We all know that courtesy costs little but begets a lot. But courtesy is not humility. It can at best be a milder form of humility in certain cases.
This is because courtesy does not reflect one’s inner feelings but is just a facade to show one's tolerance to someone for some time.
On the other hand, humility is a positive quality that is permanently etched in one's nature and is, therefore, far superior to being courteous.
As the great Chanakya put it ‘a truly learned man is always humble and bows down like a fruit bearing tree.’
However, it is easier said than done. Achieving humility is not as easy as it seems. Ego is a highly deterring factor to practise humility. Age, power, wealth and ignorance all are contributing factors denying a person to imbibe the virtue of humility.
While ego can create numerous problems for a man, humility does the opposite. It can vanish away enmity within no time and create true friends.
However, as already pointed out, it is not easy to achieve such qualities, since even highly learned men at times do the opposite.
In this regard, a story from our ancient civilization is worth remembering. This is the story of our two great rishis Vashistha and Viswamitra.
As some of you may know, in his early life Viswamitra was a very powerful king. Once while returning exhausted from an expedition along with his army, he came across an ashram on the way and expressed his desire for rest and food. Within no time he and his men were served with delicious food and they took their rest. However, the king was curious to know how the ashram people were able to provide such nice meal to a large number of people and that too at short notice? So, before leaving the ashram he came to know on enquiry to the effect that this was possible due to the celestial cow Nandini (a Kamadhenu) who possessed miraculous powers and could produce any amount of food immediately for the asking. Being the king of the land he desired to take Nandini with him. As the king it was his prerogative to lay claim on anything he liked. He also added that if taken under his custody Kamdhenu would serve more useful purpose.
The ashramites, however, did not agree to his proposal and the king threatened to apply force. In the conflict that ensued, the king was squarely defeated by the sage’s son through his yogic powers. The King realized the limitations of physical power and thus renounced kingship, went to the forests and emersed in tapasya.
Being a highly resolute person, he gained immense yogic powers; so much so that at one time he could even challenge the authority of Lord Brhma to create an alternate universe. Of course, that is a different story altogether.
Thus empowered, he came before Vashistha (whose son had defeated him earlier) who welcomed him with the address as “Maharshi" only.
Viswamitra felt humiliated and demanded that he be addressed as “Brahmarshi” only. He even threatened Vashistha with dire consequences if he did not do so. But Vashistha was unmoved and pronounced that he would never accept him as a Brahmarshi because according to him he was still not one.
Viswamitra had to go away and worshipped Mahadeva. He pleased him and could master the art of using all sorts of weapons in the world. Again he came to Vashistha and repeated his demand. Again the later refused. So Viswamitra fired all sorts of deadly weapons to kill Vashistha. But the great sage deflected all his weapons with Brahmadanda.
Being defeated again Viswamitra's pride was gone. Now accepting defeat he requested Vashistha to tell the reason of his denial to accept him as a Brahmarshi. At this point, Vashistha told him that now he had become a "Brahmarshi”.
Being a wise man he realised his mistake. He had achieved all divine power through penance but he didn't give up his anger and, therefore, was not humble. That's why Humility can be termed as the best among all virtues.
