hilitehead

When we talk of cultivating the thought of holding others as supremely dear, it is important to understand that we are not cultivating the kind of pity that we sometimes feel towards someone who is less fortunate than ourselves. With pity, there can be a tendency to look down upon the object of our compassion, and to feel a sense of superiority. Holding others dear is in fact the reverse of this. In this practice, by recognizing the kindness of others and how indispensable they are for our own spiritual progress, we appreciate their tremendous importance and significance, and therefore we naturally accord them a higher status in our minds. It is because we think of then in this way that we are able to relate to them as dear, and as worthy of our respect and affection. Because of this, the next verse reads:

Whenever I interact with someone,
May I view myself as the lowest amongst all,
And, from the very depths of my heart,
Respectfully hold others as superior.

This verse suggests the kind of attitude that I have just described. The idea of seeing oneself as lower than others should not be misconstrued as a way of neglecting ourselves, ignoring our needs, or feeling that we are a hopeless case. Rather, as I explained earlier, it stems from a courageous state of mind where you are able to relate to others, fully aware of what ability you have to help. So please do not misunderstand this point. What is being suggested here is the need for genuine humility.