Humility is strength, too
By Taru Bahl

THE crazy person says, "I am God and you are my slaves." The neurotic person says, "I will be God one day and then you will treat my word as sacrosanct." The humble person says, "I am I and you are you." He stands for everything which the aggressive, arrogant, boastful and vain person does not. He is courteously respectful of others. His credo is "you first, my friend" and not "me first." By being polite, considerate, empathetic and unassuming, he is not disqualifying himself from the rat race.

On the contrary, his performance is qualitatively superior, relationships more meaningful and life objectives clearly attainable. Even in a cut-throat competitive, dog-eat-dog scenario, he chooses to be humble although others may perceive his humility to be synonymous with subservience, weakness, inferiority and insignificance.

Wise men of yore used to say that it is always the secure who are humble. Critics pinpoint Muhammed Ali’s downfall as a boxer on the international circuit to his arrogance which led to complacency, disrepute and downfall. Readers will recall his catch phrase; "I am the greatest". Being insecure, he needed to constantly reassure himself as also remind the world that he was an ace boxer. In an unguarded moment when Lady Luck wasn’t favouring him and he was losing out to younger, more competent boxers, he admitted, "At home, I am a nice guy but I don’t want the world to know. Humble people I have found don’t get very far."

People like Ali, subscribe to the view that if they are honest they must be seen being honest, if they are hardworking they must be seen being hardworking and if they have achieved milestones in their career or family life, they must announce it to the world from the rooftops. Their need to be acknowledged as the greatest is so strong that they stop growing as people, as achievers and instead focus all their energies in cultivating the right contacts, impressing the right people and making the right appearances and statements. Their hour of glory then is no longer in their hands but at the mercy of others. They dread that by being modest they might be ousted from the scene and more vocal, pushy and assertive braggarts will move centrestage.

What these upstarts fail to realise is that success is often a transitory and fleeting phenomenon. To hold onto it forever may not be impossible but it certainly does not have to be at the cost of replacing humility with arrogance. Besides, being on top of the numbers game whether in the field of acting, politics, academics or sports needs more than just excellence in the field concerned. One needs to back it with precise timing, cooperation of people, God’s will and even luck. Those who get pig-headed and drunk on their own achievements in that short hour of glory not only fall swiftly but also end up as embittered souls.

If one is good in one’s field, one must have confidence in one’s capability. The danger is when this confidence is sans humility, it converts itself into arrogance. Humility has been acknowledged as the foundation of all virtues. It is a sign of greatness. Sincere humility attracts whereas false humility detracts. Fake humility shows, it irritates and leaves people cold. When noted novelist Graham Greene was asked if he considered himself to be a great novelist he replied, "not great but one of the best". He knew he was good. He had worked hard to be where he was. He knew that he would need to supplement his efforts to maintain his position and not let down his readers but he wasn’t foolish enough to believe that he was and would continue to be the best.

A person who is humble goes more than half way to meet the needs and demands of others. Which is why he values and nurtures his intimate relationships. He keeps adding value to whatever he does because he is open to criticism, to change and to his own limitations. He knows that anger, pride and unrealistic expectations can ruin marriages and friendships. Which is why Krishna and Sudama’s story never fails to inspire. When Sudama traverses the long distance to meet his childhood friend, he takes some rice for him, as he had nothing else to offer. His simple gesture and faith in his now rich and powerful friend is not lost because Krishna meets him with genuine gentleness and humility, cementing the bond for a lifetime.

A person who is humble knows that resentments can divide families and co-workers. Prejudice can separate race from race and religion from religion. Reputations can be destroyed by malicious gossip. Greed can create enmity between the rich and poor. Wars can be fought over arrogant assertions. His humility is a part of his temperament. His words, deeds, body language and reactions are all in conformance to what a truly humble person embodies.

Humility as a virtue is a major theme of both the Old and the New Testament. It has the therapeutic power to dissipate anger and to heal old wounds. It makes one look at life differently. One is more tolerant, patient and at peace with oneself. This sense of calm and serenity extends to our inward and outward states of mind creating tranquillity and harmony in whatever we do. Humility means putting God and others ahead of our own selfish interests. Humility comes with the knowledge that God’s creation as a whole transcends our own narrow interests and that He did not create us for our self-glorification alone.

A Zen monk lived in 16-century Japan under a bridge. He expressed his simple principle of life in a few profound words, "Most people try to know more to become more clever with each passing day. I attempt to become more simple,uncomplicated and humble every day." He moved away from all those man-made virtues, ideals and principles which forced him to adopt artificial standards. For, he found that they only encumbered and distracted him. Rather than become spiritually enlightened he was degenerating as a human being. The solution, then, is not renounce the world and live life like a recluse. By retaining one’s sense of humility one is in touch with one’s core values and sense of being. This gives us a sense of direction and strength.

Easterners have temperamentally taken successes in their stride. Their humility is legendary. Interestingly, some even feel it’s better to play the fool. According to Sun Tzu’s pathbreaking Art of War, "If one is able and strong, then one should disguise oneself in order to appear inept and weak". This extreme viewpoint is meant to give strength and protection to those who are different and special so that their hour of glory lasts forever. They deliberately tone down their talents, undermine their achievements, make light of their successes and credit their position and stature in life to God and His will. On the one hand, they are genuinely humble while on the other, they don’t want to be in the limelight, to be singled out and to risk antagonistic, jealous feelings from those who are not as fortunate as them. They realise that there is sense in being one of the herd. They have mastered the art of victory through submission by cultivating the sensitivity to recognise when they should fight back and when they should submit. They have also developed the strength to endure the period of submission. For them the saying, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth holds true.

Lao envisaged a leader who practices humility by being neither self-assertive nor too talkative and boastful. A leader is best when people are hardly aware of his existence, not so good when they eulogise him, less good when they fear him and worst when they are contemptuous of him. When the task is accomplished and people say, "we did it ourselves" is when one knows that there is a leader up there who has allowed people to actualise their potential, take pride in their work, given them credit and nurtured them with love and care.

That is the essence of the person who in spite of being successful remains humble.