Respect
There are two types of respect. The first is the respect you receive because of your position, fame, or wealth. This kind of respect is temporary. It can be lost the moment you lose your wealth or status. The second type is the respect you earn because of your smile and your virtues such as honesty, kindness, dedication, and patience. This respect can never be taken away from you.
The less attached you are to your virtues, the more self-respect you will have. When you become attached to your virtues, you begin to look down on others, and then your virtues start to diminish. Non-attachment to your virtues brings the highest form of self-respect.
Ego is often confused with self-respect. Ego needs someone else for comparison, whereas self-respect is simply confidence in yourself. For example, a person who says, “I know mathematics or geography,” has self-respect. But to say, “I know more than you,” is ego.
Ego simply means a lack of respect for the Self. Your ego will often upset you, but if you have self-respect, you will not be shaken by external factors. With self-respect, everything is play. Whether you win or lose, it makes no difference—every step is joy, and every action is a celebration. With self-respect, you simply know that you have it.
Bangalore Ashram, India
December 16, 2001
Respect
Wisdom
Knowledge
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
