Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

Page 88

HUMILITY
power by which one can stick to one's activity till one is victorious. If one becomes arrogant due to one or more of these abilities, then this is known as the pride of power. 6. Pride of Excellent Attainment :
When a person attains a superhuman achievements like far-seeing, far-hearing, flying in the sky, walking on the water and so on, through self control or other means; and if one becomes proud of these, then it is called the pride of excellent attainments. 7. Pride of Austerity :
While practicing various types of penances such as fasting, reciting prayers, meditation, and abandonment of taste (Rasa), if one starts feeling that he is an unparalleled Tapasvi and experiences a sense of loftiness in his heart, it is pride of ausierity. 8. Pride of Body :
When various parts of the body such as the eyes, ears, nose, chin, chest and so on are quite handsome or beautiful and well-proportioned, and the elegance of the body is eye catching; it with this beauty of the body, one becomes proud, then this is the pride of the body.
This eightfold pride disturbs the spiritual progress (Sadhana) of the aspirant. One should therefore know fully this eight fold pride, abandon it in daily routine of life and resort to humility. If this is accomplished appropriately, humility as a virtue will reveal itself in a short time.
REWARD OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMILITY
All great human beings have developed the virtue of humility and have sung its eulogy. Unity, peace and prosperity grow when we show by our behavior, humility towards our parents and elders, pious persons, teachers and professors, learned people and scholars, monks, Acharyas, and others.
Many popular sayings such as "Pride is the source of sin," "One who bows is liked by all," and "The pride of even king Ravana went to dust," prove that Indian culture has looked down upon pride as a vice while humility is accepted everywhere as a great virtue.
As the Sadhaka progresses in his spiritual life (Sadhana),
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