One thing that's very helpful to know about conceit is related to the levels of enlightenment that's taught within Theravadin Buddhism. There are four levels of enlightenment. The top level is fully enlightened, the person has no more conceit, no more desires, no more aversions, purified in their mind and heart, called a Buddha, the first enlightened person, or an Arahant, those becoming enlightened from the Buddha's teachings. Now on the other 3 levels, they will have a degree of conceit. Even on the 3rd level, which is the level they say has let go of all sensual desires and all aversions, and this type of person would also be celibate because they've let go of sexual desires as well, they're very pure, but they still have some conceit, and that's what blocks them from becoming fully enlightened. There's a good story in the scriptures that helps when we have our own idealism, thinking that we should be rid of all our conceit.
One of the Buddha's cousins was named Anuruddha, and he was very gifted. After the Buddha got enlightened he went back home and taught his father and other family members. Anuruddha joined the Monkhood and he quickly became 3rd level enlightened. As he did, he also developed the psychic ability to look back in time as far back as the Buddha could, he matched the Buddha on that psychic ability. The Buddha had all psychic abilities, but other Arahants don't have all. Some had none, some had some. Anuruddha had ability to look back in time as far back as the Buddha could.
However Anuruddha became frustrated that he was not fully enlightened yet, even after reaching the third level quickly. He didn't understand why he was stuck and couldn't finish the purification.
Now there was another disciple of the Buddha named Sariputta, and Sariputta was very wise, his wisdom was highest except for the Buddha and he was fully enlightened. Yet Sariputta had virtually no psychic powers at all. Anuruddha thought that if he talked to Sariputta, Sariputta might show him what he was doing wrong.
So Anuruddha asked Sariputta and he says something similar to this, "Sariputta, please tell me, please teach me, I'm 3rd level enlightened, I've got psychic abilities, I can see back in time as far back as the Buddha, but I just can't get fully enlightened. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong?" Sariputta says, "You're too conceited."
He was too attached to his psychic abilities to see back in time and that attachment stopped him from fully purifying. After Sariputta's explanation, he quickly let go and became fully enlightened.
When we think of conceit, it's not an easy one to let go. "Can you please give me a proper technique to work with conceit?" It's not easy! All of the techniques that we're giving you can help chip away at our conceit. When you think of conceit, it's the thought "I am", "I am this" "I am that", it's always this "I" in there. Now with the mental noting, and we're walking, maybe going, "Lifting placing, lifting placing, lifting placing", where's the "I"? There's no "I"! We're sitting in the hall and we're being aware of the breath, maybe "in, out, in, out", or "rising, falling, rising, falling" where's the "I"? There's no "I"!
You do the Compassion/Lovingkindness meditation, in our thoughts there's a person's face maybe. We give a nice wish, "May so and so blah, blah find peace." We bring someone else to mind, "May so and so blah, blah find peace." Where's the "I"? There is no "I"! We don't say, "I wish so and so..." that's bringing in the "I", then there is "me and them." Rather we just wish, "May so and so..." then there's no "I".
When we're actually doing the practice, then any of these different forms, any of the different techniques, there is no "I". Then we're letting go of conceit, we're chipping away at conceit, we're actually experiencing life without "me" being there, so to speak. Now we still have the understanding "I am", "I am a meditator sitting here doing this." But as soon as we sit down, we say "I'm going to do the breath", the minute we're on the breath, the mind goes off wandering, we note that, we come back, there's not so much of an "I" present. The minute you let go of the "I", you help let go of conceit, but as Anuruddha found out, it's not so easy, so just keep chipping away.