Conceit and love of self, vanity is prohibited.

 

30. Conceit and love of self, as in vanity, is prohibited and strongly condemned in the religions of God: These traits God’s religions tell us, are bad for our spiritual growth and well-being, and create conflict in our interactions with others.  JUDAISM: Proverbs: 26:11 “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” Proverbs: 26:12 “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” Proverbs: 26:16 “The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.” The sluggard is deceived by his own vanity and blinded by love of self. Proverbs: 28:11 “The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.” 12:16 “Be not wise in your own conceits!” Psalms: 3:8 “Salvation belongeth unto The LORD: 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity? Selah.” 4:3 “Know that The LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself.”  CHRISTIANITY: 2 Timothy: 3:1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 3:2 “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” 3:3 “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,” 3:4 “Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Peter: 2:18 “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness.” 2 Peter: 2:19 “They themselves are the servants of corruption:” Romans: 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly (conceit, self-love, vanity) than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans: 12:16 “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things. Be not wise in your own conceits.” Romans: 11:25 “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened.”

 ISLAM: “The Prophet (Muhammad) further added, ‘Do not be conceited!”’

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 8, Book 76, # 441)

 Letter 31. “Remember, son, that vanity and conceit are forms of folly. These traits will bring to you serious harm and will be a constant source of danger to you. Therefore, lead a well-balanced life (neither be conceited nor suffer from inferiority) and exert yourself to earn an honest living.” 53. “Select honest, truthful and pious people as your companions. Train them not to flatter you and not to seek your favour by false praises because flattery and false praises create vanity and conceit and they make a man lose sight of his real self and ignore his duties.”

(Islam, Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

 21. “Such as fear not the meeting with Us (for Judgment) say: ‘Why are not the angels sent down to us, or (why) do we not see our Lord?” Indeed they have an arrogant conceit of themselves, and mighty is the insolence of their impiety!” 22. “The Day they see the angels — no joy will there be.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 25)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: 37. “They are intoxicated with pride (vanity, conceit) in their youth, And shall be full of regrets at the end of their time.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments)

 HINDUISM: “Who hateth naught Of all which lives, living himself benign, Compassionate, from arrogance exempt, Exempt from love of self, (vanity, conceit) unchangeable By good or ill; patient, contented, firm In faith, mastering himself, true to his word, Seeking Me, heart and soul; vowed unto Me,- That man I love!”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 12)

 BUDDHISM: 20. “Cut out the love of self (conceit, vanity), like an autumn lotus, with your hand. Cherish the path of peace. Nirvana has been shown by the Buddha.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 “And when they are performing these acts of charity, let them not cherish any desire for fame or advantage, nor covet any earthly reward. Thinking only of the benefits and blessings that are to be mutually shared, let them aspire for the most excellent, the most perfect wisdom.” (Buddha, Diamond Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “The Fire of which ye spake Once a day needs a firebrand. The fire of which ye spake –Fire, is vanity and cometh to naught And its worshippers come to naught and are vanity.” “Who could praise Thee, Life (Haiyi/God), Or magnify (worthily) the greatness of Thy victories? Can the stinking body praise Thee? or the vain tongue?”  (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 21 and 75)

 “For my heart hath testified to The First Life (Haiyi/God).” “Behold me, who have sought purification before Thee! Look on me, I am Thy servant and Thy child. Now I humble myself… to Thy name, for I have been true to thy name, and speak (it) in my heart and talk (of it) in my mind. And I subdue my form and my loins,” I stay away from love of self and pride. “I shall be pure in all my words (thoughts); and life.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 1, 77 and 410)

 BABI RELIGION: “Such as are conceited will not suffer themselves to be guided. They will be debarred from the Truth, some by reason of their learning, others on account of their glory and power, and still others due to reasons of their own, none of which shall be of any avail at the hour of death.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 95)

 “O concourse of the people of the Book! Fear ye God and pride not yourselves in your learning,” avoid vanity and conceit in your lives.

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 44)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Know verily that Knowledge is of two kinds: Divine and Satanic. The one welleth out from the fountain of divine inspiration; the other is but a reflection of vain and obscure thoughts. The source of the former is God Himself; the motive-force of the latter the whisperings of selfish desire. The one is guided by the principle: ‘Fear ye God; God will teach you; the other is but a confirmation of the truth:’ ‘Knowledge is the most grievous veil between man and his Creator.’ The former bringeth forth the fruit of patience, of longing desire, of true understanding, and love; whilst the latter can yield naught but arrogance, vainglory and conceit.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 69)

“Without cooperation and reciprocal attitude the individual member of human society remains self-centered, uninspired by altruistic purposes, limited and solitary in development like the animal and plant organisms of the lower kingdoms.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 338)

“Just as the earth attracts everything to the center of gravity, and every object thrown upward into space will come down, so also material ideas and worldly thoughts attract man to the center of self. Anger, passion, ignorance, prejudice, greed, envy, covetousness, jealousy and suspicion prevent man from ascending to the realms of holiness, imprisoning him in the claws of self and the cage of egotism.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Compilations, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 546)