Humility

[Tony]

Humility.

Finding a teacher is easy. Finding your teacher is not easy. I am not a teacher. I have found my teacher. If I want to learn, I have to ask politely. I have to learn how to ask questions. It is a meeting of minds, not a battle. One has to lose one's pride, and listen.

Having humility is not for the teachers benefit. It is for your benefit as your mind and heart are open. Of course, if you are the sort of person who thinks this is will allow control of your mind, you are totally mistaken and should continue on your own way.

People are getting information from all over the place and mixing it all up. They will only end up confused and angry. Well-trodden paths are there, ready for you with their varying levels and methods, to help you. This forum is just a taster for the various spiritual journeys. Make the most of asking question, but nicely. It is not “all one”. The Buddha and Christ still have their individual approaches and identities.

I once speaking with a lama in Nepal, who said he was tired of the bull**** from westerners. I was quite shocked! We are very arrogant. We think we can just shout and expect a reply. A teacher values the teachings, and will not devalue them for your entertainment. I asked another lama, “Who told them about the golden roof?” (the highest teachings) He shrugged, and just looked at me.

If you insist on being upset, then you are not ready for spiritual practice. There are those who would like to know more, but maybe cannot deal with disruptive people: there is nothing wrong with being sensitive. Being sentient, we all have emotions, and to say otherwise is a fantasy. The spiritual journey is really tough. A teacher has to see if you are fit enough, or there could be problems ahead.

At one level, the teacher is a spiritual friend. At another level, the teacher is a warrior.

Humility and devotion go hand in hand, and this is not easy for a westerners. I also had a problem with this, but it changed my life once I looked more closely.

Remember there are different levels, but this does not mean one is better. It just means more suitable for the individual. However the answers may be slightly different to address that mind.

I do wish you all the very best.
Do not waste your time - it is precious.

Tony

[Tarka the Duck]

In the west, it seems we are all programmed to be 'an individual' with all that that entails. Humility is regarded as an old-fashioned, outdated idea: we are always being told to promote ourselves. We are expected to have opinions about everything!
In the (old) east, people seem to be more content just to be part of a whole - there is less of an insatiable hunger to be seen and heard and recognised.

[greybeard]

Enormous Power comes from humility.
The lower self gets out of the way and Higher Self takes over.
The whole working premise and success of AA comes from surrendering to "A power greater than one self."
Nobody ever got sober and stayed sober without that Higher Power.
Personal will power is not enough.

Im speakingfrom personal expeience.

I have seen people desperate to get sober attend AA then loose humility and think they could remain sober or drink occasionally,
The end result was unfortunately predictable, they left AA, more misery, some made it back to AA and became happy sober individuals.
I attended many funerals of those who did not "get it"

Every true spiritual teaching will promote, surrender to the will of God, devotion, love, and humility.
The devotion is to the search for Truth and the One Creator which I call God--- respect for the teacher but there is the understanding that the teaching comes through the teacher.
If you look at Nelson Mandela or Gandhi you will see tremendous strength courage and humility.
They know where the True Power resides.

Chris

[Lord Sidious]

Well spoken pinealnugget and beardonugget. :p

[Tony]

To solve a problem one needs something more powerful than the problem. If I use my own power it sort of solves a problem, I make a little progress, but on the chart I see that I am going round in circles. I know there are beings much further developed then I am. Here has to be! So supplicating to them, sort of turns on the transmitter - and receiver! Something very strange happens, which I cannot explain. It is sometimes overwhelming. I know we are not alone. It's like instead of 'I am', it's just 'am'.

Of course it could be just psychological, but then may be everything is psychological! I sort of know that something loves us to bits, but cannot say so. Perhaps it is saying so all the time and we are not listening. Humility is letting go, letting be. I suppose one could use the word renunciation. Being utterly generous with one another could be a start.


Tony

[Tony]

In the normal run of things, getting involved in life and with others is fun. But there can come a point where becomes destructive. When we react to a situation...(you are not going to like this)...it is saying more about you than the situation.

This happens to me all the time! It is part of learning and evolving, and if we can find the fun in that process, then everything has a touch of humour about it.

Of course we are going to get it wrong most of the time. WE ARE ONLY HUMAN! To get it wrong once is fine, twice ..ok, the third time it has become a habit. Then it to starts become a personality trait.

I am talking (as if ) from the highest point of view. Forgiving others does not mean you accept their behaviour: it means you let go of them controlling your mind. The side effect is that it will give the other space to review their pattern of behaviour.

Avalon is quite unique, and the atmosphere is created by the members. The knowledge hidden here is also unique. I know this for a fact!

The dynamics will change because of new members, which is positive. Put everything under the microscope and ask yourself, "What is that...really?"
Don't just go for superficial answers....remember Occam's razor! Keep paring away, to find the underlying answer... until you find the simplest answer.


Tony

[Mad Hatter]

I am not a teacher.

Sorry mate...but that is complete BS...you and I both know that the only person who will ever teach you anything is you!! ;)

I know it's semantics but if you had said guide instead of teacher that would be different...:p

With me as the real teacher and you as the guide I (and I am sure plenty of others) have and continue to learn much and I(we) thank you for that.

True moments of humility for me are almost always associated with a bright red face as I learn yet again how much my own ego has been getting in the way of real understanding.

Of course it(ego) then proceeds to pick itself up waddle into the new paradigm and says "huh, I knew that all along"... :cool:

Thus I sometimes wonder if real humility is teaching the ego to keep it's trap shut!!

cheers

[greybeard]

Eventually the advice is to throw away the books-- the respect for the guiding wisdom of the teacher remains.
Humility leaves the door open for a new guide or teacher but that may not be necessary.
As the saying goes--- When the student is ready the teacher appears.

Chris