Pride
Through pride we are ever
deceiving ourselves.
(Karl Jung)
Esteem
The danger with pride is that it treads perilously close to
vanity and
conceit.
If you become proud of yourself or your accomplishments, you may easily
become lost.
Yet, pride does have
value.
Taoism,
zen and
tai chi work towards loss of
self, so clearly pride cannot be directed
towards the self.
You must turn it outward and find joy in the
accomplishment of others.
It also possible to take pride in what you do, by doing the job well and
thoroughly.
This is not a conceit either, for you are lost in the doing, invested in the
action - again a selfless event.
We call this
shen.
Taking pride
'A job well done' is an old-fashioned term these days.
We live in a culture that has embraced planned
obsolescence, and consequently
neglects the now.
Apathy,
indifference and
carelessness are accepted and expected.
This is not the
way.
If you are to do anything, do it
well. Do it
justice. If you are half-hearted or not
bothered, step aside.
Living a half-life is a
wasted opportunity.
Even if your job or your activity will not
change the world, put your
heart into it.
The lesson is in the doing; in the way in which you approach things:
the essence, the
how, the character, the
nature...
Be the best than you can be.
Not in
competition with others or for fame and
gain, not for
title, prestige or approval.
But for a job well done, a life well lived.
The success of others
Our school is tremendously proud of its students.
We are inspired by their effort and pleased by their accomplishments and
their insights.
And not because they reflect our
teaching.
If you are proud of others insofar as they represent a mirror of you, then
you are just vain.
This is a folly many parents are guilty of; they use their children as a
means of fulfilling missed ambitions.
Remember: children have their own
dreams and you must allow them the liberty to pursue what matters
to them, not to you.
When you take pride in someone else, you gain nothing from your pride.
Nor should you. It is not about you.
You simply feel glad for the other person, and wish them well.
Page created 16 February 1999