Prostrations: Cultivating Humility
June 8, 2009someone once suggested that i might be arrogant. i informed them that total confidence in one’s own greatness does NOT make one arrogant. i should have just remained silent. that person wasn’t even on my same level to even have that conversation.
*shrugs*
yeah, it’s probably my ugliest trait. and it’s one that i’ve never really cared to work on. it’s not the whole of my character, but it’s a trait that i have often used as a crutch over the years. it helped when i use to run the streets, and it was helpful when i did college policy debate.
but now,
nothing is more beautiful to me than simple joy, compassion, and humility. i find myself a little envious of those for whom it comes easy.
i want to be a better servant. i want to be more gentle and patient. i want to withhold more criticism than i offer, and i want to offer more encouragement and uplift than i withhold.
to aid in cleansing my being so that i might be of greater service to others, i now commit to daily prayer and prostrations. something i have never really done, except for a short time with i was a kid and a christian. it feels so cleansing.
i even have a small cushion for my knees. 
i’m quite happy with my devotional practice; more than anything, i’m just happy to HAVE a devotional practice!
and prayer flags are beautiful.
oh, while i’m at it,
here’s a picture of the back yard from the balcony. i’m going to create an herb garden, maybe even a small vegetable garden. and the rest of the area will be covered in white clover. unless, of course, someone comes up with an amazing landscape design.
a zen garden comes to mind.
YOUR PLACE IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!! IT IS YELLOW AND HAS PRAYER FLAGS AND CANDLES AND WOOD FLOORS AND THE STATUE!!! And lovely trees outside. And you inside. Amazing.
Thank you for having the courage to work for humility. I haven’t even seen you and I already know that your face is shining. Just remember to be grateful when the universe answers your noble prayers. There’s a word for the process by which we gain humility: “humiliation.”
I love you.
Thank you for everything.
–katie
That’s awesome and beautiful.
Arrogance is often misunderstood as an entirely negative trait. Me and the other men in my family are duly arrogant without regret. Arrogance, however, also does not have to negate a practice of humility. Don’t suppress your inner self. Bask and bathe in it and smile at yourself and the world around you. We are all God’s children whoever we are.