At one time I had thought, like many in the West, that humility was an act of self-effacement, a weakness that revealed a lack of self-confidence or self-care, even a negative obsession that could lead to a sense of inferiority or depression. But I was discovering, in the company of people like Ghanashyam, that true humility was the opposite of that, for it connected us to an inexhaustible power beyond our own, the power of grace. True humility is a universal pride in the greatness of God and a genuine appreciation for the virtues of others.

Real humility, I was finding, did not mea I ought to be cowardly and shrink from challenges, but propelled me to strive with all my resources to overcome challenges with integrity, respect, love, and gratitude, to be as much as possible an instrument of the divine.

In real humility there is a deeper principle than our sad need to feel superior to others. That higher principle prevents us from being arrogant and condescending toward those we feel are inferior. It protects us from being envious towards those who are more accomplished. when one is humble, one feels grateful and gives credit to the Lord and all those who have ever offered help. With a humble heart one can easily admit mistakes and open one’s heart to learn. Becoming humble is not the act of killing the ego but of liberating the real ego, which is eternally vibrant with love for God and others.

The most profound mystery, I was finding, is that to the degree one possesses these exalted characteristics, he feels himself to be very small, a part of God and the servant of all. To selflessly serve others was Ghanashyam’s heart’s only joy. Ghanashyam Baba was one of the happiest and wealthiest men I had ever met, a simple man who simply loved God.