Self-conceit (māna) is the condition that obstructs the Path

Original text: 以彼犹有能障现观粗品我慢。随入作意。间无间转。作是思惟。我于生死曾久流转。我于生死当复流转。我于涅槃当能趣入。我为涅槃修诸善法。我能观苦真实是苦。我能观集真实是集。我能观灭真实是灭。我能观道真实是道。我能观空真实是空。我观无愿真是无愿。我观无相真是无相。如是诸法是我所有。由是因缘。虽于涅槃深心愿乐。然心于彼不能趣入。彼既了知。如是我慢是障碍已。便能速疾以慧通达。

Explanation: Why is it that one may deeply loathe birth-and-death and yearn for nirvāṇa with a sincere heart, yet still be unable to enter nirvāṇa, and even be unable to gain determination (adhimokṣa) with regard to the dharmas of nirvāṇa and abide in them? It is because the practitioner still has a coarse form of self-conceit (māna) that can obstruct direct contemplative realization (vipaśyanā). As he enters into contemplative practice, mental engagement (manaskāra) arises either intermittently or uninterruptedly, and he deliberates thus: "I have long been transmigrating through birth-and-death; I shall continue to transmigrate through birth-and-death; I shall be able to enter nirvāṇa; I cultivate various wholesome dharmas for the sake of nirvāṇa; I can contemplate the truth of suffering and know it to truly be suffering; I can contemplate the truth of origination and know it to truly be origination; I can contemplate the truth of cessation and know it to truly be cessation; I can contemplate the truth of the path and know it to truly be the path; I can contemplate emptiness and know it to truly be emptiness; I contemplate wishlessness and it is truly wishlessness; I contemplate the signless and it is truly the signless. All such dharmas are possessed by me."

Because the practitioner harbors these notions in his mind, although he can deeply delight in nirvāṇa with a sincere heart, his mind cannot enter nirvāṇa, because the coarse and heavy self-conceit has an obstructing effect. Once the practitioner has come to know that the above forms of self-conceit are obstacles to entering nirvāṇa, he can swiftly penetrate them with wisdom, thereby removing the obstruction of self-conceit and entering nirvāṇa.

Carefully and subtly contemplate: what is self-conceit? What is the essence of self-conceit? Why does self-conceit arise? What phenomena manifest self-conceit? What are the manifestations and characteristics of self-conceit? How does self-conceit obstruct the Path? And how can self-conceit be subdued?