Metis mentioned patriotism on the other thread. As E.H. sees religion as cause of suffering going on in this world, I see pride as a mager one. When I hear I am proud to be an American or I am proud to be German, but also I am proud to be black or white, or green, yellow or blue, I ask myself do we really need to put ourselves above others in order to feel good about our self? What does pride really say about us? What does it say about how we think about others?

How can we be proud of something we did not "earn"?

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May your awareness be perfection

We can be proud of alot of things we did not earn. proud of our country, heritage, people around us. i used to always set high standards on things now i learned from that setting lower stands leaves the door open for improvement something in time we can take pride in just the way we are.

we just need to treat others equally and with respect that is how i feel good about myself. to me i take pride in everything i do we just need to quit worring what others think of us so much if more people would focus on themselves then we would have alot to be proud of.

Viv

As I've learned it, pride is double edged. We can either have self pride or pride of self.

Self pride is based on imagination and as you suggested, leads to an attitude of imagined superiority.

Pride of self is an inner knowing of potential and what we are in relation to it. it allows us to nurture the seed of higher life within us and rather then provoking superiority, it illicits humility.

Yes, Nick I agree and I can see the difference. Thanks for pointing that out.

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May your awareness be perfection

Like so many other things in life, "pride" can be positive or negative. With the negative, if I use my pride as a way of putting you down or undermining you, then my pride is more destructive. On the other hand, if I use my pride to build up people and allow you to have pride in what you are, that can be a very positive force.

But there's a potential problem if my pride is an attachment that may encourage me to lash out at people if they somehow jeopardize my pride. Therefore, one hopefully will see "pride" as something that is very dangerous, and that it is something that has the potential to do much damage to ourselves and others.

Shalom,
Vern

I agree Metis and because of this danger, can we not do without it?

To me pride always seems to separte us from others. I see no advantage. I think a better way of seeing ourselves is as love.

__________________
May your awareness be perfection

I think I prefer the term 'confidence' here instead of pride.
I think pride ALWAYS assumes an air of arrogance and false superiority. There is no reason to have pride over the gifts God has given us. Gratitude is better IMO, and seems to have better results for me.
However, confidence in the abilities God has given us is quite necesassary for them to be effective and useful.

I think I prefer the term 'confidence' here instead of pride.
I think pride ALWAYS assumes an air of arrogance and false superiority. There is no reason to have pride over the gifts God has given us. Gratitude is better IMO, and seems to have better results for me.
However, confidence in the abilities God has given us is quite necesassary for them to be effective and useful.

I use the name 'justifyothers' to remind me of this - when I do justify other people, I am taking away the chance to be proud myself or OF myself. And since this can be difficult, I NEED the reminder :-)

Good point but there is nothing wrong with having pride in ourselves as well. To me ya gotta be proud of who you are too. The Key here is confidence like someone mentioned before without having confidence we are nothing right? can we survive without having confidence in us? Think that is the better question to ask.

I agree with you, justifyothers, and The Seeker (I guess I'm just in a lovable mood this morning ), in that maybe it's better to separate "pride" and "confidence", especially because "pride" can be interpreted as being arrogant or demeaning towards others.

For example, if we look at dharma, the teachings discourage "pride" (used in the more arrogant sense of the word), but encourage confidence. The Buddha was no wall-flower according to tradition, but he taught the concept of "no-self", which discourages "pride" (as in arrogance) in ourselves. How can I be arrogant in regards to my "self" if "I" am really a composite, both physically and psychologically, of aspects that came from outside "myself"?

Shalom,
Vern