Editing Humility (section)

===Eastern===

====Buddhism====
{{see also|Anatta}}

Buddhism is a religion of "self"-examination.<ref name="Tachibana 1992"/> The natural aim of the Buddhist life is the state of [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]], gradually cultivated through meditation and other spiritual practices. Humility, in this context, is a characteristic that is both an essential part of the spiritual practice, and a result of it.{{r|Tachibana 1992|pages=180, 183}} As a quality to be developed, it is deeply connected with the practice of Four Abodes ([[Brahmavihara]]): love-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity.{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}} As a result of the practice, this cultivated humility is expanded by the wisdom acquired by the experience of ultimate emptiness ({{transliteration|sa|[[śūnyatā]]}}) and non-self ({{transliteration|pi|[[anatta]]}}).{{r|Tachibana 1992|page=181}} Humility, compassion, and wisdom are intrinsic parts of the state of enlightenment.{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}} On the other hand, not being humble is an obstacle on the path of enlightenment which needs to be overcome.{{r|Tachibana 1992|page=180}} In the [[Tipitaka]] (the Buddhist scriptures), criticizing others and praising oneself is considered a vice; but criticizing oneself and praising others is considered a virtue.<ref name="Tachibana 1992">{{cite book | last = Tachibana |first =Shundō | title= The ethics of Buddhism |year=1992|publisher=Curzon Press|location=Richmond, Surrey|isbn=0-7007-0230-X| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BRWyqi2K4WUC}}</ref>{{rp|178}} Attachment to the self, apart from being a vice in itself, also leads to other evil states that create suffering.{{r|Tachibana 1992|page=182}}

In the Tipitaka, in the widely known ''[[Mangala Sutta]]'', humility ({{transliteration|pi|nivato}}, literally: "without air") is mentioned as one of the thirty-eight blessings in life.<ref>{{cite book|translator-last=Ñāṇamoli|translator-first=Bhikkhu|translator-link=Nanamoli Bhikkhu|title=The Minor Readings and The Illustrator of Ultimate Meaning|year=1960|publisher=[[Pali Text Society]]|location=London|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2FCToAEACAAJ}}</ref> In the [[Pāli Canon]], examples of humility include the monk [[Sariputta|Sariputta Thera]], a leading disciple of the Buddha, and [[Hatthaka of Alavi|Hatthaka]], a leading lay disciple. In later Pali texts and [[Atthakatha|Commentaries]], Sariputta Thera is depicted as a forgiving person, who is quick to apologize and accepting of criticism. In the {{transliteration|pi|[[suttas]]}} (discourses of the Buddha) Hatthaka was praised by the Buddha when he was unwilling to let other people know his good qualities.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Malalasekera|author-link= G P Malalasekera|first1=G.P.|title=Dictionary of Pāli proper names|volume=2|year=2007|orig-date=1937|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass Publishers]]|location=Delhi|isbn=978-81-208-3022-6|edition=1st Indian|url=http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/dic_idx.html}}</ref>

{{Quote box|quote=Once, the Buddha mentioned to some monks that his lay disciple Hatthaka had seven wonderful and marvellous qualities; these being faith, virtue, propriety, self-respect, learning, generosity and wisdom. Later, when Hatthaka learned how the Buddha had praised him he commented: 'I hope there were no laypeople around at the time'. When this comment was reported back to the Buddha, he remarked: "Good! Very good! He is genuinely modest and does not want his good qualities to be known to others. So you can truly say that Hatthaka is adorned with this eighth wonderful and marvellous quality 'modesty'." {{clarify|text=(A.IV,218)|reason=what does this parenthetical mean?|date=August 2023}}<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web|url=https://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=269|website=Guide to Buddhism A To Z|title=Modesty|access-date=9 April 2022}}
|2={{cite web|url=https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN8_23.html|title=About Hatthaka |work= Hatthaka Sutta|at=AN 8:23|access-date=9 April 2022}}
}}</ref>|align=right|width=30%}}

In [[Buddhist practice]], humility is practiced in a variety of ways. Japanese [[Soto Zen]] monks bow and chant in honor of their robes before they don them. This serves to remind them of the connection of the monk's robes with enlightenment. Buddhist monks in all traditions are dependent on the generosity of laypeople, through whom they receive their necessities. This in itself is a practice of humility.{{r|Tachibana 1992|page=178}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Tanabe|first1=Willa Jane|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Buddhism|title=Robes and clothing|editor1-last=Buswell|editor1-first=Robert E.|year=2004|publisher=[[Thomson Gale|Macmillan Reference USA, Thomson Gale]]|location=New York [u.a.]|isbn=0-02-865720-9|page=732}}</ref>

====Hinduism====
In Sanskrit literature, the virtue of humility is explained with many terms, some of which use the root word, {{lang|sa|नति}} ({{transliteration|sa|neti}}).<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web| url = http://www.spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=humility+&trans=Translate&direction=AU  | language = sa | title = Humility | work =  English-Sanskrit Dictionary | location = Germany | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032532/http://www.spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=humility+&trans=Translate&direction=AU | archive-date=2016-03-04}}
|2={{cite web| url = https://sanskrit.inria.fr/MW/132.html | work = Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary | title = नति [nati] | location = France}}
}}</ref> {{langx|sa|नति}} comes from {{langx|sa|न ति|translation=No "Me" / I am not}}. Related words include {{lang|sa|विनति}} ({{transliteration|sa|viniti}}), {{lang|sa|संनति}} ({{transliteration|sa|samniti}}, humility towards), and the concept {{transliteration|sa|amanitvam}}, listed as the first virtue in the [[Bhagwad Gita|Bhagavad Gita]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-13-06.html|title=Bhagwad Gita 13.8–12}} See transliteration, and two commentaries.</ref> {{transliteration|sa|Amanitvam}} is a fusion word for "pridelessness" and the virtue of "humility".<ref>{{cite book | title = Hindu spirituality: Postclassical and modern | year = 2003 | editor-first1 = K. R. |editor-last1=Sundararajan | editor-first2 = Bithika |editor-last2=Mukerji |isbn = 978-81-208-1937-5 | pages = 403–405| publisher = Motilal Banarsidass Publ. }}</ref> Another related concept is {{transliteration|sa|namrata}} ({{lang|sa|नम्रता}}), which means ''modest and humble behavior''.

Different scholars have varying interpretations of {{transliteration|sa|amanitvam}}, humility, as a virtue in the Bhagavad Gita.<ref>{{cite journal | journal = Journal of Religious Ethics | volume =  34 | issue = 3 |pages = 373–395 | last = Gupta | first =  B. | title = Bhagavad Gitā as Duty and Virtue Ethics | year = 2006| doi = 10.1111/j.1467-9795.2006.00274.x }}</ref> For example, [[A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada|Prabhupada]] explains humility to mean one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction of being honored by others.<ref>{{cite book | title = Bhagavad Gita As It Is | year=1968 | author = A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada}}</ref> The material conception of life makes us very eager to receive honor from others, but from the point of view of a man in perfect knowledge—who knows that he is not this body—anything—honor or dishonor—pertaining to this body is useless.

Tanya Jopson explains {{transliteration|sa|amanitvam}}, humility, as lack of arrogance and pride, and one of twenty-six virtues in a human being that if perfected, leads one to a divine state of living and the ultimate truth.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite book | title = Human Energy-Body Awareness: How Our Energy Body & Vibrational Frequency Create Our Everyday Life | first = Tanya | last = Jopson | date = 2011 | publisher = Tanya Jopson |isbn = 978-1-4663-3341-3 | quote = see Divine Qualities under Glossary}}
|2={{cite book | chapter = Epistemology and Ontology of Indian Psychology | title = Spirituality and Indian Psychology | pages =  163–184 | publisher = Springer | location = New York | last = Bhawuk | first =  D.P. | year = 2011}}
}}</ref>

[[Eknath Easwaran]] writes that the Gita's subject is "the war within, the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious",<ref>{{cite book | title = The Bhagavad Gita | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-1-58638-019-9 | translator-first = Eknath | translator-last = Easwaran | page = 15 | last1 = Easwaran | first1 = Eknath | publisher = Nilgiri Press }}</ref> and "The language of battle is often found in the scriptures, for it conveys the strenuous, long, drawn-out campaign we must wage to free ourselves from the tyranny of the ego, the cause of all our suffering and sorrow".<ref>{{cite book | title = The End of Sorrow: The Bahagavad Gita for Daily Living | volume = 1 | year = 1993 | isbn = 978-0-915132-17-1 | first = Eknath | last = Easwaran | page = [https://archive.org/details/endofsorrow00easw/page/24 24] | publisher = Nilgiri Press | url = https://archive.org/details/endofsorrow00easw }}</ref> To get in touch with your true self, whether you call that [[God]], [[Brahman]], etc., you have to let go of the ego. The [[Sanskrit]] word {{transliteration|sa|[[Ahamkara]]}} literally translates into The-sound-of-I, or quite simply the sense of the self or ego.

[[Mahatma Gandhi]] interprets the concept of ''humility'' in Hinduism much more broadly, where humility is an essential virtue that must exist in a person for other virtues to emerge. To Mahatma Gandhi, Truth can be cultivated, as well as Love, but Humility cannot be cultivated. Humility has to be one of the starting points. He states, "Humility cannot be an observance by itself. For it does not lend itself to being practiced. It is however an indispensable test of [[ahimsa]] (non-violence)." Humility must not be confused with mere manners; a man may prostrate himself before another, but if his heart is full of bitterness for the other, it is not humility. Sincere humility is how one feels inside, it's a state of mind. A humble person is not himself conscious of his humility, says Gandhi.<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite web| url= https://www.mkgandhi.org/swmgandhi/chap02.htm  | title = Humility |work=The Gita and Satyagraha: The Philosophy of Non-violence and The Doctrine of the Sword | author = Mahatma Gandhi}}
|2={{cite book | first = Stephen S. |last=Hall | title = Wisdom | year = 2010 |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf | isbn = 978-0-307-26910-2 |at = Chapter 8}}
}}</ref>

[[Swami Vivekananda]], a 19th century scholar of Hinduism, argues that the concept of humility does not mean "crawling on all fours and calling oneself a sinner". In Vivekananda's Hinduism, each human being the Universal, recognizing and feeling oneness with everyone and everything else in the universe, without inferiority or superiority or any other bias, is the mark of humility.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Complete Works of the Swami Vivekananda | volume = 1  | year = 1915 | page = 343 | author = Swami Vivekananda }}</ref> To [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|Dr. S Radhakrishnan]], humility in Hinduism is the non-judgmental state of mind when we are best able to learn, contemplate and understand everyone and everything else.<ref>{{cite book | title = Contemporary Indian Philosophy | year = 1936 | publisher = Allen & Sons | location = London | last1 = Radhakrishnan |first1=S.|last2= Muirhead |first2=J.H.}}</ref>

====Sikhism====
{{Quote box|quote=*Make contentment your ear-rings, humility your begging bowl, and meditation the ashes you apply to your body.
* Listening and believing with love and humility in your mind.
* In the realm of humility, the Word is Beauty.
* Modesty, humility and intuitive understanding are my mother-in-law and father-in-law. |source=Sayings of Guru Granth Sahib, [[Guru Nanak]], First Guru Of Sikhism{{cn|date=August 2023}}| align=right|width=30%}}

{{Verse translation|lang=pa-Latn|Neecha Andar Neech Jaat Neechi Hu At Neech Nanak Tin Kai Sang Saath Vadian Sio Kia Rees.|Nanak is the companion of the lowest of the low and of the condemned lot. He has nothing in common with the high born|attr1=[[Sri Guru Granth Sahib]]{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}}}

Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj said about [[Guru Nanak]] that {{transliteration|pa|Garibi, Nimrata,}} Humility is the Divine Flavour, the most wonderful fragrance of the Lotus Feet of Lord Guru Nanak.<ref name="sggs1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.babanandsinghji.org/rosary/fragrance.htm|work=Rosary of Divine Wisdom |title=Fragrance of The Holy Feet of Guru Nanak|access-date=2017-01-01}}</ref> There is no place for Ego (referred to in Sikhism as {{transliteration|pa|Haumain}}) in the sphere of Divine Love, in the sphere of true {{transliteration|pa|Prema Bhagti}}. That is why in the House of Guru Nanak one finds {{transliteration|pa|Garibi, Nimrata,}} Humility reigning supreme. Guru Nanak was an Incarnation of Divine Love and a Prophet of True Humility.{{fact or opinion|date=August 2023}}

According to Sikhism, all people equally have to bow before God so there ought to be no hierarchies among or between people. According to Nanak the supreme purpose of human life is to reconnect with {{transliteration|pa|Akal}} (The Timeless One), however, egotism is the biggest barrier in doing this. Using the guru's teaching remembrance of {{transliteration|pa|[[Nām Japō|nām]]}} (the divine Word)<ref name="NaamSimran">{{cite book | title=Paths to The Divine: Ancient and Indian: 12 | publisher=Council for Research in Values & | author=McLean, George | year= 2008 |isbn=978-1-56518-248-6 | page=599}}</ref> leads to the end of egotism. The immediate fruit of humility is intuitive peace and pleasure. With humility {{clarify|text=they|reason=who?|date=August 2023}} continue to meditate on the Lord, the treasure of excellence. The God-conscious being is steeped in humility. One whose heart is mercifully blessed with abiding humility.{{fragment|date=August 2023}} Sikhism treats humility as a begging bowl before the god.

Sikhs extend this belief in equality, and thus humility, towards all faith:  "all religious traditions are equally valid and capable of enlightening their followers".<ref>{{cite book |title= Sikhism|last= Singh Kalsi|first= Sewa|year= 2007|publisher= Bravo Ltd.|location= London|isbn= 978-1-85733-436-4|page= 24}}</ref> In addition to [[Vaṇḍ Chakkō|sharing]] with others Guru Nanak inspired people to earn an honest living without exploitation and also to [[Naam Japna|remember]] the divine name (God). Guru Nanak described living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control, and purity" as being higher than a purely contemplative life.{{relevance inline|date=August 2023}}<ref name="Marwha">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ROtEr_QdB3sC | title=Colors of Truth, Religion Self and Emotions | publisher=Concept Publishing Company | last=Marwha|first= Sonali Bhatt | year=2006 | location=New Delhi | page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ROtEr_QdB3sC&pg=PA205 205] | isbn=81-8069-268-X}}</ref>

[[Nand Singh (saint)|Baba Nand Singh Sahib]] is renowned as the most humble Sikh Saint in the history of Sikhism. One time the disciples of [[Harnam Singh (saint)|Baba Harnam Singh Ji]], the spiritual preceptor of Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj asked him how much power He had transmitted to Baba Nand Singh Ji Maharaj to which he replied:<ref name="sggs2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.babanandsinghji.org/lord-of-life-and-death/index.htm|title=Repository of Infinite Divine Powers|website=babanandsinghsahib.org|access-date=2017-01-01}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text="Rikhi Nand Singh holds in His hand Infinite Divine Powers. By just opening His fist He can create as many such-like universes as He likes and by closing the same fist can withdraw all those universes unto Himself.<p>"But the whole beauty is that being the supreme Repository of all the Infinite Divine Powers, He claims to be nothing and is so humble."</p>|sign=Baba Harnam Singh Ji Maharaj}}

{{Blockquote|text=He who is the Highest is the Lowest. Highest in the Lowest is the Real Highest.|sign=Baba Narinder Singh Ji}}

====Meher Baba====
The spiritual teacher [[Meher Baba]] held that humility is one of the foundations of devotional life: "Upon the altar of humility we must offer our prayers to God."<ref>{{cite book| author-link = Meher Baba |last = Baba | first = Meher | year = 1967 | title = Discourses | volume  = 3 | location = San Francisco | publisher= Sufism Reoriented| page = 129 |isbn = 978-1-880619-09-4}}</ref>  Baba also described the power of humility to overcome hostility: "True humility is strength, not weakness. It disarms antagonism and ultimately conquers it."<ref>{{cite book| author-link = Meher Baba |last = Baba | first = Meher | year = 1957| title = Life at Its Best  | location = San Francisco | publisher= Sufism Reoriented| pages = 25–26|isbn = 978-0-525-47434-0}}</ref> Finally, Baba emphasized the importance of being humble when serving others: "One of the most difficult things to learn is to render service without bossing, without making a fuss about it and without any consciousness of high and low. In the world of spirituality, humility counts at least as much as utility."<ref>{{cite book| author-link = Meher Baba |last = Baba | first = Meher | year = 1933 | title = The Sayings of Shri Meher Baba  | location = London | publisher= The Circle Editorial Committee | pages = 11–12 }}</ref>

====Taoism====
{{Quote box|quote=Here are my three treasures.<br />
Guard and keep them! <br />
The first is pity; the second, frugality; the third, refusal to be "foremost of all things under heaven". <br />
For only he that pities is truly able to be brave; <br />
Only he that is frugal is able to be profuse. <br />
Only he that refuses to be foremost of all things <br />
Is truly able to become chief of all Ministers. <br />
At present your bravery is not based on pity, nor your profusion on frugality, nor your vanguard on your rear; and this is death. |source= [[Tao Te Ching]]<ref>{{cite book| title = {{lang|zh|[[Tao Te Ching|道德經]]}} | trans-title = {{transliteration|zh|Tao Te Ching}} | author = Lao Tzu | author-link = Laozi | translator-link = Arthur Waley|translator-first=Arthur|translator-last=Waley | year = 1958 | page = 225}}</ref>| align=right|width=25%}}

Humility, in Taoism, is defined as a refusal to assert authority or a refusal to be first in anything. The act of daring, in itself, is a refusal of wisdom and a rush to enjoin circumstances before you are ready. Along with [[compassion]] and [[frugality]], humility is one of the [[Three Treasures (Taoism)|three treasures]] (virtues) in the possession of those who follow the [[Tao]].<ref name="Lao Tzu 1997"/>

The treasure of humility, in Chinese is a six-character phrase instead of a single word: {{lang-zh|t = 不敢為天下先|hp= Bugan wei tianxia xian}} "not dare to be first/ahead in the world".<ref name="Lao Tzu 1997">{{cite book| title = {{lang|zh|[[Tao Te Ching|道德經]]}} | trans-title = {{transliteration|zh|Tao Te Ching}} |  author = Lao Tzu |  author-link = Laozi | editor-first = Jane |editor-last=English | translator-first = Gia-Fu |translator-last=Feng | year = 1997 | publisher = Vintage Books | isbn = 978-0-679-77619-2}}</ref> Ellen Chen notes<ref name="Chen">{{cite book| title = The Te Tao Ching: A New Translation with Commentary | author = Lao Tzu | author-link = Laozi | editor-first = Ellen M. |editor-last=Chen | year = 1989| publisher = Paragon House | isbn = 978-0-679-77619-2 | page = 209}}</ref> that:
<blockquote>The third treasure, daring not be at the world's front, is the Taoist way to avoid premature death. To be at the world's front is to expose oneself, to render oneself vulnerable to the world's destructive forces, while to remain behind and to be humble is to allow oneself time to fully ripen and bear fruit. This is a treasure whose secret spring is the fear of losing one's life before one's time. This fear of death, out of a love for life, is indeed the key to Taoist wisdom.<ref name="Chen" /> </blockquote>

Furthermore, also according to the [[Tao Te Ching]] a wise person acts without claiming the results as his. He achieves his merit and does not rest (arrogantly) in it. He does not wish to display his superiority.{{r|Lao Tzu 1997|at=77.4}}