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Boston Meditation on humility VII

July 19th, 2001

Boston

Meditation on humility VII
“One should chant the holy name in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street and more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the name constantly.” (Siksastaka 3)

Many years ago, I was in Jagannatha Puri, on a solitary retreat and was chanting 64 rounds. During that time I realized that I had some envy for a devotee who I had been unconsciously viewing as a competitor and who had become successful. When those feelings arose, I decided to try to uproot them by chanting the first verse in the Siksastakam quoted above?trnad api sunicena?in between each round. I especially meditated on the phrase ?devoid of all sense of false prestige ready to offer all respects to others.? Especially while chanting that phrase, I began intentionally trying to change my attitude toward that devotee by consciously offering him respects. I distinctly remember receiving much mercy in terms of attraction for the holy name.

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