Excerpt

Our own successes and achievements in life are possible only through the use of our bodies and minds and the capacities with which these are endowed. We do not create these; they are God's gifts to us. In the Hindu understanding, the body and mind do not exist and function like a watch that is made by a watchmaker. After a watch is made, its existence and operation are not continuously dependent on the watchmaker. The body and mind, on the other hand, cannot exist or function without the presence of God as life-giving consciousness. Without consciousness, thinking, feeling, reasoning and memory are impossible. All human achievements then, are ultimately dependent of God, the source and sustainer of the body and mind. It is not mere flattery or exaggerated praise to acknowledge the necessity of God for all human achievements. This is a truth that arises from our understanding of God's nature and relationship to us.

Is it wrong and arrogant to take pride in one's successes and achievements? Must one claim no responsibility for any of these? Is it a virtue to deny one's gifts and abilities? Self-deprecation is not what is required of us and we must not look down upon ourselves or be blind to our gifts. Nurturing these does not, by itself, lead to arrogance. Arrogance or humility depends on how we view our abilities. We become arrogant when we fail to appreciate that we are not the authors of our talents, but that we are endowed with these by God. We exercise our freedom and initiative by developing and using our gifts, but not in creating these. To become a successful singer, for example, one must go through many years of arduous training and practice. One needs, however, the gift of a singing voice. A successful singer may take legitimate pride in the years of training and effort that she invested in her art and in the success achieved. Her pride, however, never degenerates into arrogance because she recognizes the blessing of a singing voice. Her pride is always tempered with humility and gratitude.

We discover humility not only by recognizing the truth that our basic abilities are God's gifts to us, but also by acknowledging the contribution made by countless others in the development of these abilities. Success is never achieved by one's solitary effort and the list of those who make our successes possible, directly and indirectly, is truly endless. These include ancestors, parents, teachers, spouses, friends, strangers and the world of nature. By acknowledging one's indebtedness to others, known and unknown, we protect ourselves against the human tendency to become egocentric and arrogant. Truth leads to humility; untruth to arrogance.

Arrogance, as a view of oneself and an attitude towards others, is a source of many problems. First, it is not truthful. It is based on a failure to understand God as the source of all abilities and as the sustainer of life in the mind and body. It also ignores our dependence on others for our achievements. Second, arrogance causes us to be blind to our shortcomings and leads us to believe that we are without limitations. It leaves no room for spiritual and ethical growth, because we wrongly think that there is no need for it. Since an arrogant person believes that he is better in every aspect than he really is, arrogance impedes the proper development of his potential. The exaggeration of his abilities leaves these undeveloped. Persons who underestimate themselves and the persons who overestimate themselves will not realize their potential. Third, arrogance results in increased interpersonal friction and conflict. By overestimating his abilities and achievements, an arrogant person feels constantly threatened by the abilities and achievements of others. There is a tendency to underestimate and demean others in an attempt to assert his own superior view of himself. He exaggerates the faults of others or sees defects where none exist. Others feel diminished and without self-worth in his presence. Such an attitude is not conducive to building relationships of love and trust. In addition, there is always the feeling that one's qualities are never fully appreciated and recognized and this is a source of constant hurt and pain. It also fuels the desire to inflict pain on others. The arrogant person lives in a constant state of anxiety because he is preoccupied with how others see and think of him. He is not concerned with truth, but with appearance. He becomes short-tempered with those who do not give him adequate recognition. At the same time, he is susceptible to flattery and can be easily manipulated by unscrupulous persons who understand his weaknesses and are willing to indulge his ego for their own selfish ends.

Unlike arrogance, humility arises from a true understanding of the source of all human abilities and the interdependent nature of existence. It enables us to celebrate our achievements, but with a heart full of gratitude. Since it is grounded in an honest appraisal of our abilities, it always leaves room for growth and development and realization of our potential. Humility is not threatened by the achievements of others and enables one to recognize and be generous in praising the accomplishments of others. It leads to deep and genuine human relationships founded on understanding and respect. A humble person is at peace with himself and the world. He is free from the anxiety for recognition born of an exaggerated sense of self-importance and from the hurts that follow the persistent demand for respect from others. Humility is one of the finest flowers of a mature mind.