Personality Chart
The Bhagavad Gita, the quintessential text of Vedanta, offers a profound analysis of the human personality. It classifies individuals based on their inherent mental tendencies, known as the three gunas - sattva, rajas, and tamas.
Sattva represents the state of mental poise, serenity, and objectivity. Rajas denotes the state of passionate, desirous, and agitated thoughts. Tamas signifies the state of mental inertia, indifference, and indolence.
These three gunas, when combined in different proportions, account for the vast diversity of human personalities. Let's explore how Vedanta categorizes individuals based on the predominance of these gunas:
The Five Types of Personalities
Mineral-Person
Individuals in this category are the most self-centered and indifferent to the world around them. Their nature is akin to that of inanimate matter - grossly lethargic, irresponsible, and solely focused on gratifying their senses.
Vegetable-Person
These individuals have a slightly less selfish nature, but their interests still revolve primarily around their immediate family and domestic circle. They strive to cater to the pleasures of their loved ones, with little concern for the broader community.
Animal-Person
Persons in this category identify more with their caste, creed, or community. They are sacrificial towards their own group but often harsh and antagonistic towards those outside their boundaries. This breeds discord and disunity in society.
Human-Person
Individuals in this category have a wider range of interests, some identifying with their nation, others with all of humanity. They are more benevolent and willing to work for the welfare of their chosen group. However, they still maintain a distinction between "us" and "them," often treating non-members with indifference or malice.
God-Person
The rare God-person has transcended all selfish tendencies and achieved a state of universal love and identification. Their love is all-embracing, and they see no distinction between themselves and the entire universe. They have realized their oneness with the divine.
It's important to note that these classifications are not static, but rather a reflection of an individual's predominant mental tendencies at a given time. With spiritual practice and self-effort, one can gradually transition from the lower to the higher categories, ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the God-person.
The Three Conditions of the Mind
The Bhagavad Gita further delves into the three distinct conditions of the human mind:
Imperfect Mind
This is the state where the mind remains agitated and easily disturbed by external factors. Like a cone balanced on its vertex, it is inherently unstable and prone to toppling over at the slightest disturbance.
Perfect Mind
The perfectly poised mind is akin to a cone resting firmly on its base. It remains calm and composed, unaffected by the best or worst of situations, honors or dishonors. This is the state of the self-realized individual.
Step 1: Achieving the Perfect Mind
To reach the state of the perfect mind, one must engage in the daily study and reflection of Vedantic truths. This gradually purifies the mind, reducing mental agitations and leading to a life of peace and bliss.
Step 2: The Role of Intellect
The intellect plays a crucial role in disciplining the mind. It must be strengthened through the practice of reasoning, discernment, and discrimination between the real and the unreal, the eternal and the ephemeral.
By understanding the nuances of the human personality and the conditions of the mind, one can embark on a journey of self-improvement and spiritual growth, ultimately attaining the exalted state of the God-person.