Inner Richness is Humility, not Pride: Lessons from the Vachanamrut

Ego is perhaps the subtlest barrier on our spiritual journey: it can insinuate itself even into the most noble of virtues—devotion, renunciation, knowledge, or disciplined vows—turning them from ladders into stumbling blocks. The moment we find ourselves thinking, “I am more devoted,” or “I understand better,” pride has taken root and humility slips away. A timeless Sanskrit proverb captures this beautifully: “The branches of a tree laden with fruit bend downward, just as virtuous persons bow humbly, but dry wood and fools never bend.” In this image, the heaviest branches are those most fruitful, bowing under the abundance they bear; likewise, those whose inner lives overflow with genuine virtue cannot help but bow in gratitude and humility.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan reminds us that any merit—no matter how lofty—becomes an impediment if it engenders ego. True growth, he teaches, results not in self-aggrandizement but in ever-deepening humility, allowing us to shed the weight of pride and draw closer to liberation. To cultivate this openness of heart, we might pause regularly to examine our motives—are we seeking praise or transformation?—and nurture gratitude for every grace, every lesson, every opportunity to serve. When pride whispers, we can remember the bowed branches of the fruit-laden tree and let that image inspire us to bow our own heads and hands in humble surrender.

In embracing humility, we align ourselves with the very nature of spiritual abundance: the richer our inner bounty, the deeper our bow. May we strive, then, to carry our virtues lightly, to let our accomplishments bloom unseen, and to walk ever more softly on the path to liberation—like a tree that bends not under the strain of vanity, but under the joyful weight of its own fruit.

To know more about Bhagwan Swaminarayan: https://www.baps.org/About-BAPS/TheFounder%E2%80%93BhagwanSwaminarayan.aspx

Vachanamrut Study App: thesatsanglife.com/vachanamrut

Anirdesh Gadhada Section 3, Number 26: https://anirdesh.com/vachanamrut/index.php?format=en&vachno=249