(6) How great are Your works, O God, how very deep/subtle Your thoughts/designs!
Rabbi Bahya Ibn Pakuda, (C. 11, Zaragossa)in his Duties of the Heart,the first real treatise on ethics, asked "On what does virtue depend?" And he answered, "All virtues and duties are dependent on humility."
(6) With what shall I approach the Eternal One, Do homage to God on high? Shall I approach God with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? (7) Would the Eternal be pleased with thousands of rams, With myriads of streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, The fruit of my body for my sins? (8) “God has told you, O mortal, what is good, And what the Eternal One requires of you: Only to do justice And to love goodness, And to walk modestly with your God;
Rav Kook C.19/20, Latvia/Palestine: "Humility is associated with spiritual perfection. When humility effects depression it is defective; when it is genuine it inspire joy, courage and inner dignity."
The Gemara comments on this: And it stands to reason that the meaning of the verse is like the one who says: I am with the contrite person, as the Holy One, Blessed be He, disregarded all of the mountains and hills, and rested His Divine Presence on the lowly Mount Sinai, and He did not choose to raise Mount Sinai up toward Him. God chose to give the Torah on Mount Sinai, as it was a symbol of humility due to its lack of height, and He lowered His Divine Presence, as it were, to the mountain.
(א) בֶּן זוֹמָא אוֹמֵר, אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם, הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קיט)
(1) Ben Zoma says: Who is the wise one? He who learns from all men, as it says, "I have acquired understanding from all my teachers" (Psalms 119:99).
(3) Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any other man on earth.
Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Satanov: "Always seek to learn wisdom from every person, to recognise your failings and to correct them. In doing so you will earn to stop thinking about your virtues an you will take your mind off your friend's faults."
A small deed done in humility is a thousand times more acceptable to God than a great deed done in pride
- Orchot Tzaddikim (Ways of the Righteous)
1. Where do you feel you fall on this spectrum?
2. Where in your everyday life do you exhibit too much humility or arrogance?
3. How do these tendencies interfere with your success or happiness?
4. What helps you remember that everyone is just a small part of the world?
5. How do these perspectives change our behavior?
If you tend towards too little Humility, speak out less and focus on listening.
If you tend towards too much Humility, speak out more and let your voice be heard.
You don’t need to do anything dramatic – just take a small step outside of your comfort zone.
“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it. Those who, like you, have leadership thrust upon them, and take up the mantle because they must, and find to their own surprise that they wear it well.”
Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
English