Buddha's self-declaration without identity view and without conceit In this question, the OP asked:


  In the context of the four stages of enlightenment would it be right
  to say that, without identity-view, there's no such thing as an
  "enlightened person": instead there are maybe "enlightened moments" or
  moments of enlightenment?


The Buddha in the MN 26 quote below, declared "I, the unexcelled teacher. I, alone, am rightly self-awakened ... I am a conqueror (of evil qualities)."

However, as the enlightened one, we can be sure that the Buddha did not have identity view (sakkāya-diṭṭhi) and also did not have conceit (māna).

So, how could a declaration like "I am the unexcelled teacher" or "ahaṃ satthā anuttaro" be made without identity view and without conceit?

Could it be possible that it is OK to use personal pronouns and also stating truthful facts relating to one's person, without identity view and without conceit? How?

In MN 26:


  "Then, having stayed at Uruvela as long as I liked, I set out to
  wander by stages to Varanasi. Upaka the Ajivaka saw me on the road
  between Gaya and the (place of) Awakening, and on seeing me said to
  me, 'Clear, my friend, are your faculties. Pure your complexion, and
  bright. On whose account have you gone forth? Who is your teacher? In
  whose Dhamma do you delight?'
  
  "When this was said, I replied to Upaka the Ajivaka in verses:
  
  
    All-vanquishing,
    all-knowing am I,
    with regard to all things, unadhering.
    All-abandoning,
    released in the ending of craving:
    having fully known on my own,
    to whom should I point as my teacher?
    
    I have no teacher,
    and one like me can't be found.
    In the world with its devas,
    I have no counterpart.
    
    For I am an arahant in the world;
    I, the unexcelled teacher.
    I, alone, am rightly self-awakened.
    Cooled am I, unbound.
    
    To set rolling the wheel of Dhamma
    I go to the city of Kasi.
    In a world become blind,
    I beat the drum of the Deathless.'
  
  
  "'From your claims, my friend, you must be an infinite conqueror.'
  
  
    Conquerors are those like me
    who have reached fermentations' end.
    I've conquered evil qualities,
    and so, Upaka, I'm a conqueror.'
  
  
  "When this was said, Upaka said, 'May it be so, my friend,' and —
  shaking his head, taking a side-road — he left.
SN 1.25 
  
  [Deva:] He who's an Arahant, his work achieved, Free from taints, in
  final body clad, That monk still might use such words as "I." Still
  perchance might say: "They call this mine." ... Would such a monk be
  prone to vain conceits?
  
  [The Blessed One:] Bonds are gone for him without conceits, All
  delusion's chains are cast aside: Truly wise, he's gone beyond such
  thoughts.  That monk still might use such words as "I," Still
  perchance might say: "They call this mine." Well aware of common
  worldly speech, He would speak conforming to such use.