Humility means

Expressions researched:
"humility means"

BG Chapters 13 - 18

Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others.

BG 13.8-12, Purport: Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others. The material conception of life makes us very eager to receive honor from others, but from the point of view of a man in perfect knowledge—who knows that he is not this body—anything, honor or dishonor, pertaining to this body is useless. One should not be hankering after this material deception. People are very anxious to be famous for their religion, and consequently sometimes it is found that without understanding the principles of religion one enters into some group which is not actually following religious principles and then wants to advertise himself as a religious mentor. As for actual advancement in spiritual science, one should have a test to see how far he is progressing. He can judge by these items.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Humility means not to follow the instruction of guru?

Room Conversation -- May 5, 1976, Honolulu:

Prabhupāda: But first of all (indistinct) you what is the special attraction? Your wife said that their instruction is very clear. So what is the distinction between clear and ambiguous. What do you find ambiguous, what do you find clear? What is that?

Bhūrijana: I think the part I found clear, the more introspective points about humility, and changing one's desires...

Prabhupāda: Humility means not to follow the instruction of guru? That is not...

Bhūrijana: No, that is not humility.

Prabhupāda: I'm asking you what is the special attraction? You say... Your wife says it is very clear. What is that clear and ambiguous?

Bhūrijana: You mean what is ambiguous and... (indistinct) what is ambiguous or what...

Prabhupāda: No. You say that is very clear what others are telling you. Now what is that ambiguous, what is that clear?

Bhūrijana: The clearness may be a deeper understanding to want to be humble. A deeper understanding to want to...

Prabhupāda: Humble, but if you do not follow your spiritual master's instruction, you follow others, then where is the humbleness? You say that... Your wife says that what Siddha-svarūpa says it is very clear and and others are not so clear. Is it not? What is that clear what is not clear?

Bhūrijana: He says chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: So who says that you don't chant?

Bhūrijana: Maybe the emphasis wasn't so much on the chanting even though everyone says harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma eva kevalam [Cc. Ādi 17.21], everyone just chants their sixteen rounds a day, chants a half hour ārati in the evening and half hour ārati in the morning.

Prabhupāda: So what do you want more? What is your program? 24 hours?

Bhūrijana: I like more kīrtana than that.

Prabhupāda: So you don't like to sell books.

Bhūrijana: No, I think I like very much. I mean I think I would like to.

Prabhupāda: So what is difference?

Bhūrijana: Between selling books and kīrtana?

Prabhupāda: No no. Between others and you. Where is the difference? When you point out that this is the point, we differ. What is that point?

Bhūrijana: Well maybe the point about more kīrtana or less kīrtana.

Prabhupāda: So if you chant more, they're objecting?

Bhūrijana: No.

Prabhupāda: Then where is the difference? Has anyone objected (if you) chant more?

Bhūrijana: No.

Prabhupāda: Then where is the objection? What is the point of difference?

Bhūrijana: I think there's no point of difference.

Prabhupāda: Then why do you say we find these instructions more clear?