Better Than, Worse Than, Same As
Yesterday one of my dharma buddies (thank you, Thomas) turned me on to a really delightful — and quite humorous — talk by Bonnie Duran on mana (usually translated as “conceit”), which is one of the last of the ten fetters (or torments) to let go right before one attains full enlightenment. (Joseph Goldstein says that he loves it when he sees this one arise because he thinks: “Oh good, now I’m working on Arahantship!”)
Basically, mana is the thought: “I am better than someone else; I am worse than someone else; or I am equal to someone else.” (That last part can come as a bit of a surprise I know, but it’s problematic — just like the others — because any comparison or “measuring” of oneself against another creates a split in what is fundamentally — on the ultimate level — not separate.)
This topic might sound boring and technical, but this talk is DEFINITELY NOT. If you want a chance to laugh at yourself (who doesn’t need a chance to do that!) and to enjoy laughing with Bonnie as she laughs at herself — click here and listen to this talk!