The Cure for Arrogance is Humility

I am struck today by the arrogance of people who believe themselves to be above others. They take no thought of the consequences of their actions or of the words they use. Their own desires are more important as they barrel straight ahead through people, places and things - even against what small glimmering of real conscience may exist in them. Their own desires are paramount and everything else is to them - just a game. What creates arrogance? When I look closely at arrogant people I see poorly trained, mistreated, unloved, neglected or spoiled children greedily grabbing the next shiny thing thinking it will satisfy. They leave behind trails of discarded, used up, soiled and broken things. In some cases those 'things' are people whose lives have been damaged by the arrogant person's mindless and careless misuse.

In the work, during your early years you are reminded often, not to discuss your work with those who are not in the work, or with your peers because your own fledgling interpretations may mislead and even kill any chances others have of studying the ideas correctly. I've seen this happen repeatedly through the years when individuals who have not reached the level of wisdom necessary to transmit the ideas ignore this suggestion and continue to "wiseacre" about the ideas to others. Being aware of and knowing the level of arrogance an individual must have to continue to do so breaks his or her teachers hearts and diminishes the work of everyone - especially that of the group. There is a reason for honesty and sincerity in the work.

Are you arrogant? This is a good question to ask yourself and investigate from an experiential point of view from time to time. Are you being honest and sincere in your intentions, motives and behavior?

"The cure for arrogance is humility." -- LaloBean

"Arrogance diminishes wisdom." - a Middle Eastern saying

"Love measures our stature: the more we love, the bigger we are. There is no smaller package in all the world than that of a man all wrapped up in himself." --William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

"This is an impressive crowd: the Haves and Have-Mores. Some people call you the Elites. I call you my base." -- George W. Bush

“When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities” -- David Hulme

“Hypocrisy, arrogance, pride, anger, harshness, and ignorance; these are the marks of those who are born with demonic qualities." -- Arjuna - Bagavadd Gita.”

“He has lulled himself into a false sense of competence.” -- Zenpilot

“It is our desires that limit the scope of our self-realization, hinder our extension of consciousness, and give rise to sin, which is the innermost barrier that keeps us apart from our God, setting up disunion and arrogance of exclusiveness.” Rabindranath Tagore

Acknowledge, Study, Learn