Why is humility is an essential quality for one to be able to successfully chant the name of the Lord ?

Question

There is a verse called Siksataka # 3 , that states, :

One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than the tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."

A friend shared with me that he has done some of his best chanting when not feeling especially humble so he was trying to understand the co-relation between humle prayer / meditation, and why it is essential . Perhaps without humility , one will be too arrogant to be able to keep up this practice ?

Answer 1

Don't know about chants - that is paganistic, IMHO.

Jesus warned against repetitive prayers.

Answer 2

Chaucer said that Pride was the most destructive of all of the vices known to man. That pride was the vice from which all the others came.

The reciprocal virtue to pride is humility. Humility is often confused with humiliation. They are very different.

Humiliation diminishes a persons humanity. Humility sets it free. This is by shedding the mantle of pride that is oppressive and forces us into roles that we feel we need to play in order to impress others.

Humility ultimately is being honest and truthful and that puts us on the path to knowing God which ultimately is truth.

Answer 3

Probably the lesson being implied is that you have to quiet your own inner voice (be humble) in order to hear the voice of your god. Or to strip away all the flowery, religious language: "Shut up and listen."

RM: When I used to be a churchgoer, we chanted "christ have mercy" many times in the service. Isn't that a repetitive prayer ?

Answer 4

ignorence not humility is the essential quality you are looking for.