Youth Column: Be Humble to Enrich Personality
Humility is a virtue which plays an important role in personality development. At the same time egoism is a vice which degrades personality. Egoism is like stench whereas humility is like fragrance. Therefore, humility is not only practical but is significant from the spiritual point of view. Humility does not mean being simple, tolerant and modest from outside but being sensible from inside.
An humble person's capability to progress in life is boundless. His grasping power is magnificent; he is soft spoken and hence liked by all. The Great Saint Goswami Tulsidas has quoted — "Prabhuta pai kahi mad nahi" — i.e., if by any means one acquires wealth, post, position, or knowledge then unknowingly arrogance creeps in and he thinks of himself as incomparably superior. On the other hand if one dedicates his achievements to the Almighty Lord then it doesn't give way to egoism.
Here is a short tale regarding courtesy and egoism. Once upon a time there was a man, who earned his living from a retail shop. He was courteous and greeted saints and seers open heartedly. Once in a deal he earned a lot of money. His life style changed. He became a rich merchant and started living an opulent life. He kept a pet dog to guard his house.
A sage he greatly admired once came to the house — but was greeted by a growling dog. The sage called aloud but got no response and finally moved to a nearby temple. When the merchant came to know about the sage living in the temple, he rushed to meet him. The sage narrated all that had happened and added: "It was your humility that drew me to your place. Now the growling dog at your door shows that ego has replaced humility in your life." The man realized that his real wealth was his humility. He was a rich man in terms of wealth now but a poor man in personality.
It's true that an egoist is narrow-minded and also loses his wisdom. Humility leads to good deeds and on the contrary egoism degrades the personality. A humble man has a long-lasting existence but an egoist has to struggle for his identity. Unless ego is dissolved, true personality is not visible.
There is another Puranic story. Once in the thick forest called Naimisharanya lived a tribal man named Kripalu. He knew a unique mantra known as Vriksha naman mantra. Maharishi Ved Vyas, a very learned man, wanted to acquire the mantra. He wanted to acquire the mantra humbly, not forcefully. Only Kripalu's son, who was very kindhearted, was at home. He sensed the situation and enlightened Maharishi with the mantra. Maharishi returned to his ashram happily.
Kripalu's son was worried. He went to meet Maharshi Vyas and was astonished at the warm welcome given to him, as if he was Maharishi's guru. He returned home very happily and narrated the whole incident to his father. Kripalu said — "Really, Maharishi is a great soul and people like him alone can be so humble." Maharishi composed the Puranas and the epic Mahabharata. He was called Puranpurush. Only a great saint like him could be so humble for gaining such a small knowledge.
Our revered Gurudev, Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharyaji, Founder of the Yug Nirman Mission, is also an example of such genuine humility. His personality was the quintessence of excellence and true greatness. About humility Gurudev said — "Be humble like a grass stalk to proceed in life, to become worthy."
Gurudev says — "Modesty costs nothing but is capable of purchasing everything." These words are very practical because modesty moulds the personality in such a way that a person becomes dear to everyone. Such a person belongs to everyone and everyone belongs to him. Our All World Gayatri Pariwar is an example of this. Every moment it is prospering and expanding. Therefore to lead a contented and prosperous life, courtesy and modesty should be adopted open heartedly.
"When I dare to be powerful — to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." — Audre Lorde
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." — Mark Twain