Did the Buddha narcistically judge people unfairly with self-conceit?

Upvote:1

This question is strange especially if it's from those who have studied Buddhism and are inside this doctrine. Unshakable confidence in Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha is required to make progress in this doctrine. No matter how one slices it, faith is required in Buddhism to make that first step. Example, before I start practice how do I know Nirvana exist? If faith is not required, then someone should be able to demonstrate to me that is does. If you are not Buddhist and make a critical inquiries about Buddha's characteristic, then best answer would probably come from a scholar who isn't a Buddhist. I doubt that a Buddhist would give an answer that border line disrespectful to the "triple gems".

My answer is "no". Buddha is perfect in every way.

Upvote:4

This answer says there are 9 types of conceit (including e.g. "thinking one is superior when one is not"), of which only 3 types are true (including e.g. "thinking one is superior when one is").

It says that a sotapanna is only capable of "true conceit".

To say "judge people unfairly with self-conceit" would therefore imply that the Buddha is more deluded than a sotapanna.

This doctrine (about "true conceit") can also be found in this paper, “Me”: The nature of conceit, by Piya Tan (on page 50):

Here, the Vibhaṅga Commentary goes on to state that only the following three are types of true conceit (yāthāva,māna), that is, founded pride, namely:

  • the superiority complex of the superior;
  • the equality complex of the equal; and
  • the inferiority complex of the inferior.

The rest are types of false conceit [unfounded pride].

While false conceit is abandoned by the path of stream-winning, true conceit is abandoned only by the path of arhathood. (VbhA 486 f)

It's based on the Vibhaṅga Commentary.

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