An excercise in true humility

[Guest guest]

 

Make a list of all the persons

you know or have known in this life

and then put your name

at the very bottom of the list.

 

Then repeat to yourself 3 times

this statement,

" All these persons are superior to me ."

 

Which great devotee as described in the Mahabharat exemplified this way of being ?

[Govindaram 1]

Hare Krishna

 

The only person(s) I can think of are Brahmana Sudama, Queen Kunti...

 

 

 

 

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<font color="red"> nitai-gauranga, nitai-gauranga </font color>

<font color="red"> jayasacinandana, gaura-hari </font color>

 

<font color="blue"> All glories to Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya!

</font color> <font color="blue"> the son of Saci-devi, who is Krsna Himself in golden hue.

</font color>

 

 

 

[I_love_krishna_ 0]

May be Vidur did, but do you think this is possible practically today?

 

When ever I try to be humble to everyone, kind to everything, people start taking advantage of me and just piss me off.

 

[theist 1]

...I know what you mean I_L_K. But lately I have been wondering if maybe those same people weren't sent to help me achieve my stated objective of becoming humble.

[Govindaram 1]

Hare Krishna

 

While being humble don't you have to be tolerant at the same time, they go hand-in-hand, without tolerance you cannot be humble and visa-versa, the problem comes, with the dreaded anger which arises, some people just won't allow you to be humble, they walk all over you, but then that's false pride on your part, you know what's coming next don't you:

 

Lord Chaitanya:

 

One should chant the holy name of the lord,

in a humble state of mind,

thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street,

one should be more tolerant than a tree,

devoid of all sense of false prestige,

and should be ready to offer all respect to others,

in such a state of mind,

one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

 

 

 

 

-------

<font color="red"> nitai-gauranga, nitai-gauranga </font color>

<font color="red"> jayasacinandana, gaura-hari </font color>

 

<font color="blue"> All glories to Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya!

</font color> <font color="blue"> the son of Saci-devi, who is Krsna Himself in golden hue.

</font color>

 

 

[Guest guest]

A person who needs to feel superior to others has obviously suffered abuse of power and is reacting to former humiliation.

 

This person has a wound and has created a defensive behaviour which consists in demeaning others. The method that you propose may be capable to bend and to neutralize this defensive reaction, but in my humble opinion, it is also necessary to heal the wound.

 

Modern psychotherapy is capable (with the help of a GOOD therapist) to heal the wound by understanding when the trauma took place and by understanding the dynamics of the negative reaction (abuse of power against others).

 

Humility should not be a costume, or a chain. It must reflect a healthy self-esteem, and self-love.

[Myra 0]

 

GOD BLESS EVERYONE!

 

Twelve Ways To Humble Yourself

 

1. Routinely confess your sin to God.(Luke 18:9-14) All of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. However, too few of us have a routine practice of rigorous self-honesty examination. Weekly, even daily, review of our heart and behavior, coupled with confession to God, is an essential practice of humility.

 

2. Acknowledge your sin to others. (James 3:2, James 5:16) Humility before God is not complete unless there is also humility before man. A true test of our willingness to humble ourselves is being willing to share with others the weaknesses we confess to God. Wisdom, however, dictates that we do so with others that we trust.

 

3. Take wrong patiently. (1 Peter 3:8-17) This has been a difficult one for me. When something is unjust I want to react and rectify it. However, patiently responding to the unjust accusations and actions of others demonstrates our strength of godly character and provides an opportunity to put on humility.

 

4. Actively submit to authority…the good and the bad! (1 Peter 2:18) Our culture does not value submission; rather it promotes individualism. How purposely and actively do you work on submission to those whom God has placed as authorities in your life? Doing so is a good way to humble yourself.

 

5. Receive correction and feedback from others graciously. (Proverbs 10:17, 12:1) In the Phoenix area, a local East valley pastor was noted for graciously receiving any negative feedback or correction offered. He would simply say "thank you for caring enough to share that with me, I will pray about it and get back to you." Look for the kernel of truth in what people offer you, even if it comes from a dubious source. Always pray, "Lord, what are you trying to show me through this?"

 

6. Accept a lowly place. (Proverbs 25:6,7) If you find yourself wanting to sit at the head table, wanting others to recognize your contribution or become offended when others are honored or chosen, then pride is present. Purpose to support others being recognized, rather than you. Accept and look for the lowly place; it is the place of humility.

 

7. Purposely associate with people of lower state than you. (Luke 7:36-39) Jesus was derided by the Pharisees for socializing with the poor and those of lowly state. Our culture is very status conscious and people naturally want to socialize upward. Resist the temptation of being partial to those with status or wealth.

 

8. Choose to serve others. (Philippians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Matthew 23:11) When we serve others, we are serving God’s purposes in their lives. Doing so reduces our focus on ourselves and builds the Kingdom of God instead of the Kingdom of self. When serving another costs us nothing, we should question whether or not it is really servanthood.

 

9. Be quick to forgive. (Matthew 18: 21-35) Forgiveness is possibly one of the greatest acts of humility we can do. To forgive is to acknowledge a wrong that has been done us and also to further release our right of repayment for the wrong. Forgiveness is denial of self. Forgiveness is not insisting on our way and our justice.

 

10. Cultivate a grateful heart. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) The more we develop an attitude of gratitude for the gift of salvation and life He has given us, the more true our perspective of self. A grateful heart is a humble heart.

 

11. Purpose to speak well of others. (Ephesians 4:31-32) Saying negative things about others puts them "one down" and us "one up"…a form of pride. Speaking well of others edifies them and builds them up instead of us. Make sure, however, that what you say is not intended as flattery.

 

12. Treat pride as a condition that always necessitates embracing the cross. (Luke 9:23) It is our nature to be proud and it is God’s nature in us that brings humility. Committing to a lifestyle of daily dying to self and living through Him is the foundation for true humility.