Bowing: A Hindu View of Divinity All-Pervasive—Part 3

Bowing: A Hindu View of Divinity All-Pervasive—Part 3

Bowing in the Hindu tradition

Hindus have evolved a great spiritual and cultural trait of bowing before teachers, elders and other reverential persons. This bowing can be seen in many of the Asian countries. In fact, all traditional or indigenous cultures bow. It is a mark of respect and flows from humility. In it there is the recognition of a natural hierarchy. We show respect for age, nobility, divinity, spiritual accomplishment, learning and so on. This recognition of a hierarchy in no way compromises the Hindu view of the oneness of the universe.

National Development and Humility

There can be no national development or progress unless there is the integrated development of the human resource of the country. The Rishis, quite early, discovered the pivotal role that humility plays in this integrated development of human beings. Development is not simply about increasing wealth. A fool and his money are soon parted; the old adage goes. Development first and foremost means the embellishing of the personality of each individual of the nation/world with the universal values of humility, charity, caring, patriotism, fairness, integrity of character, balanced education and a universal outlook.

Are we not a generation cowering under the weight of our social selfishness and dearth of integrity? A nation beset with corruption and selfishness can never have true development or evolution. Ravaging nature and building tall concrete structures is no development if those who are charged with managing the nation’s resources steal half of it by cutting deals because of privileged position and information.

One person went so far as to try to justify such actions. He said that money so acquired cannot be eaten by those who swindle the nation, so it goes back into the economy and creates jobs etc. These types of arguments have implicit weaknesses built into them. One is saying that it is okay if I swindle as long as I create jobs. If someone fraudulently swindles his money however, the story is different—double standards set in. I immediately condemn the action which he only moments before tried to justify. Inherently one knows stealing is wrong. We cannot build a nation on wrong footing and double standards trying to justify stealing when it is not “my” stuff stolen.

True development starts with stamping out these negative qualities and imbibing fundamental values, the first of which is humility. Sakala-guṇa-bhūṣaṇaṃ ca vinayaḥ says the humility embellishes all the great qualities. Another scripture says guṇa‑prakāraṣaḥ vinayād‑avāpyate all noble qualities are enhanced with humility. (Subhasita-ratna-bhandagara).  Tulsidas, in a very famous verse in Ramayana says that arrogance is one of four doors to narak or hell. (Ramcharitmanas 5.38) Humility is the antidote to this arrogance. Anger takes one to trouble and arrogance keeps him there it is said. Whether it is in the corporate world, family life, political or diplomatic arena, humility wins the day. Arrogance has brought enough irreversible damage and untold sorrow to the world.

Perhaps the greatest example of arrogance bringing down a nation is Ravan’s arrogance which brought down Lanka. Humility was not one of Ravan’s qualities. Through hard work he had built a mighty and seemingly formidable nation. However, the inherent weakness of arrogance stealthily existed at its foundation. He could never conceive of himself bowing to Rama even though exhorted to do so by his wife, brother, minister, uncle, maternal grandfather and others.

 To be continued…

 Source: Feature address delivered by Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji at Varsha Pratipada Sansad, 2012

Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji is a direct disciple of world renowned Swami Chinmayanandaji. He is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana with responsibility for the Chinmaya Mission’s works across the Caribbean and Latin America.