The afflictions and habitual tendencies of sentient beings are not easy to subdue.

Because sentient beings take the aggregate of feeling as the self and cling to the aggregate of feeling, for the sake of inner feelings they give rise to greed and anger, thereby creating boundless karmic transgressions. If one does not take the aggregate of feeling as the self, does not cling to the aggregate of feeling, does not crave pleasant feelings, and does not feel aversion toward unpleasant feelings, then greed and anger will not arise, and one will not create evil karma without even knowing it.

The most prominent characteristic of sentient beings in the Sahā world is greed, anger, and delusion; the most pervasive affliction in the human realm of the desire realm is greed. Even though one has studied the Buddha's teachings and understands something of cause and effect, knowing that greed is the root of sinking into birth and death, because karmic obstructions are so deep and heavy, one still cannot subdue greed. Whether layperson or monastic, subduing all afflictions is extremely, extremely difficult. Because habits have been deeply ingrained through countless kalpas of birth and death, they are so deeply rooted that it is hard to shake them even a tiny bit.