Question: I would like to really understand what humility is. Can you please explain the same to me?
Answer by Romapada Swami:
Humility is often mistaken to simply be some sort of meekness in behavior. Vaishnava humility is, however, a completely spiritual quality, not a material one. It comes from understanding one’s real self in relation with God. Real humility is the understanding that one is but an instrument or ordered servant of the Supreme Lord: “I do not have any good qualities whatsoever; on my own strength I cannot accomplish anything independently, and I am of no special significance in the vastness of creation. My only qualification is the order of my spiritual master and Krishna. By Their potency I may be empowered to do anything as They wish.”
Srila Prabhupada defines humility as “not hankering for the satisfaction of being honored by others.” (Bg 13.8 p) Thus a vaishnava does not endeavor to prove his/her worth to others or to themselves; they simply endeavor to serve and please Krishna. Ironically, when the meaning of humility is not properly understood, one could be “acting humbly” just to attract others’ attention to appreciate how so-called humble one is!
In the mood of real humility, one can act very boldly and confidently. On one’s personal behalf, a vaishnava is very meek and tolerant, but when Krishna’s service demands a humble vaisnava will do the needful in a complete mood of service. In mundane humility, the focus is on one’s own inadequacies rather than upon Krishna’s mercy; ‘I’ am in the center, not Krishna. That is the crucial distinction.
In a previous issue, we discussed the example of Hanuman regarding his burning down Lanka. He did many other mighty tasks such as crossing over the ocean, and even carrying Lord Rama across the stone bridge and bringing Lakshman back to life. But he was not in the mood of a doer; it was by the power of Rama’s Holy Name alone that he was able to accomplish these feats and he was simply an order carrier.
Srila Prabhupada himself was such an example of perfect humility. At an advanced age, he single-handedly pioneered and established a world-wide movement, and accomplished many humanly impossible tasks. But he passed on all the credit to his spiritual master and admitted that his only credit was that he followed his spiritual master’s instructions and repeated his words with strong faith. He never attracted any attention to himself, so much so that most people did not even know his name or who he was! The ‘founder of the Hare Krishna movement’ was all they knew, and he was content simply to popularize Hare Krishna and canvas for Krishna.
