What concept did the Buddha underscore by advising individuals to be lamps unto themselves?

The responsibility of personal effort in the pursuit of liberation

Central to the Buddha's teachings was the emphasis on individual volition and virtuous deeds as the means to break free from the cycle of rebirth. This liberation aimed at achieving self-realization and nibbana, a state symbolizing the cessation of ego and desire. By attaining this state, individuals could effectively terminate the cycle of suffering, especially those who chose a life of renunciation.

According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha's final counsel to his disciples encapsulated in the words, "Be lamps unto yourselves," underscoring the need for each individual to work towards their own liberation. This guidance affirmed the responsibility of personal effort in the pursuit of enlightenment.