Religion and true Wisdom is to be humble. In fact, lives of Mahaatamaas indicates that to become humble is the very goal of spiritual life (Gurmukhtaa). To be great, powerful, Brahm Giaanee (the knower of God), Sant, ego-free, etc. is to be humble. However, as indicated in the SGGS (Sri Guru Granth Sahib) false ego-sense (Haume) and humility cannot coexist.
First thing: here the SGGS talks about deep humility, not hypocritical humility for sincere humility alone is indicated to be the way to God. Also called meekness, modesty, humbleness, etc., humility is to consider others better and important than yourself. However, the material conception of life makes us finding faults in others by ignoring our own; because we lack. Due to this lack, we are unable to recognize our own imperfections. This formidable weapon — humility — can be used to cut the roots of arrogant pride and conduct; and to free ourselves from uncooperative, ostentatious, assuming, arrogant, scornful, stubborn, disrespectful, and self-justifying behavior. It disposes a person to a condescending behavior to the meekest and to treat others with courteous respect and affability. It is the opposite of aggressiveness, arrogance, boastfulness, and vanity. Humility is the quality that lets us go more than halfway to meet the needs and demands of others. Humility is the way to remove ego (Haume). The SGGS tells us that humility is the essence of all good virtues. Thus, its importance is underscored in the SGGS. Bhai Gurdaas Jee indicates three characteristics of a true Gursikh, humility being one of them.
Simply put, meekness is realism. A meek person will have no inflated notions about himself and what he has learnt — after all, given the hard reality that "the more one probes, the more there is to explore". It is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person's natural state of being (Sahaj) who has formed within the consciousness a deep feeling of the realities of life. As a result, through the natural exercise of humility, often, even under the circumstances, advanced persons can take the more difficult course. Humility is like a shock absorber for the harmful experiences in life.
As indicated in the SGGS, Wisdom cannot be found or practiced through lust, anger, delusion, arrogance, enviousness, stubborn mindedness, and so on. Humility comes with the knowledge that God's creation as a whole transcends our own narrow or selfish interests. It will gain us much more than we sacrifice. Proudly contemptuous words inflame prejudice and hatred, but humble speech spells "magic" for it soothes. Words make or break human relationships. Words can make war or make peace, within and without. The words we say or write have tremendous power for good or evil. So the SGGS indicates we should be as careful with our words. In a way, words are like any other weapon!
A lifestyle void of humility exhibits undesirable qualities (Bikaars or negativity) such as lust, anger, greed, etc. Contentment, self-control and detachment — which are antidotes to our negativity — are a big part of humility. Grace, inner strength, and forgiveness are promised to the humble. As the foundation for Spiritual Unfoldment, humility disposes people to become God Conscious (Shabad-Surti); and make them receptive to inspiration, revelation and Wisdom. Thus, true humility is the way of the Gurmukh, not the way of the Manmukh. It belongs to a godly person (Gurmukh) endowed with Divine Nature. Thus, humility abides in the heart of those fortunate ones who have spiritualized their mind, intelligence, consciousness, and ego. Therefore, in the SGGS, considerable importance and emphasis has been given to the quality of humility. One can evaluate himself by this quality to see how far he is progressed in spirituality.
Humility allows us to rise and Grow. However, the feeling of I and mine (Haume) obstructs any possibility of Inner Growth. While we cultivate humility, other divine qualities also become natural to us. Humility puts us in a right relation to God and the Creation, including our fellow human beings. Wise, kind, and contented, a humble person is a godly being. His actions are never abominable. Sincere humility is the recognition of one's imperfections. The feeling of being lowly comes when we attain humility. For example, God-realized persons are embodiment of true humility; for they always think themselves meek and lowly. Their pattern of humility is unblemished. Humility is a habit of mind and heart corresponding to our comparative meanness, unworthiness and vileness before God. A truly humble person is sensible of the small extent of his knowledge, and the great extent of his ignorance, and of the limited extent of his understanding as compared with the understanding of God. He is infinitely sensible of his weakness and limited ability. The true spirit of humility and surrender can put us in proper frame of mind to receive Grace and Guidance.
Baabaa Nanak was full to the brim with inspiring humility. In reality, the distinguishing characteristic of a truly wise person or a Brahm Giaanee (God-realized) is humility. Undoubtedly, Baabaa Nanak was the embodiment of it. In the SGGS, he calls himself "fool", "ignorant", "lowly", "thoughtless", and so on. His entire life is inspiring in many respects, for the exemplary devotion and humility that is reflected in his thoughts, words and deeds.
A person of humility can neither be cheated, nor robbed, nor destroyed, nor conquered, nor defeated, nor insulted, nor scared, nor split, nor killed; for he has no baser desires and fear. He has already killed himself (cut off the head of his menacing ego or Haume). In short, he does not exist as an ego (Haume) anymore. He has gone beyond — he has no inner "burden". He has already surrendered that which can be hurt, exploited and manipulated. He has become living liberated (Jeevanmukta, dead while yet alive).
Simply put, to be with or in accord with one's True Nature (Joti-Svaroopa or the state of Absolute Awareness), one has to be humble. "The humble servant of God should be just like God", states the SGGS.
This little story (Sakhi) will give us a glimpse into Baabaa Nanak's Bhaav of humility. Once Baabaa Nanak, with his companion, Mardana, came to Multan. This was a spin city then, notorious for its many fake Sants, gurus, etc. They were afraid of some true one coming in their town and disillusioning crowds that assembled and worshipped them. Baabaa Nanak and Mardana sat down under a jasmine tree outside the town. Worried of Baabaa Nanak's presence there, it is said that the head of the spin masters sent an emissary to meet Baabaa Nanak with a bowl of milk completely filled to the brim: too full to have another drop. Symbolically, implying that (1) the place was already full of saintly people and there was hardly any room for more; (2) therefore he was not welcome there, (3) so he should move along. Instead of boasting about himself, it is said that in utmost humility, Baabaa Nanak who knew the implication in the offer made, just plucked a jasmine flower and gently placed it on the surface of the milk and returned the bowl. The jasmine flower was a symbolic message in return, meaning that he would float as lightly as the flower and give fragrance to all of them. The true saint, as a rule, has no conflict or friction with anybody. They work humbly and quietly in the service of God and man. Great deeds done with humility speak for themselves. This story brings out many important points. For example:
Conventional wisdom present in many religious, philosophical, rational and practical teachings unanimously affirms the need to develop humility and eliminate the false sense of ego (Haume) that easily attaches itself to human beings. Let's see what other religious teachings have to say about this quality of humility.
Acting with humility does not in any way deny one's own self worth. On the contrary, it affirms the inherent worth of each and everyone. Some would consider humility to be a psychological malady that interferes with worldly success. However, worldly success (wealth, power, status etc.) gained at the expense of others brings only intense apprehension, worry, discontentment, fear and restlessness — never Sukha (peace, happiness etc.), contentment, serenity, deep harmony, love, etc. Some would also consider humility to be a sign of weakness. To the contrary, it's a sign of one's inner strength and fearlessness.
For example, consider the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Jee, beheading of Guru Teg Bahadur Jee, and circumstances faced by Guru Gobind Singh Jee Nothing could make them fearful or weak. They handled every threat and situation with fearlessness. You can only scare a person who is scared of death. How anybody can scare or kill the Self-realized being who has already killed himself (Jeevanmukta or the living dead)!!
There are many more examples like these not only in the Sikh history but throughout the world. For example, here is a little story of a Wise man called Dandamis and king Alexandra the Great. When Alexandra (also known as Sikandar in India) was setting out to invade India his teacher, Aristotle, asked him for a rather strange gift. He asked the king to bring a true sage from India. On his way back to Greece, Alexandra remembered this. People of the place where he had camped out with his Macedonian army (historical Taxila area in ancient North India) told him about this hermit, Dandamis. Soldiers were sent to meet him, who ordered Dandamis to follow Alexandra as a royal guest. Upon hearing this from soldiers, Dandamis laughed and told them that all his wanderings have ended, that since he was situated in his True Home within, he would not go anywhere. Further he told soldiers that he was a Free man like clouds, and they could not make him prisoner either for he has dropped the very thing they could imprison! It is said that king Alexander himself came to see Dandamis and told him that he (king) would cut off Dandamis' head with his sword if he did not come with him. The sage's answer in short was that Alexander had nothing to offer that was of any value to him and that Alexandra could cut off his physical head, but not his soul, and that he already had cutoff his head himself long ago! Dandamis further told Alexandra that since he (i.e., Dandamis) had become a witness, if king were to cut off his physical head, they both would witness it falling down on the ground. After seeing the state of such Absolute Bliss and fearlessness of this sage, it is said that king Alexandra could not gather courage to cut off Dandamis' head and left India without him.
As indicated in the SGGS, without renouncing false ego-sense (Haume), the mind will not abide in humility. Hence, the path of humility is not easy at all. Because, first, it is difficult to renounce false ego-sense. Second, humility has to be genuinely felt and be ingrained in oneself. That is, one has to become " just like God"! Although very "rare", such meek being is a true Sant or Saadhoo — he is Nanak-like. He becomes the doorway to the Ultimate. In his magical presence one feels meditative; one feels elated; one feels lifted to the higher dimension (or plane of Truth); one feels becoming more and more luminous within (thinning of ignorance, darkness etc.); one feels dawning of Peace and harmony within; one feels being transformed; one feels bursting of a pool of energy within; and so on.
— T. Singh
www.gurbani.org
Updated on Saturday, August 2, 2008 5:33 PM (PST)
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