The Humble Way
Humility is a deeply revered quality in all spiritual traditions. Indeed, many consider it to be the mother of all virtues. We should endeavor to nurture our humility. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life was a hallmark of humility.
Humility is recognized as a great virtue in all spheres of life. It is an underrated quality that is imperative on the spiritual path. The Hindu shastras say, “Humility is the ladder to divine understanding.”
Humility is, in fact, one of the most powerful and important attributes of growth and lasting success. Being humble helps to build trust and facilitates learning, which are key aspects of leadership and personal development.
Humble Leaders Help
A group of soldiers were trying to lift a large piece of timber. The corporal stood on the side, commanding the men to heave harder to lift the timber. A stranger rode by on his horse and observed the scene. He said to the corporal, “Don’t you think if you helped them, the strength of one more person might help them lift the timber?” The corporal replied, “That is not my job. It is for them to do that work. That is not the work of a corporal.” The stranger dismounted from his horse, joined the ranks of the soldiers, and helped them to lift the timber. The added strength of one person was all it took to lift the wood. Having completed the task, the stranger mounted his horse. Before departing he turned to the corporal and said, “The next time you have a piece of timber you need help lifting, call for the commander-in-chief.”
It was then that the men realized that the stranger was none other than George Washington, the first President of the United States, the commander-in-chief of the army.
Swamishri Shoulders The Blame
In the summer of 1980, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was in the UK. The devotees had arranged a retreat at Epping Forest, a vast area of woodland in Essex, London. There was an air of excitement amongst the young and old, who had turned out in large numbers. Many had travelled from all over the country to spend time with their guru in beautiful natural surroundings. However, there was a problem. On his way to the site, Swamishri made some house visits, which took more time than anticipated. At first, devotees were patient and waited, but after a few hours, they became restless and frustrated because there was no sign of their guru. By the time Pramukh Swami arrived, clouds were looming, and a drizzle had started. Soon, there was a downpour and the whole retreat was ruined. Everyone left for their homes in anger and confusion. Some of the disoriented devotees blamed the organizers for the fiasco. Many felt hurt and started criticizing the senior devotees who were responsible for Pramukh Swami’s schedule. As the day wore on, the negativity around the failed event amplified until it reached Pramukh Swami’s ear. But he was calm and composed.
Humble leaders serve others and build relations. They help to join and connect. The next day, Pramukh Swami was at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Islington for his daily puja. Afterwards, there was an assembly. Hundreds of devotees, many of them from the previous day’s event at Epping Forest, were present. Pramukh Swami started his discourse, “First and foremost I am sorry for what happened yesterday. It was entirely my fault. I had organized the house visits without realizing how much all of you had sacrificed to come out there. I planned the schedule, not the organizers or the senior devotees. It is not their fault. Please forgive me.” There was stunned silence. Pramukh Swami’s words carried immense power. They had a profound impact on people’s lives. Everyone resolved to forget their differences and move on. Humble leaders put others first. They take the blame, even if it is not their fault.
Swamishri’s Innate Humility
In Ahmedabad, in 1989, Justice B.J. Diwan, former Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, said, “Despite him being the president of BAPS, I have seen Swamishri perform menial tasks in Gondal. ‘I am the President of this organization. I cannot perform such ordinary tasks.’ This kind of pride does not exist even in the deepest corner of his heart. He does not have the slightest trace of ego. He sees God in all.”
Once, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a group of swamis asked Swamishri to write on a piece of paper, “I bless you.” Swamishri wrote the sentence. It was written correctly, but there was a distinct difference. All the letters were in upper case except ‘I’, which he wrote in lower case. One of the swamis pointed that out to him. Swamishri smiled and said, “I know. We should keep the ‘i’ small in our life.”
Shri Chidanand Saraswati, the president and spiritual head of the Parmarth Niketan Ashram based in Rishikesh, India, once said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj is always considerate, simple and humble. He leads a multinational organization yet is always relaxed. He remains stress-free because he has surrendered himself to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He continues to serve society with the aim to please God. He thinks nothing of himself. God works through him.”
Sadhu Jnanpurushdas
Swaminarayan Bliss | September — October 2023
