Reconciling Humility … (09/01/09)
“Humility is an essential attitude for success in spiritual living. Any self-conceit, whether nurtured by intelligence, wealth, high social status, or the praise of others, is an obstacle on the path to true Contentment. Genuine humility is not posturing. It requires a constant willingness to deny one’s convictions and to be open to guidance from “heaven” – even when such direction differs from one’s own preconceived beliefs. Humility requires sincerity and honesty; thus some passages liken the humble person to a little child, whose natural openness to life is the antithesis of the personality of the adult with its resentments, prejudices. and “better ideas”. The truly humble person does not regard his possessions or accomplishments as his own, but rather as a gift of the Universe (a.k.a. God), to whom is due all thanks.” ~ unknown
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
~ Jesus in Matthew 5:5 (Christianity – also Matthew 23:12 & Philippians 2:6-11)
“It is humility that exalts one and favors him against his friends.”
~ Kipsigis Proverb (Traditional Religion of Kenya)
“Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers, and who shun vain conversation, and who are payers of the poor-due, and who guard their modesty.”
~ Qur’an 23:1-5 (Islam – also Qur’an 31:18-19)
“The Lamenter [who is seeking a vision] cries, for he is humbling himself, remembering his nothingness in the presence of the Great Spirit.”
~ Black Elk (Sioux Tradition)
“Harithah ibn Wahb al-Khuza`i tells how he heard the Prophet say, ‘Have I not taught you how the inhabitants of Paradise will be all the humble and the weak, whose oaths God will accept when they swear to be faithful? Have I not taught you how the inhabitants of hell will be all the cruel beings, strong of body and arrogant?'”
~ Hadith of Bukhari (Islam)
“Within the world the palace pillar is broad, but the human heart should be modest.”
~ Moritake Arakida (Shinto)
“Be humble, be harmless, have no pretension, be upright, forbearing. Serve your teacher in true obedience, keeping the mind and body in cleanness, tranquil, steadfast, master of ego — standing apart from the things of the senses, free from self; aware of the weakness in mortal nature.”
~ Bhagavad Gita 13:7-8 (Hinduism)
“Subdue pride by modesty, overcome hypocrisy by simplicity, and dissolve greed by contentment.”
~ Samanasuttam 136 (Jainism)
“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
~ Jesus in Luke 18:16-17 (Christianity)
“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putts off the natural man and becomes a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becomes as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, and full of love …”
~ Book of Mormon, Mosiah 3:19 (Mormonism/CLD)
“In the Book of Songs it is said, ‘Over her brocaded robe she wore a plain and simple dress’ — In that way showing her dislike of the loudness of its color and magnificence. Thus the ways of the moral man are unobtrusive and yet they grow more and more in power and evidence; whereas the ways of the vulgar person are ostentatious, but lose more and more in influence until they perish and disappear.”
~ Doctrine of Means 33 (Confucianism)
“Do not say about anything, ‘I am going to do that tomorrow,’ without adding, ‘If God will. Remember your Lord whenever you forget, and say, ‘Perhaps my Lord will guide me even closer than this to proper conduct.'”
~ Qur’an 18:23-24 (Islam)
“Without merit am I; all merit is Thine. Thine, Lord, are all merits–by what tongue have I power to praise Thee?”
~ Adi Granth, Wadhans M.5 pg. 577 (Sikhism)
“Be of an exceedingly humble spirit, for the end of man is the worm.”
~ Mishnah, abot 4:4 (Judaism)
“A brahmin should ever shrink from honor as from poison …”
~ Laws of manu 2:162 (Hinduism)
“To know when one does not know is best. To think one knows when one does not know is a dire disease.”
~ Tao Te Ching 71 (Taoism)
“The fool who knows that he is a fool is for that very reason a wise man; the fool who thinks he is wise is called a fool indeed.”
~ Buddha, Dhammapada 63 (Buddhism)
“Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.”
~ Paul in Philippians 2:3 (Christianity)
“Whoever proclaims himself good, know, goodness approaches him not. He whose heart becomes dust of the feet of all, … pure shall his repute be.”
~ Adi Granth, Gauri Sukhmani 12, M.5 pg. 278 (Sikhism)
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