Dear Students,
A Cultural Competition on the occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary will be organised on 25th November & 9thDecember ,2012 at RAMKRISHNA MISSION VIDYAPITH ,Deoghar.
Students are invited to participate in
1)Essay Competition on Character Building : According to Swami Vivekananda
Time Limit :1Hour(10.30am to 11.30 am), Word Limit : 1000 words
2)Shloka antyakshari
3)Preliminary Test for Quiz Contest on Swami Vivekananda and National Integration , (25th November 2012,Time :12.00 to 12.30pm)
4)Extempore Speech on 9th December 2012,(9.30 am to 12.00pm) Time: 3Minutes
5)Quiz Contest on Swami Vivekananda and National Integration , (9th December 2012,Time :1.30pm to 2.30pm)
Students are directed to submit their names with the events they are wililing to participate by 8th November 2012 in the office.
Character Building : According to Swami Vivekananda
A good number of people in today"s world do not think this is a good
advice. To substantiate their stand, they cite the examples of a large
number of people, morally bankrupt and without much of a genuine
character, who are 'doing well'in life. Such characterless people become
their role models, and they think their own lives should be fashioned
on these lines. 'Why should I be playing a different tune when everyone
else is dancing to the tune of a dishonest and hypocritical life?'They
continue to indulge in this line of thinking until they face the
consequences of characterless-ness or moral bankruptcy themselves.
Mostly this happens.
First, when their morally wrong thoughts and actions return to them in some way (for example when the bridge they were crossing, gave away—thanks to the dishonest engineers, or the food they ate caused a disease—again, due to the unfairness of the trader or the person involved in its production or preparation, or when the doctor prescribes one to undergo avoidable tests from a diagnostic laboratory to which he is associated—to make some money, and the innumerable other cases of irresponsibility, dishonesty and injustice in public and private sphere; the examples can be multiplied several fold).
First, when their morally wrong thoughts and actions return to them in some way (for example when the bridge they were crossing, gave away—thanks to the dishonest engineers, or the food they ate caused a disease—again, due to the unfairness of the trader or the person involved in its production or preparation, or when the doctor prescribes one to undergo avoidable tests from a diagnostic laboratory to which he is associated—to make some money, and the innumerable other cases of irresponsibility, dishonesty and injustice in public and private sphere; the examples can be multiplied several fold).
Second, when they have to face these
character-issues with regard to their family or immediate area of work
and life, such as when a son betrays his father/mother or vice-a-versa,
an employer tricks the employee or vice-a-versa, a friend injures a
friend and so on. All instances where the well-known idiom 'fence eating
up the field'is in operation are included in it. Shaken up by these
harsh facts, they become humble and begin to look for an answer.
They soon learn, if they are sincere, that one cannot blame others for
one"s weakness. One must accept oneself and try to do better.
Character-building, hence, is a deeply personal and intimate issue. One
cannot sit in a corner with his hands clasped and say, 'How does my
character matter?'Nor can one escape the consequences of lack of
character-building—for long.
Character matters, in more than one way, and character-building is the perpetual challenge confronting everyone, individually and collectively.
Character matters, in more than one way, and character-building is the perpetual challenge confronting everyone, individually and collectively.
The Importance of Character Building
The importance of character-building occupies a vital and central place in spiritual life. Spiritual life sans character-building is like constructing a house without any mortar or cementing agent. Though all mystic traditions speak of moksha or spiritual liberation, a state beyond even the issue of character-building, no one denies that it is character-building which alone can be the guiding principle in all spiritual matters. Through the rigours of character-building the light of spirituality shines forth.
The importance of character-building occupies a vital and central place in spiritual life. Spiritual life sans character-building is like constructing a house without any mortar or cementing agent. Though all mystic traditions speak of moksha or spiritual liberation, a state beyond even the issue of character-building, no one denies that it is character-building which alone can be the guiding principle in all spiritual matters. Through the rigours of character-building the light of spirituality shines forth.
The word character, however, has several connotations.
One meaning is the behaviour of a person. When a person misbehaves or violates some accepted forms of social and moral practices, he is often said to be a man of loose or weak character.
Another meaning of character, in literary circles, is simply the way a person"s personality or life is portrayed in a book or story or article. This means a mixture of his good and bad traits. It is an evaluation of an individual"s moral qualities through the role he or she plays in a story or situation.
One meaning is the behaviour of a person. When a person misbehaves or violates some accepted forms of social and moral practices, he is often said to be a man of loose or weak character.
Another meaning of character, in literary circles, is simply the way a person"s personality or life is portrayed in a book or story or article. This means a mixture of his good and bad traits. It is an evaluation of an individual"s moral qualities through the role he or she plays in a story or situation.
The word character, hence, could mean both good and bad qualities.
One could be a man (or woman) of good or bad character. Or, as is the case generally, one can be a person with a mixed character. Though this is true, the most striking connotation of character, however, lies in an interesting fact: it is almost always used to mean good. The expression that so-and-so is a man or woman of character invariably means good character. So deep is this identification of the term character with good that if one has to use it to mean differently, one has to use a particular adjective to specify it (bad, evil, mean, etc).
Swami Vivekananda, however, goes a step ahead and gives a most complete definition of the term. He also goes into the dynamics of character-building process and says: "Every work that we do, every movement of the body, every thought that we think, leaves such an impression on the mind-stuff, and even when such impressions are not obvious on the surface, they are sufficiently strong to work beneath the surface, subconsciously. What we are every moment is determined by the sum total of these impressions on the mind.
What I am just at this moment is the effect of the sum total of all the impressions of my past life. This is really what is meant by character; each man"s character is determined by the sum total of these impressions. If good impressions prevail, the character becomes good; if bad, it becomes bad. If a man continuously hears bad words, thinks bad thoughts, does bad actions, his mind will be full of bad impressions; and they will influence his thought and work without his being conscious of the fact.
One could be a man (or woman) of good or bad character. Or, as is the case generally, one can be a person with a mixed character. Though this is true, the most striking connotation of character, however, lies in an interesting fact: it is almost always used to mean good. The expression that so-and-so is a man or woman of character invariably means good character. So deep is this identification of the term character with good that if one has to use it to mean differently, one has to use a particular adjective to specify it (bad, evil, mean, etc).
Swami Vivekananda, however, goes a step ahead and gives a most complete definition of the term. He also goes into the dynamics of character-building process and says: "Every work that we do, every movement of the body, every thought that we think, leaves such an impression on the mind-stuff, and even when such impressions are not obvious on the surface, they are sufficiently strong to work beneath the surface, subconsciously. What we are every moment is determined by the sum total of these impressions on the mind.
What I am just at this moment is the effect of the sum total of all the impressions of my past life. This is really what is meant by character; each man"s character is determined by the sum total of these impressions. If good impressions prevail, the character becomes good; if bad, it becomes bad. If a man continuously hears bad words, thinks bad thoughts, does bad actions, his mind will be full of bad impressions; and they will influence his thought and work without his being conscious of the fact.
In fact, these bad impressions are always working, and their resultant
must be evil, and that man will be a bad man; he cannot help it. The
sum total of these impressions in him will create the strong motive
power for doing bad actions. He will be like a machine in the hand of
his impressions, and they will force him to do evil. Similarly, if a man
thinks good thoughts and does good works, the sum total of these
impressions will be good; and they, in a similar manner, will force him
to do good even in spite of himself. . ."
What a complete picture of character building!
Repetition, or repeated thinking of a thought or happening of an action creates what we call character. It is an outcome of experience, of thoughts and actions, of reactions and responses—of life itself. In Swamiji"s insightful words: "Karma in its effect on character is the most tremendous power that man has to deal with. Man, as it were, is a centre, and is attracting all the powers of the universe, towards himself. Good and bad, misery and happiness, all are running towards him and clinging round him, and out of them he fashions the mighty stream of tendencies called character and throws it outwards."
What a complete picture of character building!
Repetition, or repeated thinking of a thought or happening of an action creates what we call character. It is an outcome of experience, of thoughts and actions, of reactions and responses—of life itself. In Swamiji"s insightful words: "Karma in its effect on character is the most tremendous power that man has to deal with. Man, as it were, is a centre, and is attracting all the powers of the universe, towards himself. Good and bad, misery and happiness, all are running towards him and clinging round him, and out of them he fashions the mighty stream of tendencies called character and throws it outwards."
his means that character-building is the result of whatever we do and
do not do (for not doing is also a kind of action). But is character
inherited or is it subject to change? Can one change one's character?
This is an important issue that bothers most human minds and hence
understanding it is essential to the whole process of
character-building.
According to Swamiji, the birth of a person does have a role to play. He said once,
'One child is born of a divine nature, another of a human, others of lower character.'3
While parentage and formative period of one's life cast an influence on one's character, every human being has an opportunity to change himself. He can make a choice, and can change himself. If it were not so, all spiritual counsels would be meaningless, all scriptures would turn ineffective and man will remain condemned forever. If past actions have played a role in making our present character, it naturally follows that our future character will be determined by what we do now. Swamiji explains: "Look back on yourselves from the state of the amoeba to the human being; who made all that? Your own will. Can you deny then that it is almighty? That which has made you come up so high can make you go higher still. What you want is character, strengthening of the will"4
Herein lies, therefore, the secret of character-building: strengthening of the will. The will is strengthened through repeated practices. It is akin to muscle building exercises. A man with strong muscles is a man who has exercised his muscles repeatedly. Repetition 'brings out' the potential muscles. It is a process of inside-out—of 'manifesting the perfection that is already within'.
Moreover, there is no other way out to lasting peace and meaning in life except by building character. There are no substitutes.
Training the Mind-the Secret
Training the will means training or controlling the senses and the mind and not be controlled by them. Kathopanishad5 speaks of the human personality as a chariot thus:
Know the atman to be the master of the chariot; the body, the chariot; the buddhi [discriminating faculty], the charioteer; and the mind, the reins. The senses, they say, are the horses; the object, the roads. . . .A man who has discrimination for his charioteer, and holds the reins of the mind firmly, reaches the end of the road; and that is the supreme position of Vishnu [the all-pervading Consciousness].
The secret of character-building lies in training the mind. Let us recall the well-known passage about character-building:
Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap your character.
Sow character and reap your destiny.
The whole process, as is evident from this, begins with when we 'sow a thought'. The problem, and the solution to it, lies with our thoughts, or to be more precise, with our will power. It is the will which needs to be trained. To this, one should become the master of the chariot, instead of becoming a slave to the horses [senses] and the reins [mind or thoughts]. This is an inner training wherein the charioteer [buddhi] has to be strengthened and re-educated. It has to learn to control the senses and the mind, and not be controlled by them. Says Swamiji:
"He who has succeeded in attaching or detaching his mind to or from the centres at will has succeeded in Pratyahara, which means, 'gathering towards,' checking the outgoing powers of the mind, freeing it from the thraldom of the senses. When we can do this, we shall really possess character. . ."Let us look at character-building from the viewpoint of spiritual life, where meditation plays a central role. Meditation depends upon concentration, and concentration depends upon withdrawal of the mind, which, again, depends upon self-control. Self-control, which signifies mastery over the mind and the senses, is therefore the secret of all success in meditation, and also of mastering the character-building process.
According to Swamiji, the birth of a person does have a role to play. He said once,
'One child is born of a divine nature, another of a human, others of lower character.'3
While parentage and formative period of one's life cast an influence on one's character, every human being has an opportunity to change himself. He can make a choice, and can change himself. If it were not so, all spiritual counsels would be meaningless, all scriptures would turn ineffective and man will remain condemned forever. If past actions have played a role in making our present character, it naturally follows that our future character will be determined by what we do now. Swamiji explains: "Look back on yourselves from the state of the amoeba to the human being; who made all that? Your own will. Can you deny then that it is almighty? That which has made you come up so high can make you go higher still. What you want is character, strengthening of the will"4
Herein lies, therefore, the secret of character-building: strengthening of the will. The will is strengthened through repeated practices. It is akin to muscle building exercises. A man with strong muscles is a man who has exercised his muscles repeatedly. Repetition 'brings out' the potential muscles. It is a process of inside-out—of 'manifesting the perfection that is already within'.
Moreover, there is no other way out to lasting peace and meaning in life except by building character. There are no substitutes.
Training the Mind-the Secret
Training the will means training or controlling the senses and the mind and not be controlled by them. Kathopanishad5 speaks of the human personality as a chariot thus:
Know the atman to be the master of the chariot; the body, the chariot; the buddhi [discriminating faculty], the charioteer; and the mind, the reins. The senses, they say, are the horses; the object, the roads. . . .A man who has discrimination for his charioteer, and holds the reins of the mind firmly, reaches the end of the road; and that is the supreme position of Vishnu [the all-pervading Consciousness].
The secret of character-building lies in training the mind. Let us recall the well-known passage about character-building:
Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap your character.
Sow character and reap your destiny.
The whole process, as is evident from this, begins with when we 'sow a thought'. The problem, and the solution to it, lies with our thoughts, or to be more precise, with our will power. It is the will which needs to be trained. To this, one should become the master of the chariot, instead of becoming a slave to the horses [senses] and the reins [mind or thoughts]. This is an inner training wherein the charioteer [buddhi] has to be strengthened and re-educated. It has to learn to control the senses and the mind, and not be controlled by them. Says Swamiji:
"He who has succeeded in attaching or detaching his mind to or from the centres at will has succeeded in Pratyahara, which means, 'gathering towards,' checking the outgoing powers of the mind, freeing it from the thraldom of the senses. When we can do this, we shall really possess character. . ."Let us look at character-building from the viewpoint of spiritual life, where meditation plays a central role. Meditation depends upon concentration, and concentration depends upon withdrawal of the mind, which, again, depends upon self-control. Self-control, which signifies mastery over the mind and the senses, is therefore the secret of all success in meditation, and also of mastering the character-building process.
Self-control is a way of life. It is based on exercising
and strengthening one's will on the right lines. One has to learn to
control one's cravings and channel them in healthier means of
expression. Chastity, truthfulness and genuine sympathy are the three
indispensable components of a true character. The approach to
character-building should be always positive. One should emphasise on
nurturing positive virtues rather than getting rid of vices. It is a
wide-spread trend these days to emphasise the importance of overcoming
addiction to alcohol, drugs or other compulsive habits. In doing so they
emphasise on their harmful effects but fail to emphasise on what one
should do in place of such habits. The result is that people keep
attending camps/seminars and continue with their wrong habits also.
Nor
should one mistake character with talents. By talent is meant some
special trait or capacity to do something such as having an aptitude for
singing or for writing or public speaking. One should not forget that
while we admire talent, it is character what we really respect. Talent
may bring us some fame and reputation but it is character which is the
real man. Swami Vivekananda rightly pointed out:“If you really want to judge of the character of a man, look not at his great performances. Every fool may become a hero at one time or another. Watch a man do his most common actions; those are indeed the things which will tell you the real character of a great man. Great occasions rouse even the lowest of human beings to some kind of greatness, but he alone is the really great man whose character is great always, the same wherever he be."
One of the greatest helps in character-building consists in living with the men of character. If one is fortunate enough to find the company of a man of character, one finds subtle changes taking place in one's own character. For, company has a profound impact on the type of character one develops. More than what we are asked to do, it is the example of people with whom we live or admire that affects us most.
But sometimes we are not that fortunate. In that case reading and deep thinking over the lives and teachings of such men of character is of much help. One should surround one's mental atmosphere with holy and inspiring thoughts. Since we become what we admire, we should choose our objects of admiration and adoration with care.
To conclude, character-building is the way to spiritual growth and is also the fruit of all spiritual realization. It is foundation of true education also. To restrict education to acquisi-
tion of knowledge (or mere degrees, as is the case many times) is to not get educated at all. One may lack academic knowledge but if one has trained one's will, purified and controlled one's mind, he is then truly educated. He alone is able to live a true life and contribute to it meaningfully. Training of will should be the ultimate goal of all education.
Be it in secular matters or in spiritual matters, building a noble and pure character is the only lasting solution to life's problems. Character, however, is not built only in the silence of meditation (though meditation is of great help in that) but in the broad daylight of right action.
