Who is adored by everyone?
Everyone likes a person who is honest, truthful and well behaved. It is a delight to sit near him and talk to such people. Humility, forbearance, courage, dedication to work, self-confidence, trustworthiness, kindness, honesty, determination, earnestness, integrity and other such virtues are what combine to make the character of a person. Wealth of character is not ordinary wealth. Possessing completely even a few of these virtues brings success to human life.
How and When is character built?
Childhood is the best time for character building. It is easier to pick up good habits during this period. These habits are useful throughout one’s life. All that is told and taught to children are indelibly impressed in their minds. One attains knowledge by respecting the Satguru and obeying His commands. That’s how Arjuna learned archery from his Guru. Lord Rama attained Self-knowledge through obedience to commands of Guru Vasishtha.
Character is the foundation of the human life. And qualities of one’s character find expression not in his words but behaviour. One may fool somebody by pretension for some time but not for a long time. People trust the words of the man of character and consider it useful and beneficial. Man of good character is not deceitful, doesn’t attempt to pull others down and doesn’t make a promise that he can’t fulfil.
What is good character?
In order to build good character, do not harm or hurt anybody in thought, word or deed. Even when you tell the truth, state it in pleasant words. Don’t steal, don’t slander. Don’t lust for reputation and fame. Bathing cleanses the body, and giving up envy, hostility and animosity cleanses the mind. Perform your duties diligently braving heat and cold; pain and pleasure. Keep studying spiritual books. Restrain your senses and mind to make your disposition unpretentious. Pujya Bapuji says, “Desires which make one averse to God constitutes bad conduct. When we refrain from bad conduct we become good in character. Good character inspires one to perform meritorious deeds and our interest in satsang, darshan of saints and God is kindled by religious merits.
Saints for their part are inaccessible without a stock of merit.”(Sant Tulsidasji)
Characteristics of good character
A man of character doesn’t try to be shrewd. People prefer a candid person of good character. He doesn’t boast of his achievements to disparage others. He is patient and tolerant. He listens to other’s opinions with patience and attention. Even if he doesn’t agree with such opinion, he has the patience to listen to it. If he points out another’s mistake, he does it very gently, cautiously in order to reform him. He never discourages anyone or breaks their heart. He encourages and inspires others to do good works. He never loses courage. He remains equal in pain and pleasure. He doesn’t abandon friends and family in their adversity. Lord Krishna played the role of such a friend to Sudama. To maintain friendship is also a sign of good character.
Character: A priceless treasure of man
He who is desirous of his welfare should endeavour to build a strong character. If we are of good character and do good deeds, our intellect makes the right decisions, guides us to the right path. By treading the right path we can easily attain our goal of Self-realization.
Character is the most precious wealth of man, the greatest of all wealth in the world. It continues to exist even after physical death. Only a person of good character can lead and guide society, country and the world in the right direction. Man becomes respectable for a long time on the strength of his good character and good deeds. When we set God-realization as the primary goal of our life we become steadfast in good character. For developing good character one should make Self-realized great men his role models.
One may become a celebrity or an eminent person but if he does not have good character he will not get inner peace and his future will not be bright. However the one who has the strength of good character, even though he might have less wealth and power, he will have unparalleled inner peace, happiness and knowledge, and his future will become brightest on attainment of Self-realization.
