Only After the Mind of Conceit and the Mind of Self Have Become Slight Can One Eradicate the View of Self

All contention and struggle arise because of the self; without a self, one would not contend or struggle. The nature of no-self is divided into different degrees, and the nature of self is also divided into different degrees. The lighter one's nature of self, the easier it is to eradicate the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi); conversely, the heavier it is, the harder it becomes. In the process of eradicating the view of self, the nature of self must be gradually lightened, until it approaches no-self, so that the view of self can be eradicated during the final contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā).

In the course of daily practice, one must constantly examine whether one's self is gradually weakening. In dealing with people and affairs, observe whether one's afflictions are still heavy, whether arrogance and attachments are still heavy. If you observe that your arrogance is heavy and your self-regard is heavy, you must find ways to subdue yourself and suppress yourself.

Why does each person have arrogance? Because one believes that one's own five aggregates (pañca-skandha) body is superior to others, that oneself is more important than others, and thus arrogance arises. If this view is not subdued, it is very difficult to eradicate the view of self. Only when one takes one's five aggregates body as real, takes one's perceiving mind as real, and takes what one possesses—form, sound, smell, taste, touch, dharmas, wealth, beauty, fame, food—as real, will arrogance arise in the mind consciously or unconsciously, overriding and crushing others, with the mind full of highs and lows, uneven and unlevel. In the process of cultivation, one must strive to overcome these arrogant attitudes; only after arrogance and self-regard have become slight is it possible to eradicate the view of self.

All afflictions arise because of the self; without a self there are no afflictions. The more selfless one is, the fewer afflictions one has. With ultimate no-self, afflictions and habitual tendencies will all be completely eradicated.