The Corrosive Power of Pride

Pride fosters a sense of superiority that harms relationships, distorts the mind, and impedes personal and spiritual growth

- ATUL SEHGAL

Much has been written about the immanent evil of pride in human personality.

We have heard numerous lectures and videos, and read thousands of textual passages deprecating the evil of pride.

Often, or mostly, it is given the name of EGO. It is a personality defect so much in evidence today that you can find elements of it in a large majority of persons, young and old alike.

The English dictionary gives it parallel names haughtiness, superciliousness and arrogance. Given the very fact that this negative trait appears almost ubiquitous today, it begs a deeper discourse.

Let us analyse the subject of pride from the spiritual perspective after giving it a mundane exposition. Pride is an emotional element in the human being which makes him feel superior to others in any respect-looks, beauty, intelligence, liquid bank balance, ownership of properties and other monetary assets, wisdom, knowledge, erudition, religious faith, race, class, caste....anything. This feeling of superiority or 'holier than thou' attitude gives him a positive emotional kick and makes him feel elated.

The above-said state of elation is what brings the downfall of a proud person. The sense of elation distorts the personality of the individual. His behaviour becomes condescending. He looks down on others. People start distancing from him.