About This Teaching
Comparing oneself with others is a form of conceit (māna), Ajahn Dtun explains, and it is very subtle: the stream-enterer, once-returner and non-returner cannot yet abandon it; only the arahant does. Seeing oneself as better than, worse than or equal to others is simply an activity of the thinking mind.
When one feels worse off than others, he suggests looking at those with fewer opportunities, and seeing how many people are worse off; the mind then becomes lighter and more balanced. Beings differ because each is the owner and heir of their kamma, born of it and having it as their refuge. Whoever does good receives good results, and whoever does bad receives bad results.
Whether others are good or not is their own business. One should not pay attention to such comparisons but look after and develop one's own mind, do good to others, and cultivate muditā, rejoicing in others' goodness, which counters the habit of comparison and leaves the mind cool and at ease.