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ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

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Even if there are no such dangers, it is good only for the present existence.<br />

b. Education – There educated people who are conceit of the education - panna-mana.<br />

Knowledge is an asset meant to teach people what is proper and what is not and how to be<br />

civilized in cultural and social relations. However, it is a great shame to be conceited because of<br />

one's education and academic qualifications. Education is something learnt from others and not<br />

an extraordinary achievement.<br />

Anyone can acquire formal education given the chance to learn from a good teacher.<br />

c. Beauty - The conceit of physical beauty is the conceit of personal appearance. Because of<br />

being free from dosa (hatred) in the previous existences, offering flowers, cleaning the pagoda<br />

and monastery precincts, etc., one be<strong>com</strong>es famous for beauty in the present existence. One may<br />

well take pride in such pleasant appearance.<br />

However, on reflecting one's past, recalling how one had been free from hatred and had been<br />

virtuous donors of water, flowers, etc., one should not feel conceited in this life. One should try<br />

to culture good thoughts and be gentle and virtuous.<br />

2.1.8. Hatred – Dosa<br />

Anger or violence of mind is hatred – Dosa. Hatred results in violent but it also soils the mind. It<br />

is not only wild and rude, but also depressive resulting in inferiority <strong>com</strong>plex and living in fear;<br />

they all belong to the category of dosa or hatred (ill will).<br />

In brief sorrow, grief, fear, depression, anger, grudge, frightening others with abusive language,<br />

attacking, planning to kill other people - all of these are dosa.<br />

Since hatred ac<strong>com</strong>panied by fear and violence the angry and violent person is also easily<br />

frightened. Be aware of such persons. (Violence is ascending hatred, and fear is called<br />

descending hatred.)<br />

Example - The Story of a Lasso<br />

In India, there once was a young woman who suffered from the evil consequences of hatred. The<br />

story is related here to clarify the concept of anger – (dosa) and remind the parents who used to<br />

force their sons and daughters into marriage without their consent, without love between bride<br />

and bridegroom.<br />

A young lad and a young woman in this story were not acquainted with each other before. The<br />

parents betrothed and got them married. Though the young woman, being a daughter of a good<br />

family, did her chores dutifully, the young lad neither appreciated her services nor loved her<br />

sincerely. She began to be disappointed because he did not care for her in spite of her amiably<br />

attending to him. She was unhappy and was often lost in despair. Her husband, having no love<br />

for his wife, when seeing her depressed behavior hated her more and more and became violent.<br />

Although she was unsatisfied with her husband's behavior, there was no choice for her but to<br />

Page 17 A Gift of Dhamma Maung Paw, California

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