Buddhist Perspective on Personality

Subject: BUPH 21312 Buddhist Analysis of Mind

Lecturer: Ven. Bhante Suseela
Student: Do Tho Ha (Nadi)
Student ID: HS/FS20/0009
Content
• Definition of Personality
• The Aim
• Type and Trait of Personatity
• Personality Formation and Development
• Personality through Behaviour
• Personality Dispositions and Training
• References.
Definition of Personality:
Psychological perspective.
• The origin of the word “personality” – and “person” –
is the Latin word persona, which once referred to the
masks that actor wore in Roman theater. Masks serve
an interesting dual purpose. They emphasize the
personal qualities of a character and thus
communicate those qualities to others. Yet, at the
same time, they hide from others the true features of
the individual wearing the mask.
• The sum-total of all the factors of physique and
constitution and all the enduring, underlying
tendencies that determine the characteristic behavior
of a person.
• Personality psychology is concerned with the dynamics
of intre-individual functioning and the coherence and
thematic unity of particular lives
Buddhist perspective
• Personality as a psycho-physical entity
(nāma-rūpa) or five aggregates: rūpa
(matter), vedanā (feelings), saññā
(perception), saṅkhāra (Volitional
actions), and Viññāna
(Consciousness).
• Personality formation and
development is based on the analysis
of Paticca-samuppāda theory (the
doctrine of Dependent Origination).
The aim:
• The psychology of Buddhism offers material for the study of personality types and
traits, though these references are rooted in the ethical and religious quest of
Buddhism, namely psychological qualities that involved in the path to mental
liberation.
• To realize the three characteristics of human life: impermanent (Anicca), suffering
(dukkha), and non-self (anatta) and the way leading to the cessation of dukkha.
Type and trait of personatity.
Based on the ability of purity of mind or the levels of fetters destruction:

Types of Personality Degree of purity of mind

Puthujjjana Unenlightened person Remained bound by ten fetters

(average person)
Ariyajana – sekha Sotāpanna – one who has entered Free from the first three fetters
(noble learns) the stream
Sakadāgāmi – once returner Free from the first three fetters and
the fourth, fifth fetters partly

Anāgāmi – non-returner Have completely destroyed the five

lower fetters
Arahant Arahant (asekha) Fully liberated from ten fetters
(noble one – fully enlightenment)
Pacceka Buddha
Sammāsambuddha
Personality formation and development:
Nāma – 1. Avijjā (ignorance) Past kamma Person's personality or character traits in the
rūpa 2. Saṅkhāra (kamic present carried over from the habit and
(mind and activities) behaviour in past births. Ex: Queen Mallikā (AN
matter) 4. 197)
Nāma – rūpa 3. viññāṇa Present kamma - Man is what he eats.
(mind and (consciousness) - 4 kinds of nutriment (Āhāra):
matter) 4. Nāmarūpa (mind and 1. Ordinary material food (kabaliṅkārāhāra)
matter) 2. Sense-impression (phassāhāra)
5. saḷāyatanā (six 3. Volitional Thoughts (manosañcetatanāhāra)
sense-doors) 4. Consciousness (Viññāṇāhara)
6. Phassa (contact) - driven by ignornace (avijjā) and craving (taṇhā)
7. Vedanā (sensation) - can be developed to perfection (Arahantship)
8. Taṇhā (craving) through three trainings:
9. Upādāna (clinging) 5. Sīla (Ethical Conduct),
10. Bhava (becoming) 6. Samādhi (Mental Discipline) and,
Nāma – rūpa 11. Jāti (birth, rebirth) Future kamma 7. Paññā (Wisdom).
(mind and 12. jarāmaraṇa (old age
matter) and death)
Personality through behaviour:
Four kinds of person as four rain-clouds (AN 4. 101 & AN 4. 102)
Four rain-clouds
One thunders but doesn’t rain
One rains but doesn’t thunder
One neither thunders nor rains,
and
One both rains and thunders
Four kinds of character
- speak - Memorizes the teachings
- don’t act - Don’t understand the truths.
- acts - Doesn’t memorizes the teachings
- don’t speak - Understands the truth.
neither speaks nor acts - Doesn’t memorizes the teachings
- nor understand the truth.
both speaks and acts - Memorizes the teachings
- understand the truth.
Personality through Behaviour:
Personal Training (AN 4. 111 – With Kesi)
Horse-training Personal training
Gently This is good conduct mind.
This is the results of good conduct.
Harshly This is bad conduct.
This is the results of bad conduct.
Both gently and harshly This is good conduct, the results of good conduct.
This is bad conduct and the results of bad conduct.
Doesn’t follow these above forms of training, One doesn’t follow these above forms of training.
kill it They do not deserve advice.
Personality Dispositions and Training
Personality Anusaya Pariyuṭṭhāna Vītikkama
dispositions Latent dispositions Arising of Latent dispositions Acting according to Latent
dispositions
Expression Feelings: Likes – Dislikes – Temper: Lust – Hatred - Behavior: Covetousness –
Unrest Delusion Ilwill – Wrong view
Degree Inner dispositions Negative emotions or mental All kinds of evil committed
disorders vocally and physically and
begins have a direct and
concrete impact on others.
Treatment Wisdom (Paññā or Vipassana) Mental Discipline (Samādhi) Ethical conduct (Sīla)
Affective Complete eradication Longstanding Temporary
References:
• Anguttara Nikāya.
• Buddhist Philosophy, Collected Papers of Asanga Tilakaratne.
• Buddhist Psychology, Psychotherapy & Counseling, Prof. Sumanapala Galmangoda.
• Buddhist Psychology & Counseling, Padmasiri De Silva.
• Facets of Buddhism, Hammalawa Saddhātissa.
• Personality, Theory and Research, 14th Edition, Daniel Cervone.
• An Inquiry into the Concept of Personality from the Buddhist Perpective, Vijitha Moragaswewa.