PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
The world is one of influence. Part of
our energy is used up in the preservation of our own bodies. Beyond that,
our bodies, our virtues, our intellect and our spirituality, all these are
continuously influencing others. Conversely, we are being influenced continuously
by others. This is going on all around us.
Making Impression
Let us take a concrete example. A man comes; you know he is very learned,
his language is beautiful and he speaks to you for hours; but he does not
make any impression. Another man comes; he speaks only a few words, not well-arranged,
ungrammatical perhaps, and not fluent in speech; and he makes an immense impression.
Many of you have seen such occasions. So it is evident that words alone cannot
always produce an impression. Words, even thoughts, contribute only 1/3
of the influence in making an impression; the man 2/3. What you call the
personal magnetism of the man - that is what goes out and impresses you.
Coming to great leaders of mankind, we always find that it was the personality
of the man that counted. The personality of the man is 2/3 and his intellect,
his words, his thoughts etc. is only 1/3.
Man-making
The ideal of all education, all training, should be this man-making.
But, instead of that, we are always trying to polish up the outside. The
man who influences is a dynamo of power. When he is ready, he can do anything
and everything he likes. Though this is a fact, no physical laws will explain
this. Compare the great teachers of religion with the great philosophers.
The philosophers scarcely influenced anybody's inner man, and yet they wrote
most mavellous books. The religious teachers, on the other hand, moved
countries in their lifetime. The difference was made by personality. In
the former we touch the intellect; in the latter we touch life.
Science of Yoga
The science of Yoga claims that it has discovered the laws which develop
this personality. By proper attention to those laws and methods, each one
can grow and strengthen his personality. This is one of the great practical
things and this is the secret of all education. This has a universal application.
They are laws, very fine, which are behind the physical laws, as we know.
The grossest part is the body and the finest is the spirit. And just as
it is here, in the microcosm, it is exactly the same in the macrocosm. This
universe of ours is exactly like that; it is the gross external thickness,
and it tapers into something finer and finer until it becomes God.
Power of the Fine
We also know that the greatest power is lodged in the fine, not in the coarse.
We see a man lifting a huge weight; we see his muscles swell; and we see signs
of exertion all over his body. We think the muscles are powerful things.
But it is the thin thread-like things, the nerves, which bring power to the
muscles. The moment one of these nerves is cut off from reaching the muscles,
they are not able to work at all. These tiny nerves bring the power from
something still finer-thought, and so on. So, it is the fine that is really
the seat of power.
We can see the movements of the gross. We cannot see the movements of the
fine. When a little bubble is coming from the bottom of a lake, we do not
see it until it reaches and bursts on the surface of the water. Similarly,
we can perceive thoughts only when they become actions. We constantly complain
that we have no control over our actions, over our thoughts. If we can get
control over the fine movements at the root, that is before they become
thoughts and later actions, then it will be possible for us to control the
whole. Now, if there is a method by which we can analyse. investigate, understand
and finally grapple with those finer powers, the finer causes, then alone
is it possible to have control over ourselves. Yoga teaches us to gain this
knowledge of controlling the finer powers.
What is Education
Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man. Knowledge
is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside; it is all inside. The
external world is simply the suggestion, the occasion, which sets you to
study your own mind.
We say Newton discovered gravitation. Was it sitting anywhere in
a corner waiting for him? The falling of an apple gave the suggestion to
Newton, and he studied his own mind. He rearranged all the previous links
of thought in his mind and discovered a new link among them, which we call
the Law of Gravitation. It was not in the apple nor in anything in the centre
of the earth!
All knowledge therefore, secular or spiritual, is in the human mind. In
many cases it is not discovered, but remains covered. When the covering
is being slowly taken off, we say "we are learning" . The man from whom this
veil is being lifted is the more knowing man. The man upon whom it lies
thick is ignorant. All knowledge and all power are within. All knowledge
comes from the human soul. Man manifests knowledge, discovers it within himself,
which is pre-existing, through eternity.
No one was ever really taught by another. Each of us has to teach himself.
The external teacher offers only the suggestion, which arouses the internal
teacher to work to understand things. Then things will be made clearer to
us by our own power of perception and thought, and we shall realise
them in our own souls. So is infinite power in the soul of man, whether
he knows it or not. Its manifestation is only a question of being conscious
of it.
You cannot teach a child any more than you can grow a plant. The plant
develops its own nature. The child also teaches itself. What you can do
is not of a positive nature but negative. You can take away the obstacles
- loosen the soil a little, put a hedge around for protection, plant the
seed, provide water periodically, supply earth, manure, remove weeds etc.
There your work stops. It will take all that it wants by its own nature.
Same with the education of the child. A child educates itself.. Within man
is all knowledge, and it requires only an awakening, and that much is the
work of the teacher. In every one there are infinite tendencies which require
proper scope for satisfaction. If you do not allow one to become a lion,
one will become a fox.
We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is
increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one's
own feet. The end of all education, all training, should be man-making.
Concentration
There is only one method to attain knowledge, and that is called
'Concentration'. From the lowest man to the highest yogi, all have to use
this same method. The more the power of concentration, the greater the knowledge
that is acquired. This is true even in cooking, polishing, making money
or in worshipping God. The main difference between men and the animals is
the difference in their powers of concentration.This same power of concentration
makes the difference between man and man as well. When a professor gives
a lecture, the students understand it differently according to their respective
degree of concentration. The power of concentration is the only key to the
treasure-house of knowledge. The practice of meditation leads to mental
concentration. This is the subject of study in Rajayoga. Controlled desire
leads to the highest results. What we want is this Shraddha. What makes the
difference between man and man is the difference in the Shraddha and nothing
else.
We are children of the Almighty, we are sparks of the infinite, divine
fire. We are everything. We can do everything. This faith in themselves
was in the heart of our ancestors. To preach the doctrine of Shraddha should
be the mission of our life.
The cause of all apparent evil is in ourselves. Do not blame any supernatural
being. We have woven around ourselves the network
of Karma. Cry to all the Gods of the universe.
Help will come from within. We commit mistakes because we are weak. We are
weak because we are ignorant. Who makes us ignorant? We ourselves! We put
our hands over our eyes and weep that it is dark. Take the hands away and
there is light. The light exists always for us, the self-effulgent nature
of the human soul. Continue to exercise your will and it will take you higher.
The will is almighty. What you want is character, strengthening of the will.
Bring in the light and the evil goes in a momemt. Build up your character
and manifest your real nature, the Effulgent, the Resplendent, the Ever-Pure
and call it up in every one you see.
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