How to build character

How to build Character

Major Retd Pravin SinghCommandant

MB Military School

What is Character• Character is the light which shines

when the sun in down, and all other lights are off.• Character is the awakened divine in

man, before whom all heads bend, except those of insane.• Everything made by man can be

destroyed by man, but not character.

Loss of Character• When we have lost everything but not

character, we have not lost anything.• Characterlessness is that destitution which

cannot be worsened.• One can build one’s own character. One can

also lose one’s character, even after building it. Character needs perpetual tending, like breathing every moment, for living.

Character: The crucial need of man

What is “Character”• Character is what a person truly is,

Reputation is what he is supposed to be.• When character and reputation are

same , that is ideal state of being.• Greek word of character means to

engrave one’s mode of being in the world.

Definition• Character is defined as qualities or

features by which a person or thing is distinguished from another, the aggregate of distinguishing mental and moral qualities of an individual or a race as a whole, the stamp of individuality impressed by nature, education or habit, that which a person or thing really is.

Bend of mind• Character of any man is but the aggregate

of his tendencies, the sum total of the bend of mind. We are what our thoughts have made us. • Thoughts live, they travel far. So take care

of what you think.• If good impressions prevail, the character

becomes good, if bad it becomes bad.

Basics• Family• Teachers• Friend• Religion• Books• Likes and dislikes• Role models• Conscience

Helpful disciplines1. Acquiring training and knowledge of physical and mental

systems in an integrated manner.2. Practice of the three austerities of body, speech and

mind……Bhagwad Geeta.3. Training in acquirement of divine treasure. 4. Practice of disciplines of Yama and Niyama.5. Cultivation of approved or ethical conduct.6. Commitment to 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.

Acquiring Knowledge and Training

• Acquired character, practically speaking, is self mastery. Self mastery presupposes the knowledge and the mastery of the instruments, the body and mind.

Helpful Discipline No 1

Acquiring Knowledge and Training

• Acquired character is, practically speaking is self mastery.• Mastery presupposes the

knowledge and the mastery of the instruments, the body and mind.


Austerities of Body, Speech and Mind

• देव्द्वि��जागुरुप्राज्ञपूजन शौचमाज�वम ब्रह्मचार्य�महि�ंसा च शरीर तप उच्र्यते • Worship of Gods, of the twice born,

of teachers, and of the wise, cleanliness, uprightness, continence and non-violence these are said to be austerity of body.



• अनु�ेगकर वाक्र्य सत्र्य प्रिप्रर्यप्रि�त चा र्यत स्वाध्र्यार्यभर्यस्न चैव वनमर्यम तप उच्र्यते• 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.



• मनःप्रसाद सौम्र्यत्व मौनमात्मप्रिवप्रिनग्र� भावसन्शुद्धि1रिरत्र्येततपो मानसमुचर्यते• Serenity of mind, gentleness,

silence, self-control and purity of heart- these constitute the austerity of the mind.


Divine Treasure “Daivi sampad”

• अभर्य सत्वसंशुद्धि1ज्ञा�नर्योगव्यवस्थि7प्रित: दान दमक्ष्च र्यज्ञक्ष्च स्वाध्र्यार्यस्तप आज�वम • Fearlessness, purity of heart,

steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of the scriptures, austerity and uprightness.



• अहि�ंसा सत्र्यमक्रोधस्त्र्याग: शांप्रितरपैशुनम दर्या भूतेषवलोलुपत्वम मद�व प्रि�रचापलम • Non violence, truth, freedom from anger,

renunciation, tranquility, aversion to slander, compassion to beings and freedom from covetousness, gentleness, modesty and absence of fickleness.



• तेज: क्षमा धृप्रित: शौचमद्रो�ों नाप्रितमाप्रिनता भवन्तिCत संपद दैवीमभिभजातस्र्य भारत • Courage, forgiveness, fortitude,

purity, freedom from malice, overweening pride – these belong to him who is born with divine treasure. Helpful Discipline No 3

Divine Treasure “Daivi sampad”• Not born with divine treasure, how to acquire it?• We have to develop an insight into the inner

meaning of these words through repeated deep thinking and understanding the virtues of divine treasure.

• Inner struggle will begin with acquired past tendencies particularly the evil one will put stiff resistance.

• This challenge is taken up only by the vigorous and intelligent among the youth.


Practice of disciplines of Yama and Niyama

• अहि�ंसा – सत्र्यास्तेर्य – ब्रां�चर्य�परिरग्र�ा र्यमा: • Non – killing, truthfulness, non –

stealing, continence and non receiving are called Yama.

• एते जाप्रित – देश – काल समर्यानवस्थिGन्ना: सवा�भौमाम�ाव्रतम• These, unbroken by time, place,

purpose and caste rules are universal great vows. Helpful Discipline No 4

Practice of disciplines of Yama and Niyama

• शौच – संतोष – तप: स्वाध्र्यार्येस्वरप्राभिJधाप्रिन प्रिनर्यमा:

• Internal and external purification, contentment, mortification, study and worship of God are Niyams.


Three Austerities and Yama and Niyama

• Study of threefold adulteries of body, speech and mind as defined in Bhagwad Geeta and Yama - Niyama as prescribed in Patanjali we find that there is repetition.• These repetition emphasize how

important are these for character building. Helpful Discipline No 4

Cultivation of approved or ethical conduct

• Character in good part is conduct. You behave as you are. You cannot behave better for any length of time unless you are better.

• How to become better than yourself ?• By deliberately practicing approved or ethical

conduct.• Approved or ethical conduct is identical to divine

treasures and the austerities of body, speech and mind as discussed earlier.


Commitment to higher scheme of values • A well regulated life brings honour, Neglect of it

will lead to utter disgrace.• ‘Discipline of life’ is more precious than life

itself, for it is discipline that life derives values. • It is this derived values that formulate the sinews

of our character.• Teachings only point towards the way, you have

to later get the teachings into actual practice. (Practical application is more important than theory). Helpful Discipline No 6

Developing power of discrimination, concentration, detachment and will power

•Will be discussed separately in our next class on

WILL POWER.Helpful Discipline No 7

Cultivation of five powers of Learners1. The Power of Faith.2. The Power of

Conscientiousness.3. The Power of Fear.4. The Power of Energy.5. The Power of Insight.


Cultivation of five powers of Learners1. The Power of Faith: -

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


Cultivation of five powers of Learners2. The Power of Conscientiousness.

The true learner is naturally conscientious and has qualms of conscience when wrongly in thought, word and deed.


Cultivation of five powers of Learners

3. The Power of Fear.The true learner is

afraid of the blame that comes from acting wrongly in thought, word or deed.


Cultivation of five powers of Learners

4. The Power of Energy.The true learner has

abiding energy to discard all wrong things and adopt the right ones.


Cultivation of five powers of Learners5. 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.


Conclusion • We have provided here plenty of

precious material for building great character. • Now let the architect use his imagination,

will, energy and enthusiasm to build that magnificent structure of life which is called CHARACTER.

Education

How to build character