The Namaste of Humility

By Sharon Ray

In Sunburst’s teachings, each month one of 12 virtues is a focus of study. It’s not that the other 11 fall away from our consciousness, they are sort of in the chorus while one steps forward to sing a solo. This month the vibration that the planet is riding through is that of Humility. I’ve thought about this virtue: What is it? How and when is it expressed?

Sometimes people TRY to be humble, saying, for example, that a great thing they did really was nothing, when they know they’ve actually done something extraordinary. “Well, I only ran 26 marathons in 26 days…anybody could do it.” That’s called “false humility.” False humility is often used in order to avoid what is (rightfully) seen as a much more perilous vice: pride.

So, how do we handle that Big Fat Ego when we actually do something great? The prideful ego says, “Oh man, I’m doing so good! I’m the best thing since the word “Namaste.” Clearly, I’m more spiritual than everyone around me. I’m probably a reincarnation of St. Bernadette, or St. Francis, or Gandhi. Am I young enough to be a reincarnation of Gandhi?” From such a high mountain, the poor ego can take a great tumble down, and may even break a leg or two, because, as we know, “Pride goes before a fall.”

What is needed for true humility is TRUE VISION: God is the Creator of all, and so, He is the originator and giver of all talents, gifts, and the ability to excel. “Did I create my ability to do well? Well, I worked really hard,” the ego defends itself. But who gives us the inspiration to want to work hard, and the will to do it? Who gave us a brain intelligent enough? God alone gets the credit for everything, as St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you had not?”

Once this truth is seen and embraced, the ego takes a huge sigh of relief. It is such a burden to carry around credit for what one is—like a backpack full of bricks. “Ahhh, this really has nothing to do with me, so I don’t have to maintain it or be afraid of losing it. Thank God!”

As with all the virtues, humility is born of Love. Love is its mother, and it cannot exist without her. Pride separates, saying, “I am better than…I am higher than….” But love ever and ever unites hearts together. It does not even consider one’s place relative to another. Love has no interest in comparing. Its natural response is to rejoice at another’s good fortune and accomplishments. Its interest is in the good of the one in front of it, saying, “I care about you. How can I help you out?”

Humility has an underlying sense that in Reality we are all one, “Ahh,” it says, “No wonder I love people so much. No wonder I want to help them. They are all part of my very own self!”

So, Humility doesn’t play a competitive game in the world. Rather, it is cooperative and universal, wanting to know, “What can I do to help uplift all people? What can I do to help heal the planet?”

Helping, healing, easing pain, understanding and compassionate, Humility is always a friend. You can find its warm and golden rays shining on and through you. I often feel such a sense of thankfulness that God is such a loving Being. It perhaps could have been a different story, but it’s not. God is love and is every virtue born of love. How lucky are we!

Oh, thank You God, for being so wonderful. This is the true Namaste.