Man must cultivate such a character, for character outlasts the body.
Virtues are the strength and the glory of Man.
Character is Power. (DhyV, p. 50)
Character is Power. Even the acquisition of knowledge demands a good character. Without character, wealth, education, social status, all these are of no avail. Among the qualities that make up a flawless character, love, patience, forbearance, steadfastness, charity - these are the highest, these have to be revered. So everyone must yearn to attain flawless character without any trace of evil. (Prema Vahini, pp. 1-2)
Character Is Power, Not Knowledge. Nothing can be more powerful than Character. (NNSG Vol.5, p. 172)
Character is the hall-mark of man. A life without good character is a shrine without light, a coin that is counterfeit, a kite with the string broken. (V Vahini, p. 83)
Character is the highest step. (FDD, pp. C-2)
‘When one chooses a life partner nowadays the first consideration is paid to external beauty and charm. Next the economic position is taken as the basis. How rich is he or she? How much does he or she earn? Questions like are they educated, what is the social status of the families to which they belong are asked later. Carried off by mere external frills and foppery, people enter into wedlock and get entangled in misery of destructive family life. The family cannot be stable if it is built on such slender foundations. Prime importance has to be paid to fundamental requisites of a good character, high ideals of tolerance and forbearance, love and service. When beauty fades or wealth wanes, the bond too becomes less strong.’ (Div, p. 44)
Purity + Patience + Perseverance = Character (Uniq, p. 170)
Character is the measure of man. Character insists on keeping vice and wickedness at a distance. It reminds man of obligations and responsibilities, of the high ideals and goal of human life. Life not sanctified by character is a home without lamps, a coin that is counterfeit. (SSS Vol.16, p. 23)
Many students do not know the full story of Prahlada (grandfather of Bali). If you have to name anyone for his highest character, it is Prahlada alone. Once, Indra conquered Prahlada and enjoyed Swarga (the realm of the gods). Later Prahlada overcame Indra and deprived him of Swarga. Indra was forlorn and sought the advice of his high priest for winning back his kingdom. The priest told him that Prahlada was performing a great yaga called Vishvajit and Indra should assume the form of a Brahmin and seek a gift from Prahlada. Prahlada will give whatever one seeks from him. Indra went to Prahlada in the guise of a poor Brahmin. Prahlada welcomed him and asked him what he wanted.
As advised earlier by his high priest, he asked Prahlada to offer him Prahlada’s Seelam (character). Prahlada enquired of the Brahmin of what use was his character to the seeker. The Brahmin replied that there was no need to go into all that. He had expressed what he wanted in response to Prahlada’s offer to give whatever anyone asked at the Vishvajit sacrifice. ‘Are you prepared to give or not?’ Prahlada immediately gave what the Brahmin asked with due ceremony.
Within a few minutes, an effulgent flame emerged from Prahlada. Seeing the effulgent form, he asked: ‘Who are you?’ The effulgent figure prostrated before Prahlada and said: ‘I am your character. Hitherto I was in you. I fostered your name and fame. Now you have given me away as a gift. Hence I am leaving you.’
When character left Prahlada, shortly thereafter another beautiful effulgent form issued forth from Prahlada. Prahlada asked him: ‘Who are you? ‘Oh King!’ The radiant figure replied ‘Prahlada! I am your Kirti (Reputation). When character has left you, I have no place within you. Hitherto I was servant of Character. When Character has left you, I have to follow suit.’
Prahlada was puzzled. Then came another beautiful radiant female form from Prahlada. Prahlada respectfully asked her: ‘Mother! Who are you?’ ‘Prahlada! After the departure of Character and Reputation, I, namely Rajyalakshmi, (the goddess of royal prosperity) have no place within you.’ Indra, who had come in the form of a Brahmin, took all the three with him.
That very moment, Prahlada lost his kingdom. You can see from this how one’s fame and prosperity are dependent on one’s character. Character is a supremely Divine quality. Hence God is described as having six great attributes including righteousness, infinite wealth, boundless prosperity, indescribable fame and unfathomable wisdom. Prahlada was the embodiment of character. After Indra had taken away his character from Prahlada, the latter got married and had a son by name Virochana. You may realise from this episode what importance is attached to character in the spiritual process. This character should be offered only to God and none else. God is utterly selfless and therefore offering your character to God will mean no loss to you. (SSS Vol.29, pp. 278-279)
Character is very important for managerial excellence but now it is being ignored in today’s society. In Japan, one bank went into bankruptcy because of one person who was characterless: who resorted to gambling and endangered the bank’s very survival. The people at the helm of affairs in the bank, who were supposed to have kept an eye on deviations, could not sense the impending catastrophe because they did not recognise the importance of character in business. Though the importance attached to character is decreasing all over the world, in India, by and large, it is finding a place in some form. If character of the people working in an organisation is good, even a poorly faring organisation can be transformed into a good one with some hard labour. Reviving a chronically loss-making organisation through reengineering is possible if actual causes and pertinent reasons for its poor performance are ascertained in a systematic manner. Even when a small-scale industry is started, all the funds at one’s disposal need /should not be exhausted. Instead some part of the funds should be retained to meet exigencies in times of unforeseen contingencies. Students of management should not rely on bookish knowledge alone but should use practical knowledge to tackle with organisational problems and issues. (M, p. 37)
It may not be so easy to develop individual character and do service in society simultaneously. The individual character cannot be learnt or borrowed from others but it should be cultivated in a natural manner, without any external pressure or force: As anything done because of force will be short-lived. It should emanate in a natural way for it is for the sake of one’s own life: wherein it integrates well with fundamental character and national character. Those with national character become leaders of nations and one with individual character will become a Master unto Himself, thereafter a master of others. In case of some leaders (as promoters) of business, they all have national character. The companies with the help of funds received through public issues have now become units of their own with the passage of time. Therefore, it is important to develop individual character and then start careers. (M, p. 40)
Religion is three-fourths character. No person can claim to be religious if he merely observes the sacraments and rules and fails to be upright and compassionate. Character alone can harden one to the blows of pain and pleasure. (SSS Vol.9)