The Harmfulness of Arrogance

Many people cannot withstand praise or criticism. The reason for this is still the self-mind, from which the mind of arrogance arises. Before reaching the third or fourth fruit, everyone has a mind of arrogance; it is only that when the conditions are not complete, the arrogance lies hidden as a latent tendency. When the conditions arise, the arrogance will manifest. Almost everyone has to go through this stage; only the duration and depth differ.

The most humble person, once he gains power, is often the most arrogant. Because humility and low self-esteem are also forms of manifestation of the mind of arrogance and the self-mind; without a self-mind, one would not feel inferior. Therefore, the more inferior one feels, the more arrogant one is.

Almost all forms of arrogance manifest in worldly matters. For example, some people are arrogant because of wealth and riches, some are arrogant because of status, some are arrogant because of power, some are arrogant because of their appearance, some are arrogant because of having agreeable family members and relatives, some are arrogant because of their life experience, some are arrogant because of having some special talent, some are arrogant because of their own intelligence and ability; many people are arrogant because of their physical body, and most people are arrogant because of their mental wisdom. There are many kinds of such arrogance, all caused by having a self and what belongs to the self within the mind, resulting from a heavy view of the body and view of self.

The mind of arrogance obstructs the Path the most, and the mind of arrogance makes it easiest to fall into demonic states. Some people have a face full of pockmarks that they themselves cannot see, yet they keep staring at other people's faces all day long, examining others every day—this is precisely because there is a self and others within their minds.