Arrogance and the Path to Dissolving It
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Teachings from the Teacher, Chief Writer: Venerable HaiZe
April 23, 2022
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:
The Subtle Poison of Arrogance
My dear children, when you possess a particular talent or excel in areas where others do not, it is easy for a sense of pride to take root. This arrogance does not merely stay in your thoughts; it permeates every cell of your body. You become filled with an arrogant air, and in doing so, you forget the vital importance of being humble and modest. You forget the ancient wisdom that there is always someone better; there is always a higher authority. When you lose sight of this, you lose your way on the path of practice.
The Karmic Weight of Pride
This arrogant air is a destructive force. It causes harm to others through your words, your actions, and even your silent thoughts. Yet, the harm you inflict upon others inevitably returns to wound you. Why is this so? It is because your arrogance acts as a beacon. It attracts your and other beings from your past who hold memories of your previous encounters. When they manifest before you, they amplify your arrogance, making your state of mind even more clouded and your actions even more harmful. Because of this, you find it difficult to listen to the counseling of a true spiritual friend, and you struggle to change your ways. You become trapped in a cycle of creating negative causes, and when the results manifest, you are the one who must endure the suffering.
The Path to True Humility
How, then, can you dissolve this arrogance? You must begin by repenting for your past sins, which are as vast as the mountains, as deep as the ocean, and as boundless as the sky. You must realise that as long as you remain in this body of , you have no qualification to be angry or arrogant. You must engage in the practice of prostrations to dissolve your and melt away your pride. You must be sincere in your desire to change your ways; do not be lenient with the faults you have grown accustomed to.
Dissolving the Ego
To truly progress, you must adopt the identity of a humble learner. You must learn to listen—truly listen—to the guidance of a true spiritual friend and to the words of others. You must work to let go of your ego-attachment and your personal views, striving instead for the state of . Only when you have let go of the ego can you truly dissolve your suffering and your arrogance. Namo Amituofo.
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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