Two characteristics of extremism
Any extremist ideology is totalizing and demonizing. Totalizing means that it claims to have a total understanding of everything, that whatever it says is [...]
Two kinds of extremism
Extremism can be in thought and in action. Extremism in thought is often called as exclusivism: where people believe, for example, if they are religious, [...]
How NOT to respond to mistakes
Pondering our mistakes is helpful if the focus is on how we can learn, but pondering our mistakes can be harmful if the focus is [...]
Using Ability with Humility
Humility does not require us to deny or downplay our ability. It just requires that we don't let our ability overshadow our humanity or our [...]
Humility is a gaining of our intelligence
See humility not as a weakening or a losing of our ego. See it more as a strengthening and gaining of our intelligence. Whenever we [...]
Why humility is a vital ability
Humility is the ability to ensure that our ability doesn't take over our identity. When someone possesses an extraordinary ability, they can very easily become [...]
Curiosity & humility: an empowering combination
Curiosity is often recommended and even celebrated as a great virtue for those who wish to keep learning and growing in their lives. Curiosity ensures [...]
The price for becoming wise
When we have some questions, we may hesitate to ask them thinking that others may consider us foolish for having those questions. Such a fear [...]
Be not holier-than-thou
During a pandemic, suppose someone has succeeded in avoiding infection by adopting preventive measures such as vaccination. Suppose further that they become proud and deliberately [...]
When contemplating our mistakes helps and when it doesn’t …
Humility, which is lauded as a prime virtue in the Bhagavad-gita (13.08), is often misunderstood. One such misunderstanding centers on how it can be developed: [...]
Beyond pragmatic reasons for tolerance (Religious tolerance series 1)
Religious tolerance is a much discussed and desired value in today's world, especially among visionary leaders and reflective followers of the world's many living-faith traditions. [...]
Two stages in valuing knowledge (From ignorance to knowledge series 4)
Two stages in valuing knowledge - Suppose we have a map for finding our way through a complex terrain. That map will be a valuable [...]
The mysterious door to knowledge (From ignorance to knowledge series 2)
The mysterious door to knowledge - Suppose we see a majestic palace and notice a low door to enter into it. Intrigued, we bend ourselves, [...]
How humility is non-different from curiosity
Suppose we are driving for an important meeting but can’t find the venue. Even if we are driving a limo, we may not hesitate to [...]
Why champions of good causes are sometimes so intolerant (Thoughts on cancel culture)
Why champions of good causes are sometimes so intolerant - Suppose someone champions a good cause such as making society more equitable. Yet if anyone [...]
How to stop comparing and start contributing
When we interact with others, we often start comparing ourselves with them. We feel superior to them if our talents or achievements are greater than [...]
How humility protects us from the ego’s trident?
Our ego often acts like a trident that pierces us with three prongs: grandiosity, blame and shame. Grandiosity: When we set out to achieve something, [...]
War won, territory lost?
Suppose an army fought determinedly against an enemy and won the war — yet lost the disputed territory. How might that happen? Maybe another regiment [...]
Humility frees us from dependence on our own power and grants us access to God’s power
Some people think of humility as weakness, “If I am humble, people will walk all over me.” Such an understanding arises from a misunderstanding of [...]
Humility means to focus on how we can serve, not on what we deserve
In life, we frequently feel that we don’t get what we deserve. For example, we may work tirelessly on a project, yet our team may [...]
Those who are not humble often help us to become humble
Dealing with arrogant people can be annoying and draining. To view such people positively, we can see interactions with them as opportunities to become humble. [...]