Satsang 9 : Importance of the Personality Defect Removal process

We will try to understand in detail about the importance of the process of personality defect removal. It is expounded in the religious scriptures that human beings should shun the six foes (Shadripu). Saints have also said that the six foes are the enemies of human beings. The six foes (Shadripu), namely, desire (Kama), anger (Krodha), greed (Lobha), arrogance (Mada), attachment (Moha), jealousy (Matsarya), do not allow humans to remain in peace. Moreover, many vices in humans that are associated with these six foes because of which life becomes stressful and full of sorrows. If one wants to lead a happy life, one needs to get rid of these six foes or personality defects and vices. The unique process of personality defect removal developed and explained in simple language by the founder of Sanatan Sanstha, Paratpar Guru Dr. Athavale, can help achieve this. Many have already experienced increase in happiness and reduction in stress after implementing this process and are still doing so. It is said that ‘There is no medicine for one’s personality (Swabhav)’, but if one sincerely and genuinely implements this technique expounded by Paratpar Guru Dr. Athavale, then one can experience a total transformation in one’s personality.

Let us first understand what personality is. We come in contact with a lot of people while being in the society, but are they all of the same temperament? No. There are as many personalities or natures as there are people. Some are calm, some angry, some loving, some cunning, and some cowards. Every time an action is done, impressions in the subconscious mind manifest themselves through those actions and that is called a personality. For example, if someone is good at talking to people on their own, establish proper communication, then we call such a personality talkative or expressive. In short, personality means nature of an individual. If a person gets angry over trivial issues, then we call that person as shorttempered personality. For some people, the expression of these traits become so frequent that person starts to be identified with that good or bad personality trait. The instinct or conduct of a person is shaped by the subconscious impressions in his mind. The thoughts in the mind of a person originate from these subconscious impressions and depending on the thought, good or bad action is committed by that person. The conduct of a person is the manifestation of the subconscious impressions in his mind.

In usual terms, good impressions are called virtues and bad impressions are called ‘personality defects’. If a particular action of a person causes harm to himself and to others, then it is called ‘personality defect’ of that person. These are called the ‘six foes’ or ‘Shadripu’ in the spiritual parlance. They are active in every person in varying proportions.

If any one of the six foes is dominant, then the other five too get activated. Let us look at an example. Attachment or moha was predominant in a lady, which was more towards gold ornaments. Once, after seeing one of her neighbour wearing a gold necklace, she started having a strong desire (Kama) for a similar necklace for herself. She told her husband about her desire. Since they were financially not doing very well, he told her that it would be impossible for him to purchase a gold necklace. She became angry (Krodha) and started getting irritated. Her husband then took a loan and somehow managed to purchase a similar necklace for her. After she got the necklace, she wore it in front of everyone. This resulted in generating ‘arrogance (Mada)’ in her. After some days, she saw her neighbour wearing golden bangles on her wrists. This resulted in generating greed (Lobha) in her and she wanted similar ones for herself. Since he had already taken a loan for purchasing the gold necklace, it was impossible for her husband to immediately purchase the golden bangles for her. Now she started having feelings of jealousy (Matsarya) towards her neighbour. From this we can conclude that if one of the six foes is dominant, then the others also get activated according to the situation. Hence, it is important that even one of the foes is not allowed to get activated. We have seen an example representing this. We experience a large number of such incidents in our daily lives. Saints have classified these six foes of the mind as the enemies of humans. One can overcome them with the strength of sadhana.

Personality defects make an individual stressed in his life. Personality defects produce ill effects on the physical, mental, as well as spiritual levels. What are the ill effects on the physical level? If someone has a personality trait of worrying excessively, then the organs of his body experience its ill effects and he develops diseases like acidity, ulcer, asthma, high blood pressure, and diseases of the heart. What are the ill effects on the mental level? Many psychological problems like depression, lack of concentration, lack of confidence, memory loss, schizophrenia, etc., are developed due to personality defects. The more the number of personality defects, the more stressed an individual becomes. Such an individual gets mentally disturbed even due to the smallest of incidents. A huge amount of energy is wasted in fighting these personality defects and maintaining balance of oneself. Hence such a person becomes easily tired and demoralized. Some people take to addictive habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, etc., to escape stress; but this does not alleviate stress. Hence, even in our daily lives, getting rid of personality defects has become the need of the times.

The ill effects of personality defects are also experienced at the spiritual level. Irrespective of the path of spiritual practice one chooses, it becomes difficult to progress in one’s spiritual practice unless one does the process of personality defect removal and ego removal at least to some degree. For example, if a person is doing spiritual practice through the path of meditation (Dhyanmarg), he cannot meditate properly if there are innumerable thoughts in his mind due to his personality defects. Improper actions due to personality defects deplete the sadhana of that individual and his spiritual progress does not happen. For example, if one tells a lie once, 30 malas of chanting is wasted. Hence, while doing sadhana, not only it is important to do chanting, but it is equally important to take efforts for personality defect removal. If a vessel is full of holes, will it hold water in it? Only when the holes are sealed can water be filled up in it. Similarly, sadhana (water) can only remain held in an individual (vessel) in whom the personality defects (holes) have been sealed.

Nowadays, we see that many people, especially young people spend a good amount of money to enroll in personality development courses and camps for enriching their personality. In big companies too, such personality development classes are conducted for employees to reduce flaws in their personality so that they are able to work efficiently and confidently. The values required to behave in a civilized society are taught under the name of soft skills, but since there is no work done on removal of basic personality defects, the process remains temporary and superficial. In one’s daily life, it is important to manage one’s emotions in the right way and handle situations appropriately. For this to happen, humility, non – expectation, discretion, unselfishness, remaining steady while handling adverse situations calmly and positively and taking decisions, these are the qualities that are required. Grassroot level and spiritual efforts are required to make this happen. As one progresses in sadhana, one’s intellect becomes satvik, personality defects reduce, and personality is developed. In other language, ‘personality development’ is a ‘byproduct’ of the process of personality defect removal. Personality defect removal is the process in which the personality defects in a person are removed and replaced with impressions of good qualities in his mind.