Qualities Of Devotees - VI

[Guest guest]

!! Jeeyar ThiruvadigalE Sharanam,

Jai SrimanNarayana !!

 

 

Dear Bhagavthas,

Please accept my humble and respectful Sashtanga Pranamams. Jeeyar

ThiruvadigalE Sharanam. Jai SrimanNarayana.

 

Kindly forgive adiyEn for the late posting of this part of the series. AdiyEn

prays for your forgiveness.

 

In this mail H.H. discusses the quality of humility in a Vaishnava. During

the Thiruppavai lectures H.H. has given so many examples on the importance and

cultivation of this quality of proper humility in a Vaishnava. AdiyEn happened

to just note down a few which adiyEn will be writing in this mail.

 

Anybody who listens to the Thiruppavai lectures of H.H. attentively with a

mood of submission, will immediately find that it is THE medicine for ALL the

problems of life. His Holiness, in an unparalleled way, described all that is

needed for ANY human being to prosper both materially and spiritually. Actually,

if one is spiritually well, he will definitely be materially well. Material

well-being follows the spiritual well-being, not the other way around. The

unfathomable mercy of H.H. is His nectarine, heart soothing and at the same

time, purifying messages and instructions. Progress will be definitely made by

anybody who faithfully tries to follow them.

 

Of all the dazzling qualities and gunas that adorn a Vaishnava, humility

shines out as the brightest and attracts all.

 

A Vaishnava is, by nature, humble. He never humiliates or belittles anybody.

He ALWAYS speaks affectionately and sweetly(Bhagavath Geetha 17.15). He never

behaves in a proudly manner. No activity of a Vaishnava causes a feeling in

others that he is "ahankari". He treats himself always to be lower than all

others. In the history of great Sri Vaishnava Acharyas and devotees, we can find

this rare and gem like shining quality called humility.

 

Humility is such a rare quality that fills the place immediately with peace,

tranquility and soothes the burning heart of all the persons present there,

irrespective of the apparent differences in the levels of their knowledge.

Humility naturally attracts all the persons.

 

The ultimate winning quality is humility. One may be adorned with so many

good qualities, but if one doesn't have humility, nobody will like him and all

his other good qualities will not shine. His Holiness has given many examples of

great Sri Vaishnava Acharyas who exhibited this quality to the fullest extent.

During the lecture on the pashuram of "MaalE Manivanna...AliNilayaay, ArulElO

Rembavaay" in Nalgonda(1999), H.H. explained the humility of Govinda Bhattar.

Govida Bhattar, when asked by Sri Bhagavadh Ramanuja, why he was apparently

enjoying and acknowledging his glorification by others so much, replies:

"Swamin, this heart was like hard stone. Your Nirhethuka Krupa fell on it and it

became what it is now. If somebody is glorifying this, it completely belongs to

You. So, how can adiyEn stop them from glorifying you further and further?" This

is the Guru Bhakthi and humility shown by our great Sri Vaishnava Acharyas.

Also, Hanuman is another wonderful example of humility.

 

Humility can be cultivated by developing mood of service towards Vaishnavas. We

should grab each and every opportunity for doing some service to Vaishnavas

without the slightest hesitation. Our personal inconvenience, material

discomforts or anything for that matter, should be given secondary importance

while serving Vaishnavas. A true Vaishnava possesses all the qualities of Lord.

So, if devotees are humble, how humble is Lord? H.H. gave a very wonderful

example here. During the "Rajasuya Yaaga" performed by Yudhishtir Maharaja, Lord

Krishna took the responsibility of distributing various services among different

people. Lord distributed different services to different people according to

their nature. For instance, He gave Dhuryodhana the service of receiving gifts

from guests who came to attend the Yaga, as Dhuryodhana was a very miserly man

and he knows only how to take, but never to give. Similarly, Karna was given the

service of giving gifts to guests while they leave at the end of Yaaga, since he

was a profuse donor, he knows how to give, but not how to take. Finally, after

all the services are distributed, Lord took the menial service of lifting the

leaf cups eaten by Vaishnavas in the Yaga and washing the feet of Vaishnavas. He

exemplified that real humility is to serve Vaishnavas menially. Though he is the

Supreme and everybody is trying to please Him, He is so humble that He takes up

such menial things on behalf of His devotees. He is pleased when His Bhakthas

are pleased.

 

Humility of a Vaishnava is always in relationship with Lord Sriman Naryana.

He is humble, because he realizes his utter dependence on the mercy of Lord and

His devotees. The ripened fruit of Bhakthi is the realization that his actual

position is the servant of servant of the servant of his Acharya. Shabari is the

epitome of knowledge in the entire Ramayana. The more a person is learned, the

humbler he becomes. True knowledge always makes one humbler and takes him nearer

to God. Another quality of Vaishnava is that he is without "Jugupthsa", the

desire to hide something for his own benefit and enjoyment. He shares whatever

he has with all others.

 

Sometimes people try to pose humility by saying some so called humble words

like, " no, no, I don't deserve it, I am just an ordinary person, it is all by

the mercy of Lord etc", but they will be internally enjoying the praise of

others very much. And some people do things for only the sake of getting some

fame or respect in the society, not with a genuine intent of serving devotees.

The latter is a very subtle and often undetected enemy in the hearts, the desire

for fame and recognition in the society. Till we have these desires to enjoy

"Vishayaalu" in this world, we cannot see God. To see God, we have to completely

get rid of this desire for gratifying our senses in this world. The last Karma

also should leave us. Then only we can attain pure love of Lord.

 

So in the beginning, one might utter statements like, "I don't know many

things and I am still a practicing devotee, I have a lot to learn, I am just a

servant of the servant of the servant of devotees etc...", but when it comes to

the point of accepting chastisement/correction from a Vaishnava, other elders or

while discussing something about devotional service with other devotees, he

tries to prove that he is smart and his point only is right etc. One can

immediately know that his previous exhibition of humility is all a stage show.

Humility means to accept what the other person says in a submissive manner

WITHOUT ARGUMENT. (" Vaado Navalambhasya..."). Real humility cannot come unless

we do "Sharanagathi" at the lotus feet of our Acharya. When one realizes that

one is not capable of doing anything, only Acharya and Bhagavan can save him and

thus surrenders unto Him, that is the sign of true humility. This knowledge will

not come unless we are with "Thadeeyulu".

 

If you surrender at the lotus feet of Acharya, He will shape you into a

wonderful personality so that everybody in the society respects you. He will

decorate you with all the fine and beautiful qualities on the Earth. A Vaishnava

is simply whatever SrimanNarayana decorated him with. Just like a mother

decorates her child with all the ornaments and becomes so happy to see her

beautiful child, Lord decorates His devotee with all the finest and rarest

qualities so that everybody glorifies, respects and worships him.

 

A true Vaishnava is always humble and by his humility creates a soothing,

cool and wonderful atmosphere wherever he goes. He changes the hearts of even

malicious, dangerous people with his righteous and humble character. A Vaishnava

is not calculating and manipulating in his behavior. He is NEVER cunning. He is

simple and lives simply. Humility encompasses all these characteristics. H.H.

has specifically told not to give importance to appearance very much. There is

no need to wear very expensive clothes etc. A devotee should look simple from

outside and inside (he should be simple minded).

 

How to check if we are really humble? Check your heart when some

chastisement comes from other Vaishnava. If your heart rebels against and has

problems accepting the other Vaishnava as your well wisher whole heartedly, you

might have to train your mind in humility. Check if you have the tendency to

argue with others. If you argue, you are NOT humble. Argument should be

completely shunned. See if you are able to glorify and serve other Vaishnavas

with full of your heart. Another component of humility is seeking permission

from Vaishnavas before we start doing anything and if they don't give

permission, we should not do that. Check if you are following whatever Guru has

told you to follow. One who faithfully follows the word of Acharya and sincerely

tries to serve all human beings as service to his Acharya, is definitely humble.

 

 

One of my friends told me this: who is the humblest of all Vaishnavas? "Vidyaa

Dadaathi Vinayam...". If one has more knowledge, one is obviously more humble.

Who is the most knowledgeable and intelligent? Our Acharya is the most

intelligent. So obviously, our Acharya is the humblest of all.

 

In the next mail: H.H discusses the qualities of Self-Control,

SathyaVaakPaalana and Thithiksha.

 

Kindly forgive adiyEn if anything is not represented properly because of

adiyEn's ignorance.

 

Thank you so much,

 

adiyEn,

 

Sheshagiri.

 

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Films, novels and other mundane literature spoil your life. They provoke

unnecessary emotions in you. Strictly avoid them. Make friendship with

Bhagavathas and elders. Their speech will protect you when you are in danger.

 

--H.H. pravachanam on 11th Pashuram, 26th December, 2001, Hyderabad.

 

Love is the driving force behind controlling your mind. Worship Lord out of

love, not just because He is your order supplier. If you really love, nobody's

faults will affect you negatively. And if you don't love your Acharya, you

cannot have concentration in worshipping Lord.

 

--H.H. pravachanam on 24th Pashuram, 8th January, 2001, Hyderabad.

 

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