The Importance of Humility

Google gave me the following meaning of the word Humility:

the quality of not thinking that you are better than other people

But I think humility in the Indian context has another meaning. It means (I think):

the denial or abasement of oneself.

The above is the meaning of self abnegation.

Forget the abasement bit. The denial of oneself is, I think, an excellent spiritual practice. It involves freeing yourself of the ego and if you succeed in being free of the ego (to whatever extent) you will be happier and will have made spiritual progress.

But that is a spiritual practice and is not meant for most people.

I have mentioned repeatedly my view that serious spirituality is not meant for all and sundry. Osho, Srimad Bhagavatam, and the Bible, I think, support my view. So it means that it is a completely misconceived notion to expect the aam junta or common man to practice humility (which is just self abnegation properly defined).

Now expecting people to practice denial of self amounts to being polite and not creating fracas or disturbances. It is useful for people in power, for dealing with politics between communities and also I suppose useful to the police for maintaining law and order in a communally charged environment in India.

But it comes with a cost. A heavy cost.

In the first place self abnegation – to use the proper word – while it may be an excellent spiritual practice is not what democracy requires of the average citizen. Democracy requires:

1. Standing up for your rights as a citizen (including of course respecting the rights of others). Believe me when I say this – if you don’t stand up for your rights nobody else will do it for you.
2. Democracy requires preventing and raising your voice against misuse of power. Checks and balances on people in power is crucial to the functioning of a democracy. 

Philosophically or spiritually also the concept of self abnegation that is expected of the common man can be challenged. Quoting from one of my earlier blogs:

It is better to do your own dharma (calling) even imperfectly, than someone else’s dharma perfectly. Even better to die in your dharma than in another’s, which brings great fear.

This quote is from the Bhagavad Gita.

There is a concept in Greek mythology that says that it is impossible for a person to act against his or her nature for any length of time. Quoting from another of my blogs:

There is a fable I think in Greek mythology of a cat who for whatever reason changed herself into a young woman. So the woman was sitting in a chair very demure and well bred and ladylike until a mouse ran before her. In an instant the woman forgot her role and changed back into a cat and started chasing the mouse.

A Doctrine of Hatred

There can be no stronger foundation for a nation than the common citizen acting according to his or her nature (which is what the Gita also advocates).

Now I agree that all this philosophy is meant for people who are highly educated. It may not be capable of being implemented strictly in India as the situation on the ground stands. I am sure the police have good reasons for wanting people to practice self restraint or self abnegation.

But the sooner the nation moves to ethical standards that I am advocating the better.

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