5. Pride (maan) : Ego of doer-ship (garva) : Wallowing
in worldly pleasures (garavata)
The Gnani Purush informs us that gnanavarniya karma
i.e. the karma that obstructs the full expression of the knowledge
of the Self, goes once mohaniya karma i.e. the karma that
causes the illusion, is removed. Speaking about himself, The
Gnani Purush asks, ‘What kind of moha (illusion-attachment)
did I have prior to enlightenment?’ He says ‘I did not have any
moha of any kind. I had no inclination for money or sex. The
only thing I did have was pride (maan); great attachment with
pride. However, there was no abhimaan which is pride with
‘my-ness (mamata)’. Abhimaan can only exist if there is my-
ness (mamata). This was pride without any my-ne ss – this was
maan without mamata.
If from a young age one has been subjected to only
insults, he will have a strong appetite to gain respect. In the same
token if one had nothing but respect given to him in childhood,
the appetite for respect will not be there later on.
When a maani (one with a tuber of pride) gets respect,
his tuber of greed (lobh) will decrease. Whereas a lobhi will not
let go of his tuber of greed; there will be no decrease in his
greed, even when he gets a lot of respect.
From the perspective of liberation, simple pride is
tolerable, but for one to be constantly using his energies in being
preoccupied with, ‘where will I get respect from, how can I get
respect and recognition in the eyes of the world?’ is gravely
dangerous. Pride can be removed but it is extremely difficult to
eradicate the hunger for pride.
If people give you respect, you should enjoy it but do not
become habituated by it. You should be careful not to become
attracted and then attached to the one who gives you respect.
In the process of enjoying respect, awareness of the Self
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