Complex
Here’s an 62-min recorded video Dhamma Talk (149MB .mp4).
Topics:
- Arahantship, Humility, Inferiority Complex, balance, fetters, spiritual progress, Spiritual Bypass, leadership, human nature, authority, teaching, apprenticeship, kiccavattu, duties, respect, deference, Vinaya, aphorisms, consilience
Sutta References:
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AN 6.76 - Arahantship
“Bhikkhus, without having abandoned six things, one is incapable of realizing arahantship. What six? Conceit, an inferiority complex, arrogance, self-overestimation, obstinacy, and self-abasement. Without having abandoned these six things, one is incapable of realizing arahantship. “Bhikkhus, having abandoned six things, one is capable of realizing arahantship. What six? Conceit … self-abasement. Having abandoned these six things, one is capable of realizing arahantship.”
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MN 65 - To Bhaddāli
“What do you think, Bhaddāli? Suppose a bhikkhu here were one liberated-in-both-ways, and I told him: ‘Come, bhikkhu, be a plank for me across the mud.’ Would he walk across himself, or would he dispose his body otherwise, or would he say ‘No’?”
“No, venerable sir.”
“What do you think, Bhaddāli? Suppose a bhikkhu here were one liberated-by-wisdom…a body-witness…one attained-to-view…one liberated-by-faith…a Dhamma-follower…a faith-follower, and I told him: ‘Come, bhikkhu, be a plank for me across the mud.’ Would he walk across himself, or would he dispose his body otherwise, or would he say ‘No’?”
“No, venerable sir.”
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AN 7.8 - Fetters
(An alternate list of 7 “fetters”)
“Mendicants, there are these seven fetters. What seven? The fetters of attraction, repulsion, views, doubt, conceit, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. These are the seven fetters.”
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AN 7.10 - Stinginess
(Yet another alternate list of 7 “fetters”)
“Mendicants, there are these seven fetters. What seven? The fetters of attraction, repulsion, views, doubt, conceit, jealousy, and stinginess. These are the seven fetters.”
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Several “checks and balances” suttas are referenced here, reigning in leaders in positions of authority, who overstep their boundaries, as explained in the EBTs.
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AN 5.167 - Accusation
(A famous sutta listing 5 qualities to check and ensure in oneself before giving admonishment to another monk)
There Sāriputta addressed the mendicants: “Reverends, a mendicant who wants to accuse another should first establish five things in themselves.
What five? I will speak at the right time, not at the wrong time. I will speak truthfully, not falsely. I will speak gently, not harshly. I will speak beneficially, not harmfully. I will speak lovingly, not from secret hate. A mendicant who wants to accuse another should first establish these five things in themselves.
Past Dhamma Talk References:
Other References:
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Arabic aphorism:
If you humble yourself too much, you will get trampled on
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Don Juan aphorism:
Fright never injures anyone. What injures the spirit is having someone always on your back, beating you, telling you what to do and what not to do
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Spanish aphorism:
Avoid a friend who covers you with his wings and destroys you with his beak
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Series on Spiritual Bypass, by Bhante Akaliko
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