The Path to Removing Arrogance

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the twenty-fourth of August, 2025, during the midday offering, Namo Amituofo provided these essential teachings regarding the nature of the ego.

The Poison That Corrodes the Soul

Arrogance is one of the Five Poisons, alongside greed, anger, delusion, and doubt. It is a potent toxin that slowly eats away at the kindness and compassion inherent in your true nature. When this poison takes hold, it allows selfish and malevolent intentions to manifest within your heart. Consequently, you create negative causes, which inevitably lead to the bitter fruits of suffering. You must understand that this is not merely a personality trait, but a spiritual obstacle that clouds your original wisdom.

Recognising the Hidden Shadows of Arrogance

My children, do you truly know when arrogance arises within you? You may begin by asking yourself: what is your state of mind when you perceive others as being arrogant? Often, you will find that your own arrogance is mirrored in your reaction to them. Consider these signs:

• You speak with a loud, aggressive tone, filled with anger.
• You point out the faults of others while failing to examine your own.
• You maintain an attitude that is cold, harsh, and unkind.
• You insist stubbornly that you are right and that others are wrong.
• You carry a posture of superiority, believing you are better or stronger than those around you.
• You express your disapproval through commanding language, impatient gestures, or angry facial expressions.

Arrogance and pride often manifest without you even realising it. They become deeply ingrained parts of your personality, surfacing naturally in your speech and behaviour. When you act in this way, you hurt both yourself and others, creating negative karmic ties with all beings. The result of such actions is never happiness; it is always suffering.

The Karmic Echoes of Past Lives

At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, we often see the manifestation of karma when karmic creditors appear to seek revenge and repay grievances. Many of the difficulties you face today are rooted in the arrogance you carried in your past lives. It is this very pride that created the conflicts and resentments that have now ripened into the suffering you experience in this lifetime.

Dissolving the Ego Through Devotion

Removing arrogance is an essential lesson for every practitioner. It is a task that requires constant vigilance and sincere effort. You can dissolve this ego-driven state through the following practices:

• Constant Buddha-recitation: In every repetition of the Buddha-name, arrogance and deluded thoughts are gradually washed away.
• Cultivating Compassion: By witnessing the suffering of all beings and practising Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving, you naturally let go of the self-centred ego.
• Making Great Vows: By vowing to achieve your own awakening while working to save countless suffering beings, you shift your focus from the self to the collective.
• Living in Selflessness: By practising the state of no-self, you remove the foundation upon which arrogance stands.
• Embracing Humility: By remaining humble and modest in all your interactions, you create the space for true wisdom to manifest.
• Surrendering to the Path: By letting go of your physical attachments and following the Buddha’s guidance to save the world and save beings, you transcend the limitations of the ego.

Namo Amituofo