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What is the Pali word for humility?

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 8:16 am
by Strive4Karuna
Is there a word for humility? If not, is sagaravata (respect) the closest word? I am thinking about getting some tattoos on my hand to serve as reminders. Thank you

Re: What is the Pali word for humility?

Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 8:43 am
by cooran
humility : (f.) sagāravatā; nihatamānatā.
http://www.budsas.org/ebud/dict-ep/dictep-h.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

with metta
Chris

Re: What is the Pali word for humility?

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:09 am
by Righteous path
I know this is irrelevant, but That is something else I, personally need to work on

is humility.
Maybe studing Theravada will help me to go about this wonderful virtue

Re: What is the Pali word for humility?

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:04 pm
by cbonanno
Strive4Karuna wrote:Is there a word for humility? If not, is sagaravata (respect) the closest word? I am thinking about getting some tattoos on my hand to serve as reminders. Thank you
Just FYI:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... .ch14.html
The texts mention tattooing only in the context of punishment, so it would seem reasonable to assume that applicants who have voluntarily had themselves tattooed are not prohibited. Still, if tattoos visible when fully robed contain words or designs that are blatantly contrary to a bhikkhu's ideals, it would be wise to have them removed.

Re: What is the Pali word for humility?

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:41 am
by Dhammanando
Strive4Karuna wrote:Is there a word for humility? If not, is sagaravata (respect) the closest word?
Not really.

Humility in the bad sense (having little self-esteem and a low opinion of oneself) is hīno'ham'asmi māna ("the 'I am inferior' conceit"), or omāna for short.

Humility in the good sense, meaning that one is docile and tractable enough to be teachable, is denoted by various words that would translate literally as "the state of being easily spoken to". The most common of these are soracca, sovacassatā, and suvacatā or subbacatā.

Re: What is the Pali word for humility?

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 5:12 pm
by Richard
Another word for humility is nivāta, which appears in the famous Mangala Sutta, stanza # 8, which counsels humility along with reverence, contentment, and gratitude. Just reading through this brief set of verses has been a useful reminder to me.

Re: What is the Pali word for humility?

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:35 pm
by Sekha
at AN 8.30, appicchatā (more precisely appiccha) is used in the meaning of modesty/humility (resp. modest/humble):
‘Appicchassāyaṃ, bhikkhave, dhammo, nāyaṃ dhammo mahicchassā’ti, iti kho panetaṃ vuttaṃ. Kiñcetaṃ paṭicca vuttaṃ? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu appiccho samāno ‘appicchoti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati, santuṭṭho samāno ‘santuṭṭhoti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati, pavivitto samāno ‘pavivittoti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati, āraddhavīriyo samāno ‘āraddhavīriyoti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati, upaṭṭhitassati samāno ‘upaṭṭhitassatīti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati, samāhito samāno ‘samāhitoti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati, paññavā samāno ‘paññavāti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati, nippapañcārāmo samāno ‘nippapañcārāmoti maṃ jāneyyu’nti na icchati. ‘Appicchassāyaṃ, bhikkhave, dhammo, nāyaṃ dhammo mahicchassā’ti, iti yaṃ taṃ vuttaṃ idametaṃ paṭicca vuttaṃ.

'This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who is self-aggrandizing.' Thus was it said. With reference to what was it said? There is the case where a monk, being modest, does not want it to be known that 'He is modest.' Being content, he does not want it to be known that 'He is content.' Being reclusive, he does not want it to be known that 'He is reclusive.' His persistence being aroused, he does not want it to be known that 'His persistence is aroused.' His mindfulness being established, he does not want it to be known that 'His mindfulness is established.' His mind being centered, he does not want it to be known that 'His mind is centered.' Being endowed with discernment, he does not want it to be known that 'He is endowed with discernment.' Enjoying non-objectification, he does not want it to be known that 'He is enjoying non-objectification.' 'This Dhamma is for one who is modest, not for one who is self-aggrandizing.' Thus was it said. And with reference to this was it said.
http://www.buddha-vacana.org/sutta/angu ... 8-030.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;