(Half bell)
(Bell)
At the beginning of our practice session each morning here in Plum Village
and also last year during the US tour,
we were invited to transform the delusive self
and to transform our inferiority, superiority and equality complexes.
Friends in America have a great deal of confusion and consternation
about the phrase 'equality complex'.
In our country, equality is not only legally mandated,
but it is also a sort of password for the human rights movement.
I wonder if you could give me and my friends more information
of how to practice and hold these complexes.
The complex of equality can bring a lot of suffering also.
Equality will not bring suffering,
but complex of equality will bring suffering.
(Laughter)
And we have to understand really the meaning of the word 'equality'.
In Buddhism we have the word 'equanimity'.
In France we speak of 'liberté, egalité' (freedom, equality).
So we have to think a little bit about equality as a quality, a virtue.
We know that the complex of superiority
is causing suffering to us and to the other person.
The complex of inferiority, low self-esteem,
can be the root of many mental illnesses.
And we believe that equality is the solution.
The right to be equal.
But when you practice the teaching of the Buddha,
you go very deep.
We suffer because we compare oneself with other selves.
I am better than him.
That is the complex of superiority.
I am worse, I cannot catch up with him.
The complex of inferiority.
I am his equal.
That is also a complex.
So you try to be equal.
You try to prove that 'I am equal'.
So you still suffer.
But in the teaching of Buddhism, there is no self.
There is no comparison, so the happiness is perfect.
(Laughter)
The happiness is perfect, you don't compare anymore
and you see that: 'Darling, you are me and I am you.
Your suffering is my suffering, your happiness is my happiness.'
It is much deeper.
That is why the insight of interbeing is very important.
When you meditate you see
that we only inter-are,
you cannot be by yourself alone,
you have to interbe with the other person.
That is why in Plum Village we say:
'You are, therefore I am.'
We inter-are.
That is why we don't see an individual who suffers alone
and who is happy alone.
We see a couple living in harmony
and considering the happiness of the other person as his happiness,
the suffering of the other person as her suffering.
So harmony is the base of peace and happiness.
Harmony has the insight of interbeing as the base.
In the practice of mindfulness,
not only we try to remove the complex of superiority,
the complex of inferiority,
but also the complex of equality.
'I am as good as you!
I claim the right to be as good as him', and so on.
There is still a self and therefore there is always a comparison.
As far as you continue to compare, you suffer.
But with the insight of interbeing,
you don't compare anymore because you are him and he is you.
There is harmony, peace and happiness.
I think that is simple enough
for our friends to understand.
Good luck!
(Laughter)
(Bell)
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