Haumai is the self-centeredness (ego or Ahankar

Ahankar

Hankār is the Gurmukhi word originated from a Sanskrit word Ahankāra which translates to mean ego or excessive pride due to one's possessions, material wealth, intelligence or powers. It gives an individual the feeling that he is superior to others and therefore they are at a lower level than he is...

) of a human, which can only be overcome through meditation on God’s name (Naam

Naam

Nāma is the Sanskrit for "name". Spiritually, it is the principal method or tool of meditation, which is meant to unite the soul with the Supreme Soul....

), Simran and Sewa

SEWA

The Self-Employed Women's Association of India is a trade union for poor, self-employed women workers in India. SEWA was founded in 1972 by the noted Gandhian and civil rights leader Dr Ela Bhatt. SEWA's main office is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and it works in several states of India. SEWA...

in Sikhism

Sikhism

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...

.

In the Sikh

Sikh

A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...

 religion, humility (or Nimrata

Nimrata

Nimrata is a virtue that is vigorously promoted by Gurbani. The literal translation of this Punjabi word is "Humility", or "Benevolence". The other four qualities in the arsenal are: Truth , Contentment , Compassion and Love...

) is considered a great virtue. Humility is developed by erasing its opposite, which Sikhs call haumai or self-centred pride, or ego. It is this ego which stands in the way of realizing God. It can be erased by seva

Selfless Service

Selfless service is a commonly used term to denote a service which is performed without any expectation of result or award for the person performing it.-Religious significance:...

, or selfless service, and complete submission to Waheguru

Waheguru

Waheguru is a term most often used in Sikhism to refer to God, the Supreme Being or the creator of all. It means "The Good/Best Teacher" in the Punjabi language. Wahi means "good" and "Guru" is a term denoting "teacher"....

, or God. A Sikh serves God by serving other people.

Guru Ram Das

Guru Ram Das

Guru Ram Das was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 30 August 1574.-Early life:Ram Das was born in Lahore, Punjab on 24 September 1534[1] to a Sodhi family of the Khatri clan. His father was Hari Das and his mother Anup Devi. His wife was Bibi Bhani,...

 was perhaps the most self-effacing of the 10 Sikh gurus. As the fourth guru, he built the Amrit Sarovar and established the city of Amritsar

Amritsar

Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...

 around the Sarovar. His son, the fifth guru, Guru Arjan Dev, built the magnificent Golden Temple in the Amrit Sarovar. Not much is known about the personal life of Guru Ram Das. However, there is a beautiful story about his sense of humility.

Once, Baba Sri Chand, the elder son of Guru Nanak, came to meet Guru Ram Das. Baba Sri Chand was not part of the Sikh mainstream, but being Guru Nanak’s son the Sikh gurus who followed the founder gave him the highest respect. So, even on this occasion Guru Ram Das treated Sri Chand with utmost respect.

Baba Sri Chand was much older than Guru Ram Das

Guru Ram Das

Guru Ram Das was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 30 August 1574.-Early life:Ram Das was born in Lahore, Punjab on 24 September 1534[1] to a Sodhi family of the Khatri clan. His father was Hari Das and his mother Anup Devi. His wife was Bibi Bhani,...

. Because of his years, he had the privilege to joke at the expense of the younger man. It is said that during the meeting he passed a remark at the long beard of Guru Ram Das, “Why have you grown such a long beard?”

Without taking offence at Baba Sri Chand’s remark, Guru Ramdas replied, “My Guru had told me to use this long beard to wipe the holy feet of great men like you.”

And he immediately bowed down and started wiping Babaji’s feet with his beard.

Baba Sri Chand was taken aback at such display of humility by the reigning guru of the Sikhs. Embarrassed, the Baba chuckled sheepishly and said, "Yes, that is the difference between you and me. You have completely erased your haumai. I have not been able to do so. No wonder, Guru Amar Das

Guru Amar Das

Guru Amar Das was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 26 March 1552.-His life:...

chose you as his successor to lead the Sikhs. You fully deserved to be the guru."