H U M I L I T Y – By Sri Sri Muralidhara swamiji

[Ravishankar.G]

Dear All,

  All virtues are contained in the highest virtue,that is, H U M I L I T Y.
  Likewise; all vices are contained in the one vice, that is, P R I D E.

The excellent qualities in a man do not shine forth if he lacks humility. A man may have many vices but if he were humble this would show him to be a man of good nature.

Adi Sankara commences His Shatpati Hymns (stotra) as, 'Avinayam apanaya vishno.'

'Avinayam' means pride. He prays to the Lord to remove his pride because God Graces only those devotees who are devoid of pride.

In the Gita, in His Instruction to Arjuna, Lord Krishna says, 'Tatvittih pranipatena paripreshnena sevaya' - 'Saints know the 'Philosophy'. Serve them in all humility and clear all your doubts.' During Rajasooya Yajna when the hosts desired to perform the first worship for Lord Sri Krishna they could not find Him. After a search they found Him at the entrance performing pada puja (Worship of Spiritual preceptor feet)to all the guests!

Adi Sankara who has sung hundred slokas (Hymns) on Goddess under the title 'Soundaryalahari', in all humility, likens this work of His (singing the Praises of Ambal) to giving 'argya' with a drop of water to the ocean that is vast stretch of water and showing 'karpoora harati' (lighting the camphor) to the Sun that is a ball of fire!

Once, Kanchi Maha Periyava (Sri Sri Chandrashekara Saraswathi Swamiji) performed a detailed discourse on Adi Sankara under the heading 'Egoless Acharyal'. Once, while speaking with His close devotees, Maha Periyava said, 'It is said that ascetics should not possess any desire. But, I have a desire!'

When the devotees asked, 'What is it?'

Maha Periyava said in all humility, 'I desire that none in the world should know that such a sanyasi lives!'

Further, in one of the 'Deepavali' special issue brought out by a Weekly many years back, the replies of dignitaries from various walks of life to the question,

'what is the lesson learnt by you from the world?' had been published This question had been put to Maha Periyava also.

Maha Periyava said to them, 'every moment the world is teaching me some lesson. But, it is I who do not possess the required maturity to learn!' This shows His humility.

Once, when Paul Brunton (a foreigner who came to India seeking a spiritual Master and the author of the famous book 'Search in secret India') sought an 'upadesa' (Instruction) from Maha Periyava, Maha Periyava offered him the wonderful 'upadesa', "Be humble! You will find what you seek!"

Sri Ramanuja, the founder of the Vaishnava tradition at the time of leaving the world after the completion of His 'work of the Incarnation' stood atop Srirangam temple tower (South of India). Innumerable Bhagavatas,Sanyasis, Vaishnavas had gathered down. Sri Ramanuja said to them, "With the only concern of proper execution of Lord's work I might have been harsh to you all. My behaviour might have upset you while making you involve yourselves in the service of God. Lord will not give me a place in Vaikunta (Divine abode of Lord Narayana) if my behaviour had hurt even a single one of you,  I, therefore, beg your pardon!"

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who established Philosophy not only said that a devotee should deem himself to be lower than a blade of grass but He also prostrated to everyone.

Ramana Maharishi has said that He prostrated mentally to everyone who came to have His darshan in the Hall where He sat.

Some proud people who came to have darshan of Yogiramsuratkumar in Tiruvannamalai during His earlier days used to wonder if they should prostrate to Him or not. Even while they wondered so, Yogiramsuratkumar would say, 'what is in it? I will do prostration!' and prostrate to those who had come for His darshan!"                      

          

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Regards & Chant the Maha Mantra:
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
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