In personal and public life it’s easy to fall into unskillful attitudes and behavior. In the Self-effacement Sutta the Buddha cuts one branch after another in order to get down to the roots:
“Cunda, there are many different views that arise in the world connected with theories of self or with theories of the cosmos. A mendicant gives up and lets go of these views by truly seeing with right wisdom where they arise, where they settle in, and where they operate as: “This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.”
Others will be cruel, but here we will not be cruel.
Others will steal, but here we will not steal.
Others will lie, but here we will not lie.
Others will speak divisively, but here we will not speak divisively.
Others will speak harshly, but here we will not speak harshly.
Others will talk nonsense, but here we will not talk nonsense.
Others will be contemptuous, but here we will be without contempt.
Others will be stingy, but here we will be without stinginess.
Others will be devious, but here we will not be devious.
Others will be deceitful, but here we will not be deceitful.
Others will be arrogant, but here we will not be arrogant.
Others will be attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go, but here we will not be attached to our own views, not holding them tight, but will let them go easily.
~ Excerpted from Self-Effacement (Sallekhasutta, MN 8). Read the entire sutta, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato, at SuttaCentral.net.