Necessity of Humility

Sri Annamalai Swami

Ganapati muni had been saying that he was Bhagavan's foremost devotee. Chinnaswami refused to accept the claim and told Ganapati muni that he was a better devotee. When Ganapati muni refused to admit it, a quarrel broke out between them. They eventually took their dispute to Bhagavan and asked him to adjudicate on it. Initially, Bhagavan refused to give any opinion but when it became clear, after a few days of public wrangling in the hall, that the dispute was not going to die down, he decided to intervene.

B said a few nice things about Chinnaswami and then afterwards paid some compliments to Ganapati muni, but he refused to resolve the argument in favor of either of them. Then he gave both of them a gentle reminder about the necessity of humility on the spiritual path.

'Whatever effort is made by whichever person, that which is the reality will always remain. None, however great, can give to another person either moksha or bandha. It is natural for a person to think that he should be well-known to the people of the world and be praised by them. But if this thought is present one cannot attain true greatness or happiness. God is not interested in those who promote their own claims to greatness. One who is not satisfactory to God is an inferior person, not a great one. If anyone dedicates his mind and body to God in every possible way, God will make him be famous and praised by people all over the world.'

B then supported his remarks by quoting a verse from vairAgya satakam:

"O mind, you are thinking how to make the people of the world regard you as great. The ever-existing God alone is the one who bestows bondage and liberation. What is the use of others knowing your greatness? O mind, perform the rare tapas of surrendering to the holy golden feet of God. Then God will make you so great that the world will know your greatness and praise you. Know thus."