Ordinary human thinking is full of greed, jealousy, and pride. A man seeing another man on the street may immediately think, He is better looking than I am. The instant result is envy or shame. A girl seeing another girl may think, I am prettier than she is. The instant result is pride. This sort of comparison is a mental habit, and it leads directly to ill feeling of one sort or another: greed, envy, pride, jealousy, or hatred. It is an unskillful mental state, but we do it all the time.
Ordinary human thought is often clouded by negative emotions such as greed, jealousy, and pride. When individuals see others, they frequently engage in comparisons that lead to feelings of envy or shame. For example, a man might feel inferior upon seeing a better-looking man, whereas a woman might feel superior when she perceives herself as prettier than another girl. These mental habits foster unproductive feelings that can complicate interpersonal relationships.
This tendency to compare ourselves to others is an ingrained mental pattern that results in unwholesome emotions like pride, envy, and hatred. Such states of mind are detrimental, yet they are commonly experienced. Recognizing and addressing this habit can lead to greater emotional well-being and healthier interactions with others, as we learn to appreciate individuals without the lens of comparison.
