The eighth fetter, conceit, seems at first to be a lot like the first fetter, sakkaya ditthi, the wrong view of self. The eighth fetter, however, is more subtle. We may acquire the right view of self yet still feel distinctiveness, i.e., we may compare ourselves with others and find ourselves to be superior, equal, or inferior.
Master Hsu Yun (Empty Cloud), pictured here, broke the eighth fetter completely as is apparent from the photo.
It seems wrong that we could root out the feelings of ego, of a permanent abiding self, independent of others, yet still manage somehow to compare “ourselves” with “others.”
Perhaps a practitioner who has rooted out the ego will think as follows: Having overcome the fetter of sakkaya ditthi, I am distinct from those who haven’t. I am superior to those who still hold the view of a permanent, abiding self. I am now the equal of my teacher. But I guess I am still inferior to the Buddha.
I give this example of feelings of superiority, equality, and inferiority because that’s what the writers on this subject always mention. Those free of sakkaya ditthi still make comparisons of superiority, equality and inferiority with “others.”
So we can conclude that even when we overcome the first fetter of sakkaya ditthi, our work is not yet done. We still have to root out a subtle tendency to compare ourselves with others, finding ourselves to be superior to some, equal to some and inferior to some.
Perhaps this eighth fetter is best thought of as being a residue of sakkaya ditthi. The Buddha said that conceit remains a fetter even when sakkaya ditthi is thrown off. He also said that only a fully awakened arhat/arahat/arahant is free of conceit, that the fetter of conceit is not broken until Buddhahood is realized.
I have resolved to throw off sakkaya ditthi and not to worry about its residue. I’ll throw it off so thoroughly that when I am free of that fetter, I won’t even need to compare myself with my inferiors. (A pretty weak joke…)
The ten fetters are listed in the order in which they are most difficult to gain release from. Eight out of ten is a pretty high number so the fetter of conceit is not really a joking matter.
All we can do is cultivate everyday. Our cultivation will root out this fetter, but only if we do not take pride in our efforts.
Zen’s Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Teachings
