The Katha Upanishad
describes human personality with the help of a chariot allegory. ‘Our ‘I’ is
represented by the master of the chariot; the body is the chariot and the
buddhi the charioteer. The manas is represented by the reins to which are yoked
the horses representing the sense organs-ears, skin, eyes, tongue and nose- which
are the five windows in a human being that five him or her the knowledge of
objects in the world. The road on which the chariot travels is represented by
the sense objects. The human being who identifies himself or herself with this
body-mind system is said to be the enjoyer of objects or the fruits of action.
If the horses are not
broken and if the charioteer is asleep, the chariot cannot reach its
destination. It can even overturn and spell the death of the master. Similarly,
if the sense organs are not disciplined, and if the power of discrimination
lies dormant, one cannot reach the goal of human life.
On the other hand, if the
horses are broken and the charioteer is wide-awake, the chariot reaches its
destination. Even so, if the buddhi is wide awake, and if the sensory system
together with the mind is disciplined and controlled, a human being can reach
the goal of his life. What is that goal? We will come to it shortly. Another
important activity of the mind that concerns personality development is our
emotions. More the emotions are under control, healthier becomes one’s
personality. Emotions can be broadly classified into two types, viz attraction
and repulsion. Love, admiration, aspiration, sympathy, joy, veneration, pride
and the like indicate attraction. Hate, anger, fear, sorrow, jealousy, disgust,
shame, etc., are of the nature of repulsion. As long as one is entangled with
the undisciplined mind, one’s personality does not really develop. Buddhi, the
charioteer, serves as an effective instrument of self-development by
controlling the emotions and raising the higher self from the hold of the lower
mind.
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