Lessons from the East

If you knew me a few years ago, alright even to this day, admittedly, you might be a bit surprised to see me writing an article on humility. Not to say that I was completely egotistical, but I definatly under estimated the importance and power of humility. But as life would have it. Things had to change. I had quite nicely formed a pattern in my life, which I try not to resume, where if I did something good, my ego could perhaps inflate a little (alright a lot), and I did something wrong - it wouldn’t really have been my fault… or I was left feeling completely crushed. I tell you, it’s exhausting. However traveling throughout Asia, I have seen the perfect examples of humility and the boons of living a simple and humble life. Humility is more than just an absence of ego, but an expansion of awarendealingess, oneness, gratitude and self giving.

I love New Zealand and especially the people, but it does not take much humility on our part to admit that out western world could benefit from having more humility. Take greetings of example, in the East, the people prayerfully bow with folded hands, showing respect and reverence upon meeting. In the West we will often give a firm handshake, while this is friendly, it can in a lot of cases be slightly domineering.

In humility, which is especially prominent in Asia, there is a real heart feeling, a feeling of goodness. Humility is the secret to expansion, oneness and complete understanding and identification. This quality can be developed by consciously have being grateful for all the things that you have, as well as all the things you do not have.

In ego, there is little identification and limited perspective and viewpoint. Humility gives you the capacity to deal with life’s blows without being completely crushed or exalted, and the ability to step back from the situation keeping your inner poise intact.

This small excerpt is from a question about what illumination is answered by Sri Chinmoy, relative to our societies at present.

“In this world there is only one thing worth having, and that is illumination. In order to have illumination, we must have sincerity and humility. Unfortunately, in this world sincerity is long dead and humility is yet to be born. Let us try to revive our sincerity and let us try, on the strength of our aspiration, to expedite the birth of our humility. Then only will we be able to realise God.”