Discourse on the Pitṛputra Samāgama Sūtra (126)

Arrogance Stems from Ignorance

A person with less ignorance is more aware of their own ignorance and thus more humble; those with greater ignorance are less aware of their own ignorance, becoming less humble and more arrogant. Why do sentient beings harbor arrogance? Due to ignorance, due to delusion. In the sequence of eliminating afflictions, greed and hatred are easier to eradicate than ignorance and delusion. Greed is the easiest to eliminate, followed by hatred. After eliminating the view of self and attaining the first dhyāna, greed is eliminated first; only after further cultivation over time is hatred eliminated, followed by the elimination of momentary ignorance. Upon cultivating to the stage of a first-ground Bodhisattva in the Mahayana path, one begins to eliminate the habitual tendencies of greed, hatred, and arrogance, as well as sand-like ignorance. When sand-like ignorance is completely eradicated, one attains Buddhahood. At various stages of practice, the degree and types of ignorance also differ. Bodhisattvas before realizing the mind, after realizing the mind, and after entering the grounds—each fruition level corresponds to various kinds of delusion and ignorance. Even ninth-ground and tenth-ground Bodhisattvas possess subtle remnants of delusion and ignorance. Only upon attaining Buddhahood, upon achieving omniscient wisdom, can all ignorance and delusion within the mind be completely eliminated.