略說我慢 (A Brief Discussion on Mana (Conceit))

我慢在先前文章有提到

是不善心的一種

嚴格來說是不善心所

心跟心所是不一樣的

這裡就不加重各位的負擔了

只要知道都是屬於名法就行了

忘記名法有哪些的可以看先前文章複習

回到主題

我慢是什麼？

可以解釋為驕傲、傲慢

也可以說是比較

我比較差、我比較優秀、我跟他一樣

這都是我慢

有的讀者可能會有疑惑

所謂的優越感就是覺得自己比較優秀

那怎麼比較差或是一樣也是我慢？

這是因為這三者的本質是一樣的

都是拿相對的個體來比較

而忽略了真相是無我

所謂的"我"只是因緣的產物

當在比較的當下

實際上就是執取了"我"是實有的

那就不要去比較，是不是就沒有我慢了

也不對

當刻意去做些什麼的當下就錯了

能做的就只是如實觀

想比較的時候知道

不想比較的時候也知道

看到這邊

大部分的讀者心中應該是OOXX了

想說筆者到底在恭OX

沒關係

很正常

會明白的

種的因還不夠而已

時候未到

先記住我慢是五上分結

要等到證阿羅漢才會放下的

再不然就是大菩薩

知道跟做到是不一樣的

先從粗重的煩惱開始

願各位幸福無煩惱

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In a previous article, I mentioned that mana is a type of unwholesome mind , or more precisely, an unwholesome mental factor .

The mind and mental factors are not the same, but I won’t burden you with too many details here. For now, just knowing that they both belong to nāma dhamma is enough.

(If you’ve forgotten what nāma dhamma includes, feel free to review the previous articles.)

What is Mana?

Mana can be translated as pride or conceit—it is essentially comparison.

• I am inferior.
• I am superior.
• I am the same as them.

All of these are mana.

Some readers might wonder:
"Feeling superior is clearly conceit, but how can feeling inferior or equal also be conceit?"

This is because all three share the same nature: they are based on comparison between relative entities while ignoring the reality of anattā ( non-self).

The so-called "self" is merely a product of causes and conditions .

At the moment of comparison, there is attachment to the self as real.

So, if we stop comparing, does that mean mana is gone?

Not necessarily.

If you intentionally try to avoid comparing, you are still acting from a sense of self.

The correct approach is simply to observe as it is:

• When the mind wants to compare, know it.
• When the mind does not want to compare, know it as well.

At this point, most readers are probably thinking:

"What on earth is the author talking about?"

That’s completely normal.

Understanding takes time.

If it doesn’t make sense yet, it just means the causes you’ve planted aren’t enough—the time hasn’t come.

For now, just remember:

Mana is one of the five higher fetters (pañca uddhambhāgiya-saṁyojana).

It is only fully abandoned at arahantship, or in the case of great bodhisattas .

Knowing and realizing are two different things.

For now, we start by dealing with the coarser defilements first.

May everyone be happy and free from suffering.