The Twenty Values of Jnanam - Part 1
Amanitvam
Amanitvam indicates the absence of self-worshipfulness. Amanitvam comes from the Sanskrit word 'manah' meaning self-respect, self-esteem, extending to conceit or haughtiness. Thus, manah means an exaggerated opinion about oneself. Manah does not imply that one is without qualifications but rather that whatever qualifications one has loom large in one's mind as worthy of respect and regard from others. The one who has manah is a maani. The addition of tvam to maani creates the abstract noun manitvam, which stands for the essence of the quality - that is exaggerated self-respectfulness or self-worshipfulness.
A simple, factual self-respectfulness is not a harmful quality of mind; in fact, it is a good quality. A problem arises only when self-respectfulness is exaggerated into self-worshipfulness. When self-respect becomes self-conceit—exaggerated —it does not just undesirably affect my attitude toward myself, but it manifests in my demand upon others to show me the respect that I feel is my due. Demanded respect rarely will be given to me upon my terms, if at all.
Manitvam is born because I do not understand the nature of accomplishments. I claim the honor for my accomplishments because I consider myself the author of the acts, the producer of the skills or gifts. It does not take much analysis to smash this illusion. The analysis can begin with my physical body. For any skill or gift there must be a body to wield it. The body that houses me I did not author. It came to me with a certain inherent potential or predisposition. Even if I subscribe to a belief in reincarnation and consider this body a vehicle shaped by karmas, I can claim neither authorship nor knowledge of the particular laws that ordained this body. My jivatva (apparent separate individuality) housed for the moment in this particular upadhi (body) is anadi (beginningless) like the creation itself, of which it is a part. I am not the author of the creation - nor am I the author of my body.
Manitvam—pride—bloated ego simply goes when its foolishness is seen. It is not a practical advice to be told to give up pride or ego. Irrational as it may be, a prideful ego is very common. Emphasis on individualism makes a person more proud and more subject to the hurts that go with pride. However, ego will not be banished until I can replace it with knowledge. In the light of knowledge, ego, pride, manitvam, becomes silly. When I see the foolishness I will be able to keep ego to the minimum useful level necessary to conduct my affairs. I also will enjoy amanitvam - a quality of mind conducive to discovery of Self.
Adambitvam
Adambitvam is the mental state in which dambha is absent. Dambha is a mental attitude which results in an expression quite similar to the expression of manitvam, namely it manifests as self-glorification. However, between the two the foundation for the expression differs. Manitvam's conceit is an expression based on real achievements and abilities; whereas, the claim to fame caused by dambha stems from pretended or fabricated accomplishments and abilities. Dambha means pretence or feigning. The dambhi is one who claims achievements that are not his or pretends to possess abilities which he does not have.
When I give expression to dambitvam it is because I think that through my pretences I will impress others who will then respond to me in a way that will make me feel good about myself. I do not accept myself as I am. I find myself unacceptable. So in order that others too will not find me unacceptable, I present myself as I think will impress others, whether I would like to be that way or not.
The reasons why manitvam is a foolish attitude apply to dambitvam. In the case of dambitvam, there is no problem in seeing the authorship of the accomplishments which I am publicizing, inasmuch as they are pretence, not fact. Any dambitvam is a commitment to falsehood. A mind committed to falsehood cannot be a happy, quite mind available for learning.
When dambitvam goes, the mind will enjoy the state of adambitvam the absence of phoniness, the absence of hypocrisy and pretence. With such a mind I become a real person. A real person is a simple person. When I truly see the futility of both the attitudes of manitvam and dambitvam, these negative values drop off, leaving me with a mind reflecting amanitvam and adambitvam, the absence of pride and the absence of pretence. No scripture and no master can help a person with a mind ruled by pride and pretence; a mind which is simple and factual is the kind of mind which is ready to discover the truth of Self.
-Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Excerpted from "The Value of Values" by Swami Dayananda
Published: 12/17/98