Cultivate humility to move from communication to communion

The first step is to identify our enemies, so that we recognise them before they affect us too much. Now, how do we identify our friends? What are the good things that support purity and make it more intense? Love is number one, then patience, tolerance, acceptance, faith, discipline… we have a long list of friends.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna mentions the great qualities we must have in order to tackle the struggles of life. He uses an analogy: Life is like being protected inside a palace in which we live. Imagine that the palace is protected by a wall, with one noble quality protecting each gate of that wall. It is the back gate that is the most vulnerable in a palace, as nobody pays attention to it, and that is the gate of humility, which generally remains unseen because it is so small. It doesn’t call for our attention. It is the place from which most enemies attack, the most unexpected place. Lord Krishna says that this gate must always be protected by humility. If we do not have humility, all the other gates are vulnerable.

In fact, if we have the qualities of humility and simplicity, we can consider that we have everything; there is nothing more we need. With humility and heart, there is not only unspoken respect but also nobility. Nobility radiates when we walk or talk, and even when we are not doing anything. There is immense courtesy and civility in conversation. We strive for proper communication, and go further into a state of communion: from communication to communion. It is only when we break the wall of greatness and submit ourselves as humble and insignificant beings, subduing our behavioural complexities and ego, that life will be truly enjoyable. And for that we need to cultivate an attitude of surrendering.

Now, who wants to surrender willingly? That is where the ego creates problems. But that is also where we can pamper the ego and make use of its qualities: ‘I will excel in this art of surrender.’ In this, the ego will help, and then we slowly say goodbye to it. Actually, there is nothing wrong in thinking ourselves to be great as long as we always think the other person is greater.