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THE SEVEN TYPES OF ARROGANCE

A caution against arrogance

There are proverbs that say, Boasting is the dead end of wisdom, and Pride is a dead

end endeavour. These sayings show that one cannot grow if one is arrogant orconceited. Some people brag, thinking they are superior. But they stunt their own

growth and development, because they dont have aspirations or ambitions, and thus,

cant make progress or advance themselves further.

Everyone knows the story of the tortoise and the hare, a fable that warns against being

arrogant. One day. The hare had a race with the tortoise. The hare knew he was much

faster than the slow tortoise , and didnt believe it was possible that he could lose the

race. The overconfident and arrogant hare fell asleep during the race and lost to the

steadily advancing tortoise. This story warns that even if you have some talent orstrong points, if you are overconfident in your abilities and let down your guard, you

ultimately are going to fail or make mistakes.

In Japan, during the Muromachi period (1336-1573) Zeami, who developed the

Japanese musical drama art form called Nogaku said, Practice Nogaku hard and cast

aside your conceit. He taught that in order to progress in Nogaku, one needs to get rid

of arrogance and conceit and practice and rehearse with an honest heart.

It is incredibly important to put forth efforts in daily life without harbouring an

attitude of conceit. We are often warned in secular society that arrogance will interfere

with our improvement and growth

In Buddhism, the word manwhich comes from the Sanskrit word maana, signifies

a person who compares himself with others, based on arrogance and haughtiness.

These feelings lead one to look down on others. We, as believers of the mystic law

(Myoho), must never commit the fourteen slanders, and arrogance is one of them.

Within the Japanese Buddhist term kyoman, kyo signifies arrogance about ones

pedigree, status, beauty, or knowledge. Man is the arrogance of comparing oneself

with others.

THE SEVEN TYPES OF ARROGANCE (SHICHI MAN)

There are seven types of arrogance described in A Treasury of Expositions on the law.

1. Arrogance (man) is an attitude in which a person flaunts his superiority over

those who are inferior and asserts himself among his peers. You may wonder

why such an attitude would be considered arrogant if this characterization

represents the truth. It is arrogant because such a person is entirely preoccupied

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with himself. He feels superior when he compares himself to others and

classifies them as being inferior or equal to him.

2. Haughty arrogance (Ka man), describes a person who believes that he is

superior to those who are actually his equals and considers himself to be equal

to those who are, in fact, superior to him. In this form of arrogance, peopletend to self-aggrandize their worth.

3. Condescending arrogance (man ka man). A person in this state believes that

he is far superior to those who, in actuality, are superior to him. He even looks

down upon them. He is a pretentious individual who is unable to evaluate

situations correctly.

4. Self-centred arrogance (ga man). This denotes a person who is obsessed with

his own thoughts and views and considers himself to be most precious. He

holds the conceited notion that he is most superior. In standard Japanese, the

word ga man means to endure or to persevere, but as a Buddhist term, it

means to be attached to oneself.

5. Supreme arrogance (zojo man). This refers to a person who believes that he

has mastered the Buddhist teachings, even though he has not achieved a

correct understanding or realisation concerning them.

6. Immodest arrogance (hi man), describes an individual who believes that he is

only slightly inferior to those who are actually significantly superior to him.

Even though the actual discrepancy between them may be as apparent as night

and day. Such a person haughtily brings down others and boosts himself upand is convinced that the difference between them is only slight.

7. Pompous arrogance (ja man). This represents a person with no virtues who is

attached to his heretical perspectives and believes that he is actually virtuous.

He considers himself to be great. The evil form of arrogance that he possesses

functions to lead others into the evil paths.

SUPREME ARROGANCE (zojo man)

The following passage is from the Expedient Means (Hoben; second) chapter of

the lotus sutra:

What they had not attained they supposed they had attained what they had

not understood they supposed they had understood.

This describes the occasion during Shakyamunis sermon on the Lotus Sutra,

when 5000 individuals became supremely arrogant and left the assembly,

believing they already had attained the supreme understanding when, in fact, they

had not. Shakyamuni stated

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The World-Honored one was silent and did not try to detain them..

.it is well that these persons of overbearing arrogance have withdrawn

Shakyamuni did not stop them from leaving. Although these people could have

listened to the preaching of the Lotus Sutra, their supreme arrogance prevented

them from attaining enlightenment.

In Encouraging Devotion (Kanji; thirteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, there is a

description of three types of supremely arrogant individuals who persecute the

votaries of the Lotus Sutra in various ways. They are called the three powerful

enemies. The first group is extremely arrogant lay people (zokushuzojo man). The

second group is extremely arrogant priests (domonzojo man). The third group is

extremely arrogant false sages (senshozojo man). During his lifetime, Nichiren

Daishonin faced the three powerful enemies, including:

1.

Nembutsu believers who criticised and denounced him

2.

Priests of Nembutsu, Zen, and Ritsu sects who persecuted him with

defamatory accusations and slander

3.

Authorities of the Kamakura government, such as Hei-no-saemon, who

subjected the Daishonin to persecutions, which included exiles and assaults

with swords and staves. The Daishonin revealed the fact that he was the

votary of the Lotus Sutra in the Latter Day of the Law.

Lets eliminate arrogance in our Faith and Practice

As you know, supreme arrogance and all other forms of arrogance are vastly

harmful and will interfere with our ability to achieve enlightenment. In the Gosho,

Attaining Enlightenment at the Initial Stage of Faith through the Lotus Sutra

(Hokkeshoshinjobutsu-sho), the Daishonin states:

You should understand this matter thoroughly, and, on the path of attaining

Buddhahood, chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo without arrogance or attachment to

biased views.

In order to attain enlightenment, the Daishonin teaches us that it is especially

important to practice this Buddhism dutifully and cast aside our arrogance and

attachment to biased views.

Nichigen Sonin, Thirty-third High Priest of the Head Temple, stated:

Just as rainwater never accumulates atop the steep mountains, how can those

upon the heights of arrogance expect the flow of the Law to settle there, so that

they may possibly attain the great path of enlightenment?

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In order words, Nichigen Shonin warned us that, in the same way that rainwater

never remains permanently on high peaks, people who have mountains of pride or

arrogance will find that the flow of the Law the heritage of faith that flows forth

from the Gohonzon- will never settle in their lives and enable them to achieve

enlightenment.

High Priest Nichinyo Shonin gave us guidance, relating the story of a well-known

middle-distance runner who was one of the best athletes in Japan. On one

occasion, he happened to drink sake wine on the day before the race. However, the

next day he won the race. From that point on, all the effort that heretofore had put

into his endeavour went to waste. It was his arrogance that did him in. He felt that

he was invincible, even if he drank alcohol the night before his races. He believed

that he could perform well. Thereafter, he gradually slackened in his training.

Before long, he was completely destroyed. Such was the account of the athlete.

This story is applicable to our Buddhist practice. Actually, it applies significantly

to all aspects of our life. We must never be lazy. The root cause of laziness is

arrogance, and lets be mindful of the fact that the first of the fourteen slanders is

arrogance (kyo man). Lets all practice assiduously and never have an arrogant

attitude in our faith. Furthermore, letspractice sincerely in the Hokkeko, treating

each other with respect and reverence, as we advance toward our goal for 2021-to

establish a membership of 800000 hokkeko believers.