The Harmfulness of an Arrogant Mind

Many people cannot withstand praise or criticism. The reason for this still lies in the mind of self; it is from this that the mind of pride arises. Before reaching the third or fourth fruit, everyone has a mind of pride; it is only when the conditions are not yet complete that pride lies hidden as a latent tendency. When the conditions manifest, pride will emerge into activity. Almost everyone must pass through this stage; only the duration and depth differ.

The most humble person, once they gain power or advantage, is often the most arrogant. Because humility and inferiority are also manifestations of the mind of pride and the mind of self; without a mind of self, one would not feel inferior. Therefore, the more inferior one feels, the more pride one has.

Almost all forms of pride manifest in worldly matters. For example, some people are proud because of wealth and riches, some are proud because of status, some are proud because of power and influence, some are proud because of their appearance, some are proud because of their agreeable family members and relatives, some are proud because of their life experience, some are proud because of a particular talent, some are proud because of their own intelligence and ability. Many people are proud because of their physical body, and most people are proud because of their mental acuity and wisdom. There are many kinds of pride like these, all caused by holding to a self and what belongs to self within the mind, resulting from a heavy view of the body and view of self.

The mind of pride is the greatest obstruction to the Path, and with a mind of pride one most easily enters the realm of Māra. Some people with a face full of pockmarks cannot see their own face, yet they keep staring fixedly at the faces of others, examining others day after day—this is precisely because there is a self and others within their mind.