Ego & humility

Courtesy: Sri.RV Ramani

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Once a sculptor in a village made a beautiful idol of a goddess and
thought of selling it at a good price in the city. So he loaded the
idol on his donkey and started towards the city. When he was going
through the village, the villagers bowed in front of the idol as it
looked like a real goddess. Whichever street he crossed, a crowd would
bow in front of the idol.

But a strange thing happened. The donkey, which was carrying the idol,
thought that he was special and that was the reason why people were
bowing to him. He was thrilled with his newfound respect.

Soon the sculptor returned after selling the idol. While he was
crossing the village, the donkey stopped in the middle of the road,
expecting a warm welcome. But nobody paid attention to him. The donkey
felt insulted and started braying, so much so, that the villagers
drove him away.

The same mistake, what the donkey did, is what most of us do. When we
are on the divine path of self-realisation, with God's grace, a glow
enters our demeanor and we stand out in the crowd. People respect such
persons and often bow in respect. But we should realise that people
are bowing not to us but to that glimpse of God whom they realise
resides within us. So the credit of this respect goes, solely to God,
not to us. If we start taking the credit, we cross the thin line of
demarcation and enter into an area of false ego, which God dislikes
most.

The basic difference between material and devotional lifestyle is
that, in material life the more we progress, the more ego we develop.
In a devotional lifestyle, the more we progress, the more ego we shed.

 

knr

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If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God