I vow not to praise myself by criticizing others, but to overcome my own shortcomings.
Presenting someone in a less advantageous way is a strategy for being seen as better. Everything is relational, so if we compare ourselves to someone who is not good looking, we may think we are much better. People who use this strategy must have a lot of complexes that need to be cured. They must also have low self-esteem.
This strategy is not only harmful to others, it also affects the subject himself. Praising oneself shows that this persons world revolves around him or herself. So it makes the ego grow bigger. A bigger ego is a source of suffering. In practice, we see that there is no one to praise.
Also, intrigue can be disruptive to the community. A healthy sangha is beneficial to our process. If we create a disturbance, our practice container becomes weaker.
