Ordinary people who successfully conquered the mind and entered the realm of sainthood by becoming one with God, excelled in three traits that separated them from other souls.

Humility, Compassion and Forgiveness (Tolerance).

God-realized Saints from all religions and sects have these three common traits that made them what they are. In their quest to be devotees of God, these saints surrendered to God what he wants most from us - our mind and intellect.

In the process of complete surrender to God, a devotee must develop these three characteristics and keep increasing its intensity everyday.

Jesus Christ was known for his compassion and forgiveness. The Bible has many stories which exemplify them. The Quran also preaches these principles and says that those who are humble are dearest to God.

In Sanatan Dharm, there are numerous examples of ordinary souls who practiced these principles on the instructions of his Guru and became a God-realized soul. 

Meerabhai, a great devotee of Lord Krishna was one of the most forgiving and compassionate souls. She did not have any ill feelings for the people who plotted to kill her. Sant Tukaram, Kabir, Guru Nanak and many others always practiced and preached humility and compassion for all.

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu preached these three principles the most during his descension on earth and laid enormous stress on them. All his disciples were great examples of humility and forgiveness.

Shree Mahaprabhuji said, "Be more humble than a blade of grass, more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."

In the last century and the early part of the 21st, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj composed thousands of verses, couplets and many books to impart his teachings. The essence of those teachings reverberate with these three principles in almost every lesson that touches upon devotion and how a devotee must practice Bhakti.

Every sacred and holy scripture known to man preaches that one must not be overcome by ego, anger, violence, greed and lust. To overcome these afflictions of the mind, they advise us to practice humbleness of the heart, tolerance, love, kindness and compassion for one and all.

Souls who are humble, forgiving and compassionate are the closest to God and he loves them the most because the purest heart has no place for grudge, anger, ego and harshness. God resides in such a heart that melts at the very sight of sadness in another person's eyes.

As devotees, if we want to progress in the path of Bhakti and please God, it must be our primary aim to increase our feelings of humility, compassion and forgiveness for all, even if we are harmed by them.

The foundation of spiritual growth is laid upon our ability to erect these three pillars of Bhakti, by being humble, tolerant and forgiving in the most trying of situations.

As yet another new year beckons us, let us all resolve to become more humble, forgiving and compassionate and progress swiftly in our aim to attain the supreme bliss that we have sought since eternity.