How can we avoid self-acceptance of our abilities from becoming false ego?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
So, just a minute, I’m answering your question. So, the question is that, if we have self-acceptance, say I can sing nicely, how can we avoid self-acceptance from becoming a false singer? I’m such a good singer.
No, the two are very different things. See, one is acknowledging what we have been given by Krishna. The other is thinking that this makes me better than others.
This makes me better than others. It’s basically, we all have a relationship with Krishna. And in our relationship with Krishna, we all are meant to contribute in some way.
So, now objectively, if I recognize, say that I can sing better than others, that’s not wrong. We all have been given some talents. So, that is just that objective recognition is not pride.
The pride comes when we think that because I have this particular quality better, that means I’m better than others. And then, quality I may have better than others, but everyone has a relationship with Krishna. And pride is not also, or ego is not so much about how we look at others.
It is primarily, it is about what we are looking at. So, if my singing ability helps me to focus on Krishna, so the essence of false ego is self-centeredness. The essence of bhakti is Krishna-centeredness.
So, the ability which I have, if it helps me to focus on Krishna, I can sing nicely and I sing for Krishna. And by singing for Krishna, I become absorbed in Krishna. Then, pride won’t come so much into the picture.
Because the simple way to understand the difference between humility and pride is that pride means I am thinking about myself and how great I am. Humility means I am thinking of how great Krishna is. I’m just going to serve Krishna.
So, for serving Krishna, if he has given me some abilities to recognize that I have those abilities and to use those abilities, it’s not pride. As long as our purpose is to serve Krishna. So, if we have our abilities, we do need to use them.
To think that by using these abilities, I will become proud. That is a misunderstanding of how bhakti works. Because to think that by using these abilities, I will become proud, that itself is pride.
Why? Because I am thinking I am not proud right now. You know. No.
To think that by using my abilities, I will become proud. That itself is pride. Because then I am thinking I am not proud right now.
I will become proud. No. Actually, what it is, we all have pride.
But we just don’t have reason to express our pride. So, when you do something special, we have a reason to express our pride. But how will that pride ever go away? The way pride will go away is by purification.
And purification comes by connection with Krishna. And connection with Krishna happens through service. So, it is only when we use our ability that we have been given to serve Krishna, then that connection with Krishna will happen, purification will happen, pride will go away.
So, the cure for pride is not separation of talent. The cure for pride is purification of intent. So, I do this.
Yes, I am singing. I am singing for Krishna’s pleasure. I am singing not just so that people will praise me.
Oh, how nice you sing. That praise may come. Prabhupada writes that in 13.8 to 12 Purposes, humility means to not be anxious, to have the satisfaction of being honored by others.
To not be anxious, to have the satisfaction of being honored by others. Means I sing nicely. Yeah, if people come and praise me, it is very good.
But it is not that, you know, I am waiting for the singing to get over and how many people are going to come and praise me now. That is not my motive for singing. I am singing for Krishna’s pleasure.
If praise comes, I see that as encouragement. It is encouraging me to serve more in this direction. So, whatever talents we have, if we use them to become more conscious of Krishna, then recognizing those talents won’t lead to pride.
So, if we know that some situation is