Humility Really Cannot be Considered a Virtue
by Swami Dayananda Saraswati
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 Ego and pride are closely related, almost synonymous effects born of the same cause, ignorance of the relationship of the individualized sense of I with the world. (…) Although, graced by free will, I have the power to choose my actions, I have no power over the actual result of the action chosen; the result I anticipate can never be more than a probability among possibilities. I do not produce the result. The result of any act of mine, occurs both as the product of materials that I have not authored as well as the outcome of many circumstances, past and present, known and unknown, which must operate in concert for the given result to occur.
If my strong skillful arm throws the winning pass in the final seconds of an American football game, the material and circumstantial factors that come together to produce this are too many for the final result to be a matter for personal pride. I am neither the creator of the football itself nor of my athletic body. Many people and experiences contributed to the development of the skill in the arm that threw the ball. I am not responsible for the clearing of the rainstorm so that the game did not have to be canceled, or for the sharp earth tremor that occurred 60 seconds after my pass, since a minute earlier, my pass would have been spoiled. Nor can I claim credit for my colleague for who caught the pass to convert the possibility into the winning points.
Pride and ego, when examined, become so silly that humility really cannot be considered a virtue. Humility is simply understanding the world, including myself, because I am part of the world, just as it is. When I understand things as they are, I will be neither proud nor will I be self-condemning. Self-condemnation also is an expression of the ego (…), to be cleansed by the understanding that there is no locus for condemnation other than a particular thought. (…) I see that personal credit for anything is irrelevant and cannot be substantiated. I simply enjoy the world as a field for the discovery of knowledge, without pride, without egotism.
About the Author: Excerpted from Swami Dayananda Sawaswati’s book, "The Value of Values."
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Humility Really Cannot be Considered a Virtue
How do you relate to the notion that humility is simply understanding the world? Can you share a personal story of a time you were humbled by such an understanding? What practice has helped you develop such an understanding? |
| Sara wrote: A beautiful teaching… to “simply enjoy the world as a field for the discovery of knowledge”… This speaks to the power of being in a space of continual learning & active experimentation … |
| david doane wrote: We are one with the world and cosmos, with one another and all that is. We are interbeing. Karma refers to everything affecting everything. I choose my action and the outcome is bey… |
| Jagdish P Dave wrote: As long as ego occupies the center of my being, I am going to feel ups and downs, successes and failures, admiration and condemnation. Look what I have, how I look, what I do, whom I know, wher… |
| Abhishek wrote: So true! And yet it leaves me wondering the value of individual action – and how we ‘uphold’ actions of individuals, acknowledge them and their achievements all the time.. 🙂 Holding this polarity I … |
| Bradley wrote: Wow…this is something that I need to read, and re-read often. I haven’t thought about self-condemnation being part of the ego, just as pride is. Two sides of the same sword, I suppose. I ofte… |
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Editor’s note: Dear Friends, This week’s stories push the edges of giving and makes me reflect on the boundaries we draw between ourselves and the "others". What a joy to be able experience moments where we cross these lines with open arms. Hope you’re off to a great September! –Guri
Sangha of Auspicious Companions 