Prejudice: Why Do We Always Think We Are Right?

Prejudices are the molds we cast around our own souls, causing us to always believe we are right. This dharma talk helps us recognize these patterns and practice letting go, so that we may live in peace.

Have you ever judged someone simply because they once shared a piece of bread unevenly? Perhaps a friend gave you a slightly smaller half of their sandwich, and you thought, "People cannot be trusted." From that moment on, you held onto a prejudice against them for many years. But before making such conclusions, have you not also disappointed others yourself? In today’s teaching, Venerable Thich Chan Quang invites us to examine our own minds, identify the prejudices that bind us, and find the path toward true wisdom.

### What Is Prejudice?

Prejudice consists of concepts and understandings that we accept as absolute truths, thereby locking our hearts within those frames. Venerable Thich Chan Quang teaches that prejudice occurs when we accept a certain understanding or policy as truth and rigidly confine our entire lives within it.

The danger is that these prejudices can sometimes be quite correct. For example, humility is a virtue. However, if we insist that one must always be humble without exception, we will eventually make mistakes. When acting as a teacher, one must maintain dignity and guide disciples; one cannot be timid or submissive. Even clinging to a correct concept can become an obstacle if applied inflexibly.

### We All Believe We Are Right

The Venerable points out that a common human ailment is the belief that everyone is right. When each person holds different views yet stubbornly insists on their own correctness, conflict and suffering arise. He states that this universal tendency to think oneself right is where prejudice begins.

We feel we are right in how we eat, entertain ourselves, work, and choose friends. In reality, this country has distinct cultural differences between its three regions. People in the South prioritize delicious food, while people in the North emphasize housing. Both perspectives have merit, but if we absolutize them, they lead to division.

### Four Types of Understanding

The Venerable categorizes human understanding into four types: wrong, right, mixed (partly right and partly wrong), and absolutely right. Only the Buddha achieves absolutely right understanding. Even what is generally considered "right" cannot always be applied perfectly. For instance, being gentle is right, but one should not be gentle at all times. The Venerable teaches that fundamentally, one should start with gentleness, but if one is not yet fully gentle, one should not glare aggressively at others.

In temples, we often see statues of fierce guardians like Tiêu Diện, holding swords with tongues sticking out. These images remind us that there are times when firmness and strength are necessary. Yet, gentleness must come first. Do not rush to impose your views; instead, consider the circumstances carefully.

### Harmful Prejudices

Some mistaken beliefs drag life downward and cause suffering for those around us. For example, the idea that "karma is personal, so I need not help others" is incorrect. The Venerable teaches that the scenes of suffering presented before us in life exist to create conditions for our hearts to open.

When we encounter suffering, closing our hearts leads us down a negative path. But opening our hearts with compassion, even if we cannot immediately help, lifts us up. Suffering serves as a practice ground for cultivating compassion. Another error is tolerating bad behavior for profit or hindering the capabilities of women. The Venerable notes that belittling women or obstructing their progress is a mistake that hinders the overall advancement of society. These errors often stem from habits and environments, but they are not truths.

### Breaking Free from Prejudice

To escape prejudice, we must question our own beliefs and learn to view situations from multiple angles. The Venerable advises us never to lock anything into a rigid frame. Keep your heart open and seek understanding; life will guide you toward wisdom. Ask yourself, "Is this belief valid in every situation?" If not, let it go.

We can begin today by paying attention to our thoughts, challenging them, and uncovering hidden biases. Let your heart open to the suffering around you, allowing blessings from merit to increase, and inviting the wisdom of the Buddhas to enter. This is the path we should walk. As the Venerable reminds us, "We sit here discussing cause and effect, karma, and compassion... but we must face real-life situations."