A person once complained, “I am upset because people don’t respect me.” Her friend’s advice: “First, you have to earn it.”
In the spiritual dimension, humble sages don’t demand respect, because they feel they’re unworthy of it. In fact, it is considered a disease of the soul to seek respect and honor. From the spiritual point of view, lower is higher. Saintly personalities practice humility—and respect everyone without seeking any for themselves!
Five hundred years ago, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu intoned this exemplary prayer: “One should chant the Holy Names of the Lord in a humble state of mind. He should feel more tolerant than a tree, devoid of false prestige and ready to respect others.”
The saddest thing that can happen is for us to think that higher is better. We aspire to be honored and respected, and when we don’t get it, we take offense.
A true spiritualist offers respect to everyone without expecting anything in return. Some proverbs about respect:
Respect out of fear is never genuine; reverence out of respect is never false. —Chinese
The greatest evidence of demoralization is the respect paid to wealth. —French
No strength within, no respect without. —Indian
Respect for the rights of others generates peace. —Mexican
Respect flies away for the one who pursues it and hunts the person who’s fleeing from it. —Hebrew
God loves a person who cares for the poor more than someone who respects the wealthy. —Egyptian