The Buddha describes the abandoning of conceit as a security for non-returning.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Ekadhammaṁ, bhikkhave, pajahatha; ahaṁ vo pāṭibhogo anāgāmitāya. Katamaṁ ekadhammaṁ? Mānaṁ, bhikkhave, ekadhammaṁ pajahatha; ahaṁ vo pāṭibhogo anāgāmitāyā”ti.
“Bhikkhus, abandon one thing; I am your guarantor for |non-returning::third stage of awakening where the lower five fetters of 1) personal existence: view that one is an embodied being, 2) doubt, perplexity, or indecisiveness, 3) adherence to rules and observances, 4) sensual desire, and 5) ill will are completely overcome [anāgāmitā]|. What one thing? Bhikkhus, abandon |conceit::self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth [māna]|; I am your guarantor for non-returning.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Yena mānena mattāse,
sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ;
Taṁ mānaṁ sammadaññāya,
pajahanti vipassino;
Pahāya na punāyanti,
imaṁ lokaṁ kudācanan”ti.
“Overcome by conceit, through which,
beings go to an unfortunate destination;
Completely comprehending conceit,
those with insight abandon it;
Having abandoned it, they do not come again,
to this world at any time.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Bhikkhus, abandon one thing; I am your guarantor for |non-returning::third stage of awakening where the lower five fetters of 1) personal existence: view that one is an embodied being, 2) doubt, perplexity, or indecisiveness, 3) adherence to rules and observances, 4) sensual desire, and 5) ill will are completely overcome [anāgāmitā]|. What one thing? Bhikkhus, abandon |conceit::self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth [māna]|; I am your guarantor for non-returning.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Overcome by conceit, through which,
beings go to an unfortunate destination;
Completely comprehending conceit,
those with insight abandon it;
Having abandoned it, they do not come again,
to this world at any time.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Ekadhammaṁ, bhikkhave, pajahatha; ahaṁ vo pāṭibhogo anāgāmitāya. Katamaṁ ekadhammaṁ? Mānaṁ, bhikkhave, ekadhammaṁ pajahatha; ahaṁ vo pāṭibhogo anāgāmitāyā”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Yena mānena mattāse,
sattā gacchanti duggatiṁ;
Taṁ mānaṁ sammadaññāya,
pajahanti vipassino;
Pahāya na punāyanti,
imaṁ lokaṁ kudācanan”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.