The Perniciousness of Conceit

Many people cannot withstand praise and criticism. The root cause lies in the self-clinging mind, which gives rise to arrogance. Before attaining the third and fourth stages of enlightenment, everyone possesses arrogance; it merely lies dormant when the conditions are not ripe. When conducive conditions arise, arrogance manifests. Almost everyone must pass through this stage, differing only in duration and depth.

The most humble individuals, once they gain power or advantage, often become the most arrogant. This is because lowliness and inferiority complex are also manifestations of the arrogant, self-clinging mind. Without the notion of self, there would be no feeling of inferiority. Therefore, the degree of inferiority corresponds directly to the degree of arrogance.

Almost all forms of arrogance manifest in worldly matters. For instance, some are arrogant due to wealth and riches, some because of status, others because of power, some due to physical appearance, some because of having agreeable family and relatives, some because of their experiences, some due to possessing certain special skills, some because of their intelligence and talent, many because of attachment to their physical form, and most because of their intellectual wisdom. These various types of arrogance all stem from having a sense of self and what is considered as 'mine' within the mind, resulting from strong attachment to self and self-view.

Arrogance most obstructs the path to enlightenment and is the easiest way to fall into demonic states. Some people cannot see the pockmarks on their own face yet spend all day scrutinizing others' faces, constantly examining others. This is because their minds are preoccupied with distinctions between self and others.