Publication Spotlight: Character Building Workbook

Namaste everyone, today we want to take another look into our Character Building Workbook and highlight a few lessons to reflect on.

Why would we reflect on our character? Living dharmicly, or living virtuously, means our actions reflect our values. In order for our actions to reflect our values we actually need to have values. Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami says in his Oct/Nov/Dec, 2016, Hinduism Today Publisher's Desk "In its most general sense, dharma is that which sustains the orderly fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny."

Character is something we all need to work on and it's not usually something that comes naturally. While we move about through today's hectic world, we need to constantly remind ourselves that in order to fulfill our dharma we must continue nurturing our character, build values and act accordingly.

64 Character Traits takes you through daily or weekly lessons on building yourself into a dharmic being. It\

s not always obvious or easy, but Gurudeva outlines 64 traits in order for us to get going on this wonderous journey. '

Enduring, trait 22. Gurudeva explained: \"What is meant by ‘moving the forces of the world\

? That means fulfilling realistic goals that you set for yourself. That means performing your job as an employer or as an employee in the most excellent way possible. That means stretching your mind and emotions and endurance to the limit and therefore getting stronger and stronger day by day.\"'

Here is a recent photo of Satguru in Kajang, Malaysia, during a Rudra Homa. Satguru Endures not only because that is his job, but he is always cultivating his values, making them stronger and living as an example for us all.

Self-Confidence, trait 50. Gurudeva explained: \"All you can do in living your life every day is to make today just a little bit better than yesterday was. You will then have confidence in yourself, so that tomorrow will be all right, too, and you won\

t fear the tomorrows.\"'

Courageous, trait 14. Gurudeva explained: \"Courageous and fearless people who are just and honest prevail over all karmas, benevolent, terrible and confused. This virtue is much like the monk\

s vow of humility, part of which is enduring hardship with equanimity, ease of mind, which means not panicking.\"'

After one begins to bring values out of oneself life takes on new meaning. Soon after learning more and more values we live much better than before. We can begin to bring through that soul nature Gurudeva talked so fondly about. Then the more we learn we become responsible. That responsibility extends to teaching and that builds trust, and trust is the highest form of human motivation. Keep going and endure, be confident and have courage with each step you take.

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