Personality Development- A Vedic Approach

Personality DevelopmentHis Grace Kamala LochanaDasaQuestion: What constitutes a personality?Answer: The qualities of a personQuestion: What attractive qualities can a person have?BeautyStrengthKnowledgeRichnessFameRenunciationFallacious ways to improve one’s personality•Imitating another’s beauty to become beautiful: Wearing the same clothes as film stars, thinking that this will attract others.•Imitating another’s concept of strength: Assume that going to the gymnasium makes one strong because everyone says so.•Using another’s fame to become famous: Using names/songs/words of other famous people in conversation to make oneself popular in the social circle.•Trying to look intelligent by wearing spectacles without any number, carrying latest gadgets, reading the latest magazines only to impress others.•Keeping the company of wealthy people to project oneself as rich.•Donating or even claiming donation to various causes in order to project oneself as renounced from riches.Question: Does being beautiful help?Answer: Yes…But physical beauty is only skin deepQuestion: How can we be beautiful?Physically: By being fresh and clean.Mentally: By treating others the way we want to be treatedIntellectually: By recognizing proper relationsSpiritually: By seeing every one on the platform of the soul Question: What strengths can we have??Physical Strength is good health, not just muscles.Mental Strength is the ability to tolerate under all circumstancesIntellectual Strength is the ability to focus on a goal.?Spiritual Strength is the ability to be non-envious of all living entities.What are the kinds of Knowledge? Mental: To know others feelings and anticipate their reactions.Material: To know the means of livelihood.Intellectual: To know what is temporary and what is eternal.Spiritual: Self-realization.To be an expert one must cultivate all types of knowledge properly, under the guidance of an expert teacher.We may not know everything there is to know We can keep trying hard to find out things on our ownOr we can accept authority and makes things easier The best way to gain knowledge is by accepting a Guru, a Teacher or an Authority What are the types of wealth I can posses? Material Wealth –Gold, Money, LandMental Wealth –Feeling of satisfaction. Freedom from jealousy and greed.Intellectual Wealth –Intelligence to give charity for a proper cause.Spiritual Wealth –Love of GodWhat are the types of fame? Material: Ability to influence and command over others.Mental: Trust and faith people have in you.Intellectual: Equanimity in honor and dishonorSpiritual: To be famous as a well-wisher of all living entities.Types of renunciation that help improve one’s personalityMaterial: Giving up unhealthy food and unhealthy habitsMental: Giving up the desire to be famous.Intellectual: Giving up enjoyment of sense objectsSpiritual: Using all assets and ability only in the service of God.Question: Why am I not all attractive, rich, strong, etc. like God?Question: If I’m not God, can I still have the best personality? Answer: Yes, by becoming a devotee of the Lord. His devotees attain all perfection simply by worshipping Him.We should give up the tendency to compete with God. Simply accept divine qualities and give up limiting behavior. Answer: All living entities are a part of God, therefore they have His qualities, but in a minute quantity.About having the best personality