iti.8 Itivuttaka

Understanding Conceit

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, one who has not directly known and fully understood conceit, who has not detached his mind from it and abandoned it, is incapable of destroying suffering. But one who has directly known and fully understood conceit, and who has detached his mind from it and abandoned it, is capable of destroying suffering.”

Humankind is possessed by conceit,
Bound by conceit and delighted with being;
Not fully understanding conceit,
They come again to renewal of being.

But those who have abandoned conceit,
And who by destroying conceit are freed,
Have conquered the bondage of conceit
And overcome all suffering.

- Translator: John D. Ireland

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

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Complete Understanding of Conceit

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Mendicants, without directly knowing and completely understanding conceit, without dispassion for it and giving it up, you can’t end suffering.
By directly knowing and completely understanding conceit, having dispassion for it and giving it up, you can end suffering.”
The Buddha spoke this matter.
On this it is said:
“These folk are caught up in conceit,
tied by conceit, delighting in existence.
Not completely understanding conceit,
they return in future lives.”
Those who have given up conceit,
freed in the ending of conceit,
vanquishers of the tie of conceit,
have risen above all suffering.”
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.