Fw: [psdglist] Weekly Meditation : QUOTE 22 - Humility
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Quote 22
Humility
“Without utter humility, the pure love that leads to entrance into Goloka will never arise.”
Reference: Bhakti, An Affair of the Heart P 8, Revised Version, by His Holiness Partha Sarathi Das Goswami
Recently I went over my favourite quotes by the previous
äcäryas and came across the following quote by Çréla
Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura, “In this world of mäyä
[illusion], adverse to the Lord, full of trials and tribulations,
only humility, patience and respect to others are the friends of
hari-bhajana.”
I found this quote so powerful that I memorised it and I often
recite it between my rounds. It is only those devotees who have
utter humility, which includes respect to others and patience,
succeed in coming to the platform of pure devotional service.
This is why Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu mentioned that in order
to constantly think of the Lord, His holy name and His
pastimes, one has to be lower than a straw in the street and
more tolerant than a tree:
tåëäd api sunécena taror iva sahiñëunä
amäninä mänadena kértanéyaù sadä hariù
“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 respects to
others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of
the Lord constantly.” (Çikñäñöakam, Verse 3)
This is not a theoretical armchair quote. We have to put this
into practice. Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and Lord Kåñëa will
sometimes expose us to difficult situations where we are forced
to adopt this mood. As this mood of humility deepens, then
our thirst for Kåñëa consciousness will proportionately
increase.
I have observed that those devotees who are humble, tolerant,
and patient continue for longer in their devotional service than
those who have some pride and a desire for prestige or
position. We should try to cultivate this most essential quality
of humility, respect to others, and patience and then we will
also understand that this is truly the friend of hari-bhajana
(chanting the holy name).
Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé gives a profound insight to the
meaning of humility. He writes in Çré Båhad-bhägavatämåta,
3.5.221, “That loving devotional service...and it’s root is
dainya, utter humility” “The most essential support—and a
candidate for pure bhakti must always take help from it—is
utter humility.” (BB 3.5.121, purport)
Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé further quotes Närada Muni’s
definition of humility, “Wise men define dainya as that state in
which one always thinks oneself exceptionally incapable and
low, even when endowed with all excellences.” (BB 3.5.222)
Sometimes I am asked how we can develop humility. We must
try to associate with those devotees who display humility in
their words and actions. Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé writes, “An
intelligent person should carefully cultivate speech, behavior,
and thinking that fix him in utter humility, and anything that
stands in the way should be avoided.” (BB 2.5.223)
The goal of our Gauòéya-sampradäya is to attain Goloka
Våndävana. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé confirms this in NOI, Text 8,
where he writes tiñöhan vraje or the essence of all instructions is
to reside in Vraja either physically or within the mind. This can
only be achieved by humility. Çréla Sanätana Gosvämé
confirms, “Without utter humility, the pure love that leads to
entrance into Goloka will never arise.” (BB 3.5.240)
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