Humility. In most Western countries, it's the concept that we're all equal. And many of you have heard me say that this thought of equality often denies respect that is well deserved. So to develop humility, to develop respect towards those who are worthy of respect is a very important quality within the practice. Even the word respect has been thrown out these days. So to develop this respect towards those who have helped you, to be humble, to actually appreciate when somebody else is, in a certain way, superior to you or has proven that they can help you. Those who have proven that they have abilities that are greater than yours, whatever the quality may be, to actually accept that, and if we can have Sympathetic Joy with them that stops us from being jealous of them.
It stops what's called the "Tall Poppy Syndrome" in Australia. The tallest Poppy gets chopped off first. There's a lot of jealousy involved with that sort of attitude. There's no humility for the poppy that's fully bloomed, just jealousy of the ones above.
To have more Sympathetic Joy helps us to develop more humility. Then we appreciate the qualities of others who have already done things that are beyond us. To be humble in our thoughts of the Buddha, also. What is one of the reasons why the bowing is done towards the Buddha statue? It's a humility effort, it's a humble aid, it's a respect issue, it's considering that man was great, that man was wonderful, the teachings are wonderful, the noble Sangha - all the other men and women who got enlightened - wonderful, wonderful - far beyond me, I haven't attain that yet, they have attained that, it's wonderful. So to develop this humility, this humbleness, is a very important aid which comes in here with having Sympathetic Joy with those who have done something that's beyond ourselves.
You can also reflect on the dangers of not developing humility. The dangers of being arrogant. The dangers of thinking that you know better or at least as good as everybody else. The dangers of keeping your head up too high.
Now, it doesn't happen very much here anymore, but in the old days. and if you remember the bathrooms here used to have short doors, so if you kept your head up too high going into the bathroom, you'd hit your head in the door frame. Well, that is what happens to a lot with people who are not humble. Figuratively speaking, they run into trouble, they hit their head all the time because they are too arrogant, they're too full of themselves.
So to reflect on the Dukkha that comes when you're not humble, reflect on the Dukkha that comes when you're not respectful, when you don't show your respect as well as your gratitude to those who deserve it. Respect, thankfulness all that stuff tied together, they're all very important aspects that can be developed and help us develop more humility.