June 1, 2006
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Comparison
Each one of us is unique. You are you and I am me. A Buddha is a Buddha, and Christ is a Christ. No comparison is possible. Comparison creates the way of the ego. It creates superiority and inferiority. It creates great desires to compete and to defeat others. The desire to defeat others creates jealousy, envy, hatred, enmity, aggression, and violence. This is a living in hell.
So, drop the stupid ideas of superiority and inferiority. We should be aware when our mind quietly made comments like “I am right and they are wrong. I have the truth and they don’t. I am better than they are.” The truth is you are neither inferior nor superior. You are simply you. There exists no one like you, even your twins, no one whom you can be compared. God made you and destroyed the mold.
As parents, we should try to be aware when we say things that create comparison in our children. Although it is done through unawareness, it is still poisonous. Once this happened, children will never think about themselves. They will always think in comparison with someone else. The poison of comparison create symptoms of miserable and discontentment and will carry them into adulthood. Then, it will be difficult to find a happy person on this earth.
Comments (8)
I always taught my kids to not compete except with themselves. I told them we all were different so we could not compare, Love to you, Judi
It’s also difficult or maybe impossible to find 1 sinless person on earth …
Yes, I can always find someone richer, better looking, or more successful than me. Once we start comparing, we’re on a path to unhappiness.
You’re probably right, but I feel like disagreeing anyway. I’ve been a competitive person all my life. What I WILL agree with is that it’s good not to be obsessed by competitiveness. It’s good to be aware of your take on this subject. It’s good to have some balance, at the very least. But for me, everything is still a competition. I want to be the best security guard there ever was, better than any of the other guys I work with. It’s part OF me. It drives me. (But I don’t let it turn me into a jealous fool. I’m not obsessed. That is my saving grace.)
Very well said. More thinking on my part again…….Have a nice day chi..
I completely agree with you. However, I think (not to be a rotten apple – is that an expression??), I think its practicality (meaning: able to used/applied in real life) is non-existent, unfortunately. Too many people are driven off the idea of “superiority” to ever be able to get it up. And, consequently, the person who doesn’t draw comparisons is often degraded or looked down upon by those around him who don’t follow his/her ideas of non-comparisons. This, over time, gets degrading itself. Maybe I’m just a pessimist, maybe I’m biased with my own examples, maybe I’m not getting my idea to be congruent with your post. Regardless, I agree 100% with you, even if it is not practical
One of the hardest lessons for me to learn was not to compare myself to others. Probably because my mother would address my shortcomings by saying things like, “Why can’t you be more like …..(fill in the blank) You are so right. I was never really happy or content until I learned to leave that behind and compare myself to no one. It truth, there are still times and areas where I struggle with it, but I am so much better than I once was.
Unfortunately I have done the damage to my children already… The past is past and yet there is always now. My life process is making mistakes and is forgiven again and again. The truth for me is that it is through mistakes we learn to forgive and come to realize the love of God.