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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 
marvelous 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 analyze. 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 realize 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 moment. 
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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