Humility in Perspective

[Murali_Mohan_das]

Gurudev is always stressing the H.O.T. principle (Humility, giving hOnor to others (while seeking none for ourselves), and Tolerance).

 

While I'd like to be able to apply these principles universally, there are times, no doubt, when we must take a practical approach to humility.

 

Here is Param-Gurudeva's thought on this topic (especially note the somewhat enigmatic last paragraph):

 

 

http://www.scsmath.com/books/Golden_Volcano.pdf

Page 175

 

 

Humility must be adjusted or modified in its practical

application. Once, when a Hare Krishna temple

was attacked, a gun was used by the devotees to

defend the temple. Later there was a complaint

among the local people. They said, “Oh, they are

humble? They are tolerant? Why have they crossed

the advice of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to be humbler

than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a

tree? They can’t be devotees!” So many complaints

were coming to me, but I defended them by saying,

“No, they have done rightly. The instruction to be

humbler than a blade of grass means one should be

humble to the devotee, not to a madman.”

 

The general class of men are ignorant. They are

mad. They do not know what is good or bad, so their

consideration has no value. Who is qualified to judge

whether a devotee is offering respect to all and not

expecting any for himself? Who will judge whether he

is really humble and tolerant—madmen? Ignorant

people? Have they any sense to judge who is humble,

who is tolerant, and who is respectful to others? There

must be a standard by which to judge humility. We are

interested in the criterion given by higher thinkers,

not the consideration of the ignorant masses.

 

 

The Standard of Humility

 

Of course, anyone may deceive the ordinary public

with superficial humility. But a show of humility is

not real humility. It must come from the heart, and it

must have a real purpose. Everything—humility, tolerance,

and pridelessness—must be considered by the

judgement of a standard, normal person, not by the

ignorant who are like elephants, tigers, and jackals.

Should they be allowed to judge what is humility,

what is audacity and impertinence? Of course not.

Should a devotee think, “The Deity and the temple is

about to be molested, but I shall stand by and do

nothing. I should be humble and tolerant. A dog is

entering the temple; I should show him respect?” No.

This is not real humility.

 

We must have a normal conception of reality. We

must not allow these anomalies to continue in the

name of offering respects to others. We must not

think that we may allow anyone to harm the devotees

or molest the temple, that we shall allow the dog to

enter the temple, and by doing this we are humble

and tolerant, we are showing all respects to others.

We are not interested only in the physical meaning of

the scriptures, but the real meaning.

 

That I am humble means that I am the slave of

the slave of a Vaishnava. With that consciousness we

must proceed. If anyone comes to molest my master, I

should first sacrifice myself, thinking, “Because I am

of the least importance, my sacrifice is no loss; I must

sacrifice myself to maintain the dignity of my guru,

the devotees, and my Lord and His family.”

 

We must always understand what is to be honored.

We offer our respects to the highest truth, the

Lord of Lords; our dealings should be in consonance

with that. If we always keep the highest conception of

relativity within us, we will see that we are the lowest.

If there is danger to our guardians, we shall sacrifice

ourselves. All of this should be taken into account

when trying to understand the meaning of humility,

not physical imitation—but genuine humility; it is a

question of practical realization. Fame and honor

must be given to the Lord and His devotees, not to

anyone else.

 

In the higher stages of devotion, of course, humility

may have to be adjusted in another way for the

paramahamsa babajis, the topmost swanlike saints who

have given up all connection with this material

world. But in the preaching stage, the second class

devotee must accept things differently. As our guru

maharaja said, “Had I been in the role of a babaji, a

nonassertive, reclusive saint, I would have walked

away from the place without offering any opposition.

But when we are preaching and have taken the

responsibility of leading so many souls to the domain

of the Lord, our adjustment must be made accordingly.”

Generally, we may be indifferent to those who are

personally inimical to us, but when we preach on

behalf of the Lord in an organized way, our duty

changes: we cannot be indifferent to antagonists.

[krsna]

 

In the higher stages of devotion, of course, humility

may have to be adjusted in another way for the

paramahamsa babajis, the topmost swanlike saints who

have given up all connection with this material

world. But in the preaching stage, the second class

devotee must accept things differently. As our guru

maharaja said, “Had I been in the role of a babaji, a

nonassertive, reclusive saint, I would have walked

away from the place without offering any opposition.

But when we are preaching and have taken the

responsibility of leading so many souls to the domain

of the Lord, our adjustment must be made accordingly.”

Generally, we may be indifferent to those who are

personally inimical to us, but when we preach on

behalf of the Lord in an organized way, our duty

changes: we cannot be indifferent to antagonists.

 

Does that mean we'll be ready to kick ass? To fight against the demonic people's minds and atheistic philosophies?

[Murali_Mohan_das]

My birth father was a flower child. He raised me on Peace, Love, and Chairman Mao.

 

The idealist in me doesn't like the thought of war. I started that thread called "Slamming Maya" to ridicule those who think they can transcend Maya Devi by their own efforts.

 

However, in "Golden Volcano" and "Search for Sri Krishna", Param-Gurudev, in his own merciful, sweet way, *does* insist that war is inevitable and necessary.

 

We must gird our loins, take up our spiritual weapons and fight against misconception!!!

 

 

Does that mean we'll be ready to kick ass? To fight against the demonic people's minds and atheistic philosophies?

[Guest guest]

He was giving some explanations to senior, full-time preachers in Iskcon during the early 1980s. Are you a full-time senior preacher? If not then some of these concepts can confuse us. It may be more information than we need or can digest since its for devotees in a different postion. The H.O.T. principle (Humility, giving hOnor to others (while seeking none for ourselves), and Tolerance) speaks for itself.

[Murali_Mohan_das]

So, when the madman with the gun comes to take away the deities, I shall offer my obeisances since I am not a senior, full-time preacher?

 

 

He was giving some explanations to senior, full-time preachers in Iskcon during the early 1980s. Are you a full-time senior preacher? If not then some of these concepts can confuse us. It may be more information than we need or can digest since its for devotees in a different postion. The H.O.T. principle (Humility, giving hOnor to others (while seeking none for ourselves), and Tolerance) speaks for itself.

[Murali_Mohan_das]

Furthermore, Srila Sridhar Maharaja's books, while containing very high conceptions, do not come with any sort of disclaimer (printed or otherwise) indicating that they are not intended to be read by neophytes.

 

In fact, this particular book was published during the manifest pastimes of Param-Gurudev and presented to him for his approval.

 

With this in mind, I happily dismiss your concerns.

 

 

 

He was giving some explanations to senior, full-time preachers in Iskcon during the early 1980s. Are you a full-time senior preacher? If not then some of these concepts can confuse us. It may be more information than we need or can digest since its for devotees in a different postion. The H.O.T. principle (Humility, giving hOnor to others (while seeking none for ourselves), and Tolerance) speaks for itself.

[Guest guest]

It is important to remember that the goal of any preaching mission is changing hearts and minds not winning arguments. The slam-drag-out verbal battles with opponents rarely accomplish that. Often people just walk away from such discussions with a strong distaste for devotees. Devotees must show some class in these types of situations. Sometimes properly applied humility and non-combative mood is the best approach. I have been preaching for many years now and this is based on many public encounters (mine and others) with opponents of bhakti.

[Murali_Mohan_das]

Often, when we don't particularly care for a person, regardless of how delusional they may be, we will humor them in order to not get further involved with them. We simply wish them to leave us alone and be on our way.

 

When we have some deeper concern for somebody who is clearly deluded (and, yes, we can never "know" (in the scientific sense) if it is *they* who are deluded or *we* who are deluded), we cannot sit by and let them continue suffering in delusion.

 

If we are truly their friend, we will take them by the shoulders and try to shake a bit of sense into them, will we not?

 

I agree with what you say, and, at the same time, in his own, calm, patient way, Param-Gurudev has expressed that "there is some urgency."

 

 

It is important to remember that the goal of any preaching mission is changing hearts and minds not winning arguments. The slam-drag-out verbal battles with opponents rarely accomplish that. Often people just walk away from such discussions with a strong distaste for devotees. Devotees must show some class in these types of situations. Sometimes properly applied humility and non-combative mood is the best approach. I have been preaching for many years now and this is based on many public encounters (mine and others) with opponents of bhakti.