hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
Originally Posted by
yajvan
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less and less till there is no more.
There is one way to become fully humble - become the vinaya, the one with subdued senses e.g. possessed of the Self.
This humility (nīca in jyotish) becomes a very noble quality as one progresses. It begins to overshadow pride.
mada मद - used in the feminine gender is considered pride, arrogance , presumption , conceit . It is also a name for intoxication. The intoxication of one's self ( small 's') that is filled with 'me', only me.
Sometimes the word māna is is used for this notion of pride as it too is defined as self-conceit , arrogance , pride.
It seems to me this pride ( self-centeredness) is a key driver of individuality. Humility is a driver of being universal. Yet in some cultures pride is promoted.
I think stewardship would be a capable alternative to this pride. Pride brings excessive ownership of things; when these things are lost one tries to re-gain what was lost to feel whole again. Hence this pride promotes the notion that one is not whole without other things contributing to one's well being.
If one is working-on or unfolding humility it is my assessment that cultivating stewardship is not a hindrance. What is this stewardship ? The responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
Let me offer an example : Let's say I am a gardener and take care of another's land. I go there and keep it orderly, remove the weeds, fertilize, and insure a healthy garden. Yet there is no possessiveness. I leave at the end of the day knowing I did my allotted duty but have no worries if a rabbit may eat the garden. I am not possessed by it, I am not the owner.
Another example is with childcare. One goes and tends to the children, gives them affection, are fed, managed, etc. yet at the end of the day the children are returned to their parents. The childcare giver has done his/her work and the responsibility is passed back to the parents. The childcare giver then goes about her business with little thought of the children.
So it seems humility + stewardship are good partners. Pride + personally-driven ownership seems to bring excessive attachment and only dis-heartened grief of loss.
Ultimate humility is the notion of only one but not in the mindset of the individual but of the universal;
Ultimate pride is the notion of the many and total unconnectedness that only thinks of one at a time; that every
man, woman and child are on their own to posssess as much as possible to fuel one's pride.
praṇām
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