Envy
Why do I feel a pang when someone steps up the ladder of life, ahead of me? Why do I feel it even when the person in question is a distant acquaintance or even a complete stranger? Why do I feel belittled by success of an American entrepreneur, Indian software developer or Chinese trader? Why do I curse myself for incompetence when a person my age becomes a head of state or government in some corner of the globe? Why am I worried when my colleague gets a promotion or a friend's wife gets a new job? Why do I doubt my ability as a parent when a child of a friend goes to a good school, gets a scholarship or achieve enviable grades? Why do I envy my own brother earning more money than me and think I should always be the one who achieves more?
These are seemingly trivial but in fact very profound questions of life. While detailed answers would be different from case to case, the most common single word answer to all these is the name of a natural human tendency - ENVY.
Envy is widely dealt with by ancient scriptures, philosophers, thinkers, literary figures and scientists. It is talked upon by ancient Hindu scriptures, christian theologies and Muslim holy books. One of the earliest western philosophers Aristotle defines envy as, "the pain at the sight of other person's good fortune". In a way, it signifies the feeling prompted by those "who have what I ought to have", from the perspective of the person who feels envious.
Bhagvad Gita, one of the beacons of Hindu scripture, says "
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201408/the-psychology-and-philosophy-envy
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201408/the-psychology-and-philosophy-envy
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