Ch 26

• Personality and its development are a major concern for psychology
• Personality does not refer only to physical appearance but also includes the social and spiritual aspects of existence
• Indian sages have provided comprehensive models of highly developed human potential
• Bhagvad Gita describes the Tri Guna view, while Upanishads present the panch kosha theory
• Sri Aurobindo has developed a system of one's being based on studies on consciousness
• The theory of Trigunas states that human existence is a combination of Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas
• Sattwik individuals function moderately in various activities, meditate regularly, and radiate knowledge
• Rajasik individuals are very active, dynamic, and addicted to work
• Tamasik individuals do not like to work, are failures in life, and are dirty, idle, and lethargic
• Each person is a combination of these three qualities to different degrees
• Personality development involves achieving and maintaining the right proportion of Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas
• The theory of Panch Koshas describes five sheaths of human existence
• Annamaya Kosha: The physical body, termed as the Food Sheath, develops from food consumed and transforms into muscles, veins, nerves, blood, and bones
• Pranamaya Kosha: The Vital Sheath, consists of five Pranas controlling perceptions, excretion, digestion, circulation, and thinking
• The Vital Sheath regulates the Food Sheath, and its faculties weaken with age
• The five faculties that gradually weaken with age are: self-education, Vital Sheath, Pranamaya Kosha, Manomaya Kosha, Vijnanamaya Kosha, and Anandamaya Kosha
• The signs of healthy development of Pranamaya Kosha include: enthusiasm, ability to use voice effectively, suppleness of body, perseverance, leadership, discipline, honesty, and nobility
• The mind regulates the Pranamaya Kosha or Vital Sheath
• The intellect (Buddhi) is the discriminating and discerning process which examines and judges the stimuli received
• The Blissful Sheath controls the Intellectual Sheath
• Personality development moves from Annamaya Kosha to pure consciousness by gradually removing all five covers that mask it
• Activities that challenge one's intellect develop Vijnanamaya Kosha, such as debates, problem-solving, study techniques, small research projects, evaluation, and appreciation of books
• Regular eating habits, exercise, night food, and Yoga facilitate the development of Annamaya Kosha
• To facilitate the development of Anandamaya Kosha, one can extend consciousness to reach the earth, the sun, the stars, the galaxies, and the universe
• The innermost circle of consciousness according to Sri Aurobindo is called Psychic being or Atman
• Human existence and its development is a major concern of psychology
• The coverings or sheaths of Atman are called Koshas, which include Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya, and Anandamaya
• The signs of healthy development of Annamaya Kosha include: fitness, agility, stamina, and endurance
• Sri Aurobindo's perspective gives a concentric and a vertical model of being, similar to the development of Panch Koshas
• The body is considered an effective instrument in the worship of God according to Indian psychology