“A person who embodies humility will make the effort to listen
to and accept others. The greater the acceptance of others, the more that
person will be held in high esteem, and the more that person will be listened
to. One word spoken in humility has the significance of a thousand words.”
Humility is found
in a vast ocean of still waters which run very deep. At the bottom lies
self-esteem. At first, going within the ocean is like journeying into an
unknown area of immense darkness. But, just as exploration can lead to buried
treasures, one searching his or her inner world can find jewels buried in the
depths. And the jewel buried deepest which shines the brightest and gives the
most light is humility. At the darkest moments, its rays penetrate. It removes
fear and insecurity and opens up the self to universal truths.
Trusteeship
Humility is to
accept natural principles which cannot bel controlled. Everything we have –
from the bodies we were born into to our most prized possessions is inherited.
It therefore becomes a moral imperative to use those assets in a worthwhile and
benevolent way. The consciousness of being a trustee of such unlimited and
timeless resources touches the core of the human soul and awakens it to the
realization that, just as at the time of birth such resources were inherited,
at the time of death they will be left behind. In death, all that will accompany
the individual will be the impressions of how those resources were used,
combined with the wisdom of being and living as a trustee.
The consciousness
of trusteeship heightens one’s self-esteem and enhances the many different
relationships encountered throughout life. It draws one into a mode of silent
reflection, inviting one to take time out and look at life from a different
perspective. It is as if the recognition of trusteeship causes the individual
to seek renewal of the relationships to the self and to the world.
Removing ‘I’ and ‘Mine’
Humility is to let
go and let be. The stone of conflict lies in the consciousness of “I”
and “mine” and in possessiveness – over a role, an activity, an
object, a person, even the physical body. Paradoxically, such a consciousness
makes one lose that which he or she wants to hold onto – most significantly,
the universal values which give worth and meaning to life. Humility eliminates
possessiveness and narrow vision which create physical, intellectual, and
emotional boundaries. Such limitations destroy self-esteem and build walls of
arrogance and pride, which distance others. Humility gently works on the
crevices to allow for breakthroughs.
When one has the
virtue of humility, everyone “bows down,” since everyone bows to
those who themselves bow first. Thus, the sign of greatness is humility.
Humility enables the individual to become dependable, flexible, and adaptable.
To the extent one becomes humble is the degree to which one becomes great in
everyone’s heart. A person who embodies humility will make the effort to listen
to and accept others. The greater the acceptance of others, the more that
person will be held in high esteem, and the more that person will be listened
to. Humility automatically makes one worthy of praise.
A Call to Serve
Success in service
comes from humility. The greater the humility, the greater the achievement.
There cannot be world benefit without humility. Service is best done when 1)
one considers the self a trustee or an instrument, and 2) one takes the first
step toward accepting another who is different.
A humble person is
able to function in all environments, no matter how unfamiliar or negative.
There would be humility in attitude, outlook, words, and in connections and
relationships. The humble person would not say, “It wasn’t in my attitude,
but the words just emerged.” No, whatever the attitude, the outlook would
be accordingly; whatever the outlook, the words would reflect that; and the
three combined would assure quality interactions. The mere presence of a humble
person creates an inviting, cordial, and comfortable environment. His or her
words are essenceful and powerful and spoken with good manners. A humble person
can defuse someone’s anger with just a few words. One word spoken in humility
has the significance of a thousand words.
On the high tides
of human interactions, humility is the lighthouse which provides signals of
what to expect in the distance. To adhere to these signals, the screen of the
mind and intellect must be clean. Humility gives the power to perceive situations,
to discern causes of obstacles and difficulties, and to remain silent. When one
does express an opinion, it is with an open mind and with recognition of
specialties, strengths, and sensitivities of the self and others.
Humility as well as
the concept of trusteeship embrace our relationship with nature and oblige us
not to tamper with natural laws. Nature is as life-giving as an umbilical cord.
To arrogantly exploit and damage the natural habitat is to put the entire human
family at peril. Humility is to inculcate natural principles in personal
behavior, relationships, and other areas of human development. Without
humility, we can neither build civil societies nor serve the world
benevolently.
