PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ego?

The progress in and insistence on quality of education coupled with rapid strides in spread of knowledge calls for equally developed and able recipients. Thus, a definite need is felt for well-developed personality and character in our life. The vedantic concept of personality development is based on the concept of perfection of each soul and self-confidence for realization and manifestation of this inner knowledge.

Five dimensions are involved in forming the human personality. These are:

1) physical self, 2) energy self, 3) intellectual self, 4) mental self, and 5) blissful self.

Well-integrated personality is the sum total of harmonious expression of these five dimensions.

Physical self relates to our senses. Proper nourishment and growth of physical faculties is essential by way of balanced diet, recreation, music, and care and concern from near and dear ones. A simple pat on the back for any achievement in life goes a long way to build up confidence. However, discretion and discrimination are the key words in this regard. Otherwise, there is every chance that senses would create havoc by way of infatuation and attachment to the sense objects.
Energy self is somewhat subtler than the first. It relates to metabolism and the gross manifestations of energy (Prana), for instance the act of breathing. The control of Prana is achieved by control of anger, anxiety, and restlessness.
Intellectual self concerns with discriminative power and knowledge, what we call "buddhi". In addition to sincere and formal studies, reading other books like biographies of great and noble persons and invigorating literature helps us develop this faculty.
Mental self is related to stress and psychology. Here selflessness, control, concentration, and calmness of mind plays essential role.
Anandamaya Kosha or blissful self is the function of state of being. It calls for remaining calm and unaffected, nay to remain happy, in all the frivolities of world, in neck break competition and struggle, in calamities and disasters, in suffering and loss, in failure and success.

Suppose there is an old ink pot with dried crust inside it. When we try to clean the ink pot, dirty water comes out initially. But if we continue to pour fresh water repeatedly dirt is cleared and the water coming out is cleaner and cleaner. Same is the case with evil thoughts at the time of meditation. By pouring fresh and clean water of mantra and concentrating on the form of our Ishta, we can soon get rid of bad and dirty thoughts over a period. This period can be one year, ten years, one birth or ten births! It depends on the efforts and Grace of the Guru. But one thing is sure; one has to go through the process, if not today, tomorrow! Therefore one should start today only, howsoever useless and difficult sadhana may appear.

By this we become masters of ourselves. There is no want or deficiency anymore. Feeling of loneliness and helplessness is replaced with feeling of identity with all and total fulfillment in life.