My dear friends,

The fifteenth precept under the sixth point in Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is:

This precept addresses the potential pitfall of developing an inflated sense of self-importance during spiritual practice. This can lead to an increase in self-grasping ignorance and self-cherishing attitudes, hindering true progress on the path.

Learning to Be Alert to the Possibility of This Problem

• Self-Reflection and Introspection: Regularly engage in honest self-reflection and introspection. Examine your thoughts, motivations, and actions to identify any signs of inflated self-importance or self-cherishing attitudes.
• Feedback from Spiritual Friends: Seek feedback from spiritual friends, teachers, and mentors. They can offer an external perspective and help identify any signs of regression or self-inflation that you might miss.
• Mindfulness and Awareness: Develop mindfulness and awareness in your daily life and meditation practice. Be attentive to the arising of pride, arrogance, or a sense of superiority over others.
• Measure your progress:
  • Are you consistently accompanied by joyful thoughts?
  • Is there evidence of a reversed attitude indicating transformation?
  • Are you capable of maintaining your training even when distracted?

Antidotes to Apply if the Problem Occurs

• Humility and Modesty: Cultivate humility and modesty. Remind yourself of the vastness of the path and the endless potential for growth and improvement. Acknowledge the contributions and support of others in your journey.
• Reaffirm Altruistic Intentions: Continuously reaffirm your altruistic intentions and motivations. Reflect on the purpose of your practice, which is to benefit all sentient beings and not to elevate your own status.
• Engage in Compassionate Actions: Actively engage in compassionate actions and selfless service. This helps to reduce self-cherishing and reinforces the practice of cherishing others.
• Study and Contemplation: Deepen your study and contemplation of teachings on emptiness and interdependence. Recognize the illusory nature of the self and the interconnectedness of all beings.
• Prayer and Dedication: Dedicate your practice and any merit you accumulate to the welfare of all sentient beings. Prayers and dedications can help shift the focus away from self-centeredness.
• Mind Training Practices: Continuously apply the lojong slogans and mind training practices. Reflect on slogans such as "Drive all blames into one" and "Be grateful to everyone" to counteract self-importance.

From a Christian perspective, we can draw inspiration from the teachings and example of Jesus, who embodied humility and selfless love. Reflect on passages such as this advice from the Apostle Paul:

By being vigilant and employing these antidotes, we can prevent the regression into self-importance and continue making genuine progress on the Bodhisattva path. This requires continuous effort, humility, and dedication to benefiting others, guided by the wisdom and compassion inherent in both Buddhist and Christian teachings.