The Causes of the Arising of Afflictions

When feelings of jealousy arise within oneself, turn the light inward to introspect and analyze why jealousy occurs. When conceit arises, turn the light inward to reflect on why such conceit emerges. After identifying the cause, one must use the principles learned to persuade and admonish oneself, thereby subduing jealousy and conceit. Before attaining fruition and the first dhyāna, one can only subdue these afflictions of jealousy and conceit; they cannot be eradicated entirely. Ordinary people experience jealousy when others overshadow them, when their sense of self fails to stand out, or when they fail to gain desired benefits. The presence of "self" and "others" in the mind leads to comparison, breeding an unwillingness for anyone to surpass or excel beyond oneself.

Due to jealousy, any community inevitably becomes fraught with disputes, mutual exclusion, suppression, and competition for influence and resources, making conflict unavoidable. Within a community of the Three Jewels, failure to subdue such jealousy can easily lead to schism within the monastic order. If it results in the splitting of the monastic community, it constitutes the offense leading to the Avīci Hell.