$JES 203 First Step of Jainism Level 2 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 79

Ego/HUMILITY
5.2 Ego/Humility
According to Jain philosophy ego (Mäna) has no place in our lives. The Jain aphorism, “Parasparopagraho Jivänäm' means 'All life forms are interdependent for their existence'. The belief, 'I deliver a great speech therefore I am a great speaker', is an arrogant way of looking at things. Less importance should be given to I, ME, and MYSELF. In the Jain world view, as Satish Kumar has discussed in his discourses, the correct way of looking at this should be, 'You are the listener, which is why I am the speaker', 'I am because you are'. This type of thinking reflects humility and cooperation. It is a statement of friendship and love.
Pride of Austerity
Pride of Body Unity, peace and prosperity increase when we show humility towards all life forms. Popular sayings like “Pride comes before a fall”, “One who bows is liked by all”, show that ego and pride are vices appreciated by nobody. In contrast, humility is welcomed everywhere as a great virtue. Just as trees rich in fruits hang low to provide fruit to the passerby and monsoon clouds full of water come down towards earth as rain, we should develop a natural tendency for benevolence. Whatever great work we may accomplish will be undone if we are full of ego and pride about our achievements.
Humility is true respect towards all. Humility is a natural quality of the soul; with other virtues like knowledge, faith, contentment, forgiveness, etc. People often do not look at their own positive qualities and only look at their visible achievements. If we do not pay attention to this inner and natural quality we would be constantly nourishing its opposite quality in the form of ego and pride.
Did you know?
Humility is easily achieved if one stays away from the eight types of ego: • Pride of knowledge • Pride of worship • Pride of Family • Pride of Race • Pride of Power • Pride of Excellent Attainment
The antidote for Ego is Humility
THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM
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aineli