YOUTH FORUM

integrated personality:
THE CRUCIAL NEED OF THE YOUTH

Swami Budhananda

(Continued from the previous issue.)

Helpful Means for Developing IP

There are several disciplines for building IP which can be knowingly cultivated. These are:

1. Acquiring knowledge and training of the physical and mental systems in an integrated manner.

2. Practice of three austerities of body, speech and mind as taught by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.

3. Training in acquirement of divine treasure (daivi sampad).

4. Practice of the disciplines of Yama and Niyama, as prescribed by Patanjali.

5. Cultivation of approved or ethical conduct.

6. Commitment to the higher scheme of values.

7. Developing the powers of discrimination, concentration, detachment, and will power.

8. Training in developing the five powers of the true learner.

Acquired IP, practically speaking, is self-mastery. Self-mastery presupposes the knowledge and the mastery of the instruments, the body and mind. Let us now go into some details.

Practice of the three austerities of body, speech and mind are thus taught by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita:

'Worship of gods, of the holy people, of teachers, and of the wise, cleanliness, uprightness, continence and non-violence--these are said to be austerity of the body.' (17.14)

'Words that do not give offence and that are truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, and also the regular recitation of the Vedas--these are said to be the austerity of the speech.' (17.15)

'Serenity of the mind, gentleness, silence, self-control and purity of heart--these constitute the austerity of the mind.' (17.16)

A careful study of the threefold austerities enjoined by Sri Krishna will reveal that these are basically prescriptions for attaining psychophysical efficiency for being able to effectively live a higher life.

Daivi sampad or divine treasure as detailed by Sri Krishna in the Gita':

'Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga; charity, self-control, and sacrifice; study of the scriptures, austerity and uprightness.' (16.1)

'Non-violence, truth, and freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility, and aversion to slander, compassion to beings and freedom from covetousness; gentleness, modestry, and absence of fickleness.'(16.2)

'Courage, forgiveness, and fortitude; purity, freedom from malice and overweening pride--these belong to him who is born with divine treasure.'(16.3)

Most of us may not have been born with divine treasure. Even then this can be acquired. How? First, we have to develop an insight into the inner meaning of these words through repeated deep thinking. By continuing to do so, we shall understand why these virtues are called daivi sampad.

Then our inner struggle will begin. This struggle must be faced and gone through without being nervous and despondent. Our own purva samskaras, acquired past tendencies, particularly the evil ones will put up stiff resistence. But if we are well convinced that without the acquisition of divine treasure, life cannot but be abominable, and are inflexibly determined to acquire it, then through required struggle, by God's grace, it can be obtained.

Practice of disciplines of Yama and Niyama:

In his Yoga-sutras (II. 30-32) the great teacher Patanjali prescribes two disciplines called Yama and Niyama for laying the foundation of such a viable IP. Life is short and building one's IP a long process; no one should waste any further time.

What is Yama? Patanjali says: 'Non-killing, truthfulness, continence, non-stealing, and non-receiving are called Yama.' He further says: 'These, unbroken by time, place, purpose and caste-rules, are sarva-bhauma-mahavratam, universal great vows.' In the following aphorism Patanjali teaches: Internal and external purification, contentment, mortification, study and worship of God are the Niyamas.

Let us now consider the last item, namely: Cultivation of the Five Powers of a Learner. In the Anguttara Nikaya Buddha teachers his disciples to cultivate five powers of a learner.

1. The power of faith: The true learner has faith in his teacher and believes in his enlightenment and his ability to teach of the Supreme Truth.

2. The power of conscientiousness: The true learner is naturally conscientious and has qualms of conscience when acting wrongly in thought, word or deed.

3. The power of fear: The true learner is afraid of the blame that comes from acting wrongly in thought, word or deed.

4. The power of energy: The true learner has an abiding energy to discard all wrong things and adopt the right ones.

5. The power of insight: The true learner has an insight into the real nature of things and he sees the decay inherent in growth and thereby prepares himself to destroy the root cause of sorrow.

We have been provided here plenty of precious material for building great IP. Now let the architect use his imagination, will, energy and enthusiasm to build that magnificent structure of life which is called IP.

To be concluded...