Values of life make life of a human
being valuable. It is the values chosen and practiced by a person that make
life of a person valuable. Values are our personal beliefs we live by. One
would certainly like to know the `values’
the pursuit of which improve the quality of life – add value to life. Krishna in Chapter 13 of Gita, in Shlokas 7 to
11, teaches Arjun the values which are essential, and enumerates 20 values. These twenty values are: (1) Amanitvam
(which may be loosely translated as humility;
(2) Unpretentiousness; (3) Non injury; (4) Forgiveness, (5) Uprightness, (6)
Service to the teachers, (7) Purity; (8) Steadiness; (9) Self control; (10)
Indifference to sense objects; (11) Absence of egoism; (12) Repeated perception
of the pain of birth, old age, death and diseases; (13) Non-attachment; (14)
Non-identification of self with relatives; (15) Evenness of mind in both
favourable and unfavourable times; (16) Unwavering devotion; (17) Constancy in
self-knowledge; (15) Giving up undesirable company; (19) Consistency in self
knowledge; and (20) Perception of the end of true knowledge.
Truly a long and a formidable list. The path of the Seeker is like
walking on Razor’s Edge. As Kathopanishad says:
Having rushed through Gita a number
of times I started believing that I have understood the above verses describing
`values’ till I came across a book
called “Moolyo” (Values – The Gate to
Self Realization) written by Swami Viditatmanandji. Reading this treatise was an eye opener. Shri Viditatmanandji
in simple language has explained the meaning of these 20 values. In this
article I propose to deal with just one of them; the very first quality of `Amanitvam’.
There are many words in Sanskrit
which cannot be adequately translated in English. There is no exact equivalent.
“Amanitvam” is one such word. The
English equivalent is ‘humility’ which does not really bring out the import of the word “Amanitvam”.
I like the word “Amanitvam”. It is a quaint little word with deep-rooted meaning. I liked it
even more when I read the meaning as
explained by Swami Viditatmanandji. Amanitvam can be best understood by
understanding its opposite term “Manitvam”.
Manitvam is the (negative) quality of
having very high expectations for the recognition one’s qualities, achievements,
status, education etc. It is generated from the false pride about one’s own
self. We expect respect for our position –
for example – “I am the boss”, “I am
rich”, “I am a scholar”. “I am an
elder” ……. We get disturbed when expected respect
is not accorded or extended.
Being free from such feelings is Amanitvam.
We have to realize that we are
complete. We do not require anything to become complete. We have to understand
that “I” am the soul, the Atma which is complete. We do not need outside
appreciation to be complete. As Ishavasya Upnishads says:
“Amanitvam” means “neither
begging for respect, nor hankering for praise or appreciation”, and not being disturbed even when one does not get
a well deserved credit.
Let us learn : a bird sings whether anyone appreciates or not. A
flower spreads its fragrance without wanting any praise from anyone. Sun rises
and shines on everyone without seeking
namaskar. Hence one has to go on doing one’s work like them, without
waiting to be asked or appreciated.
To stop begging for respect is the
first step towards adding value to life. Amanitvam truly is the most
important value. That is why Krishna places
it first in the list of values’. The world may not recognize the
goodness of a person, but not to be perturbed by non-appreciation is the first
step in our progress as the seeker.
Ultimately Amanitvam reflects the basic philosophy of Gita, viz; one has a right to work but not to
the fruits thereof. We have to do our
duty irrespective of whether it is appreciated or not. I conclude
by quoting from a song in an old
film “Yatrik”:
