The Causes of the Arising of Afflictions

When one's jealousy arises, turn the light inward and reflect, analyzing and observing why one is jealous? When arrogance arises, turn the light inward and reflect: why does such arrogance arise? After finding the cause, one must use the principles one has learned to persuade and guide oneself, subduing jealousy and arrogance. Before attaining realization of the fruits and the first dhyāna, one can only subdue afflictions such as jealousy and arrogance, not eradicate them. Ordinary people become jealous because others have stolen their limelight, because their "self" has not stood out, or because they have not obtained the benefits they hoped for. Only when there is a "self" and "others" in the mind can there be mutual comparison, not wishing anyone to be stronger than oneself or better than oneself.

Because of jealousy, any group will have endless conflicts and disputes, mutual exclusion and suppression, and mutual struggle for power and resources; strife is inevitable. In a community of the Three Jewels, if such jealousy is not subdued, it can easily lead to a split in the Saṅgha; if it causes a schism in the Saṅgha, that is a sin leading to the Avīci hell.