(Clearwisdom.Net) Through interactions with other practitioners, I find there is a general notion of being opinionated (i.e., considering oneself always on the right side or considering oneself as infallible) among many practitioners. The forms of manifestation are diverse. Some always love to flaunt their past brilliant achievements. Others profess to be above worldly considerations, are arrogant and do not listen to different opinions. Some justify their attachments with human logic. I personally think such notions have already hindered their improvement. The old forces will most likely take advantage of this.
According to what I have observed, those who have the heavy attachment of showing off are persecuted more. Those who have high opinions of themselves make mistakes more easily. Among these are many practitioners that have good inborn quality and enlightenment quality. They cultivate very hard and also work hard, but just because one thought is not righteous, they have become complacent. I feel very sorry for them. I thought this over for a long time. Finally, I decided to talk about my understanding. I hope practitioners who have shortcomings in this area will pay attention. We can improve as a whole.
The root of arrogance is the restraint by the old cosmos' principles based on selfishness and ordinary people's attachment to self. It runs counter to cultivation and Fa-rectification. Those who are arrogant often have high opinions of themselves. They regard themselves as the center and this strengthens their personal desires. As a result of such attachments growing stronger over time, they are intoxicated by self-interests easily, and cannot see the immensity of the cosmos, the stateliness of the Buddha Fa and the suffering of all lives in the three realms. They cannot see their own shortcomings and other people's merits. They also cannot experience the goodness of humility and the grandeur of tolerance.
There is a saying in Chinese that, "the modest receive benefit, while the conceited reap failure". Practitioners wish to be in a realm higher than that. We should do better. The Buddha Fa is broad, immense and profound. It is Master's Fa that gives us new lives. We are practitioners. No matter how high we can enlighten and how well we do, what we have is just a bit of understanding at one level. What excuses can we have to be arrogant and conceited in front of our merciful Master and all the suffering lives? Fellow practitioners who have such attachments should determine to strive forward. If we cling to our personal attachments and bad notions, we will drive ourselves further away from the Fa. Only when we put down self, take the Fa as teacher, strictly make demands on ourselves and remember the suffering of all lives in our hearts and always consider others first, can we gradually let go of these notions based on egotism and selfishness. Only then can we walk the road of selflessness and altruism openly.
