Buddhist egoism

[DAWN]

There is an buddhist / dhamma egoism? How we can discribe that kind of person?
Can one egoist be a buddhist / practice dhamma?

[Ben]

Someone who is overly concerned with the behaviour of others.
Someone who doesn't think like you.
Concern yourself with eradicating your own defilements, Dawn.

[DAWN]

Someone who is overly concerned with the behaviour of others.
Someone who doesn't think like you.
Concern yourself with eradicating your own defilements, Dawn.

I try.

[Caraka]

I think so, yes. But, is one buddhist that are aware of his/hers egoism and by practice work to towards a better being the same as an ignorant buddhist that is not aware of his/hers egoism?

I also think egoism is direct related to the precept of not taking anything that does not belong to you, and according to Surangama Sutra then risk to fall into the realm of heretics.

[Ben]

Someone who is overly concerned with the behaviour of others.
Someone who doesn't think like you.
Concern yourself with eradicating your own defilements, Dawn.

I try.

That is good for you.
I wish you every success!

[DAWN]

I think so, yes. But, is one buddhist that are aware of his/hers egoism and by practice work to towards a better being the same as an ignorant buddhist that is not aware of his/hers egoism?

I also think egoism is direct related to the precept of not taking anything that does not belong to you, and according to Surangama Sutra then risk to fall into the realm of heretics.

Dhammapada Verse 63
Ya balo mannati balyam
panditovapi tena so
balo ca panditamani
sa ve baloti vuccati.

Verse 63: The fool who knows that he is a fool can, for that reason, be a wise man; but the fool who thinks that he is wise is, indeed, called a fool.

The Story of Two Pick-Pockets

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (63) of this book, with reference to two pick-pockets.

On one occasion, two pick-pockets joined a group of lay-disciples going to the Jetavana monastery, where the Buddha was giving a discourse. One of them listened attentively to the discourse and soon attained Sotapatti Fruition. However, the second thief did not attend to the discourse as he was bent on stealing only; and he managed to snatch a small sum of money from one of the lay-disciples. After the discourse they went back and cooked their meal at the house of the second thief, the one who managed to get some money. The wife of the second thief taunted the first thief, "You are so wise, you don't even have anything to cook at your house." Hearing this remark, the first thief thought to himself, "This one is so foolish that she thinks she is being very smart." Then, together with some relatives, he went to the Buddha and related the matter to him.

To the man, the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 63: The fool who knows that he is a fool can, for that reason, be a wise man; but the fool who thinks that he is wise is, indeed, called a fool.

At the end of the discourse, all the relatives of the man attained Sotapatti Fruition.

http://www.tipitaka.net/tipitaka/dhp/ve ... ?verse=063

[Caraka]

Nhe, I was more thinking of wanting stuff like a house, or better food, and even store food for tomorrow, that kind of egoism.., which again may lead to acquiring whats not given..

In the simplest sense stuff can be acquired by stealing, but there is a lot of ways t acquire anything.

[greggorious]

I've come across many 'Proud' Buddhists who can recite sutra's, know loads of terminologies, think they have attained much, but what they've attained is merely an attachment to Buddhism.

[DAWN]

I've come across many 'Proud' Buddhists who can recite sutra's, know loads of terminologies, think they have attained much, but what they've attained is merely an attachment to Buddhism.

I'am one of them.
It's a good exemple of buddhist egoism.

But here we must make some distinctions that is not simple to see:
- if they are atached to The Buddhism or to The Dhamma
- if they recite Dhamma suttas leading by egoistic motivation, or altruistic
- if they do that they preach

Also, a good question is, why this kind of 'proud buddhist' stress me?

[Cittasanto]

why do you think people have big egos?
just because they hold a view different from yours doesn't mean they are egotistic, or proud.
what the question you should be asking regarding others is "Do they put in any practice, and (at least) try to walk their talk; or do they make excuses to not have to practice and live up to their own words?"
but far more importantly "why should anyone comply to what you think?"
like one of my favourite Stephen Fry quotes says

"It's now very common to hear people say 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if it gives them certain rights; its actually nothing more... it's simply a whine. its no more than a whine. 'I find it offensive,' it has no meaning, it has no purpose, it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that,' well so £*"&ing what!

I have seen many people who talk a good walk but don't try (or twist words to give a false appearance), and feign courtesy, respect, niceness just to feel superior.

[David N. Snyder]

There are all kinds of egoism, from the overt to the more subtle. The good news is that with the practice of the Dhamma, the degrees of egoism can fade. And with progress can come spiritual-materialism-ego. And then even that can fade and disappear, but not until one becomes an arahant. Even an anāgāmī (non-returner) still has some subtle conceit remaining.

[Hanzze]

Can one egoist be a buddhist / practice dhamma?

Actually, only if one is really an egoist, one is able to start the right practice and in this way help everybody else. One just needs to take care that one is not a fool egoist or a fool alturist.

If you hold yourself dear
then don't fetter yourself with evil,
for happiness isn't easily gained
by one who commits a wrong-doing.

And more about Dear

So just beware that you don't fool around.

Even though they may say, "We aren't dear to ourselves," still they are dear to themselves. Why is that? Of their own accord, they act toward themselves as a dear one would act toward a dear one; thus they are dear to themselves.'"

[Hanzze]

Also, a good question is, why this kind of 'proud buddhist' stress me?

A quote that is good if bared in mind: "If you are stressed by an act/behavior of somebody else, it is something you actually don't like in regard of yourself" Stress is very importand to learn and go back to the place of practice again.

[DAWN]

is true.

Actualy, if we watch closely,
ego dont like other ego that distroy him, that brings him unstability,
but ego like other ego that confirm him, that bring him stability

[ground]

There is an buddhist / dhamma egoism? How we can discribe that kind of person?
Can one egoist be a buddhist / practice dhamma?

Guess you are confusing psychological terms and concepts with buddhist concepts. Buddhism is not concerned with egoism but with self.

[Hanzze]

Still searching a way to keep some things?

[ground]

Who is searching what and who is asking?

[Hanzze]

One should ask this very often and remember.

[ground]

One should ask this very often and remember.

Who asks and who remembers?

[Hanzze]

I guess in your case maybe an huge ego hidden in pubbekata-hetu-ditthi-vada, but that does not really matter to you, isn't it? Thanks for your sample anyway. For some it might be useful.