List of Positive Traits

Able Adaptable Adventurous Affable Affectionate Agreeable Ambitious Analytical Assertive Astute Attentive Aware Balanced Brave Bright Brilliant Calm Capable Caring Cautious Certain Charitable Chirpy Compassionate Confident Considerate Consistent Cooperative Courageous Conscientious

Courteous Decisive Dedicated Dependable Determined Devoted Disciplined Driven Efficient Egalitarian Empathetic Enduring Enterprising Erudite Faithful Farsighted Flexible Focused Forgiving Friendly Frugal Generous Gentle Giving Graceful Grateful Hardworking Harmonious Helpful Honest Humble Humorous

Idealistic Imaginative Independent Industrious Innovative Insightful Inspiring Invigorating JoyfulJust Kind Logical Loving Loyal Mature Methodical Modest Motivating Noble Nurturing Obedient Open-minded Optimistic Organized Outgoing Passionate Patient Perceptive Persevering Poised Polite Practical Professional

Punctual Realistic Reliable Resourceful Respectful Responsible Selfless Sensitive Simple Sincere Spontaneous Stable Strong-willed Tactful Thoughtful Thrifty Tolerant Trustworthy Understanding Unflappable Visionary Vital Warm Willing Wise

List of Negative Traits

Aggressive Apathetic Arrogant Belligerent

Biased Boastful Boorish Bossy Callous Careless Caustic Complacent Conceited Conniving Controlling Cowardly Curt Cynical Deceitful Dishonest Disrespectful Egocentric Evil Exacting Fearful Finicky Fussy Garrulous Glum Greedy Grumpy Harried Harsh Haughty Hostile Ignorant

Immature Impatient Inconsiderate Indecisive Insensitive Interfering Irresponsible Jealous Killjoy Languid Lazy Lax Loner Malicious Materialistic Mean Miserly Moody Nave Narrow-minded Nasty Obnoxious Obstinate Outspoken Pessimistic Petulant Pompous Possessive Quarrelsome Quixotic Rambunctious Rebellious

Resentful Rigid Rude Sarcastic Scornful Selfish Spiteful Stingy Stubborn Superficial Taciturn Thoughtless Touchy Uncouth Ungrateful Unreliable Unscrupulous Untidy Vain Vengeful Vulgar Wicked

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/list-of-human-qualities.html

Trait-Positive Attitudes accepts authority, loyal, devoted accepts what's given affectionate aspiring, ambitious, motivated candid rebellious ignores, rejects what's given distant, cold, aloof self-satisfied, unmotivated closed, guarded, secretive Trait-Negative

caring change; accepts, embracescheerful considerate, thoughtful cooperative courageous courteous decisive devoted determined does what is necessary, right perseveres, endures enthusiastic expansive faith in life faith in oneself faith in others flexible forgiving focused freedom given to others friendly frugal, thrifty generous goodwill grateful hard-working honest humble interested involved jealous, not kind

uncaring, unfeeling, callous rejects change cheerless, gloomy, sour, grumpy inconsiderate, thoughtless uncooperative, unhelpful, combative cowering, fearful rude, impolite indecisive uncommitted, uncaring, hostile indecisive, unsure does what is convenient relents, gives up unenthusiastic, apathetic, indifferent kept back, tight, constricting life can't be trusted lack of faith in self others can't be relied on inflexible, rigid, unbending, stubborn unforgiving, resentful, spiteful unfocused, scattered authoritarian, controlling unfriendly, distant, aloof, hostile wasteful, spendthrift stingy, miserly, selfish ill-will, malice, hatred ungrateful, unappreciative lazy dishonest, deceiving, lying arrogant, conceited, ego-centric indifferent, uncaring complacent, indifferent jealous, envious, covetous unkind, uncaring, cruel, mean

mature modest open-minded, tolerant optimistic perfects persistent, sustaining positive practical punctual realistic reliable respectful responsibility; takesresponsible [ep to 9 levels] responsive self-confident self-directed self-disciplined self-esteem, high self-giving self-reliant selfless sensitive serious sincere social independence sympathetic systematic takes others point of view thoughtful towards others trusting unpretentious unselfish willing does, willingness

immature vain narrow, close, small-minded, intolerant pessimistic allows imperfection flagging, fleeting, unsustaining negative impractical, not viable late, not on time unrealist, impractical unreliable, undependable disrespectful, rude, impolite blames others unreliable, undependable unresponsive, unreceptive lack of self confidence, insecure directed by externals undisciplined, unrestrained, indulgent self-esteem, confidence - low self-centered dependent selfish Insensitive, indifferent

frivolous, silly, trivial

insincere, dishonest social approval required unsympathetic, unfeeling unsystematic, disorganized, disorderly, random insists on own view thoughtless, inconsiderate, callous suspicious, mistrusting pretentious, affected, ostentatious selfish unwilling, reluctant, recalcitrant

work-oriented

convenience first [ep psych/soc]

For additional information on personal attitudes, click here

Attributes

achieved; hasadventurous substance-free alert aware of opportunities calm clean [ep to 9 levels] clear goals clear thoughts completes comprehends conscious conscious of one's weaknesses constructive content-oriented creative delegates deliberative detail-oriented develops mental capabilities directed, has direction disciplined dynamic educated education exceed previous generation education greater than present level of achievement education greater than previous

hasn't achieve conventional substance-abuse (alcohol, drug) dull ignorant of opportunities excitable, nervous dirty, unkempt lack of, jumbled goals; directionless muddled thoughts, confused leaves hanging, doesn't complete doesn't comprehend unconscious unconscious of one's strengths destructive, complaining outer, surface, form-oriented uncreative tries to do everything reckless scrimps on details leaves mental capacities as is directionless, unfocused dissipating passive uneducated education not exceed previous generation education less than present level of achievement education less than previous

generation efficient effort taking effort achieves results energetic enterprising entrepreneurial envisions the unseen experienced (in area) fatigue-free focused goal-oriented good graceful has enough time health robust, strong constitution high goals higher social interests idea-driven imaginative improves self in rapidly expanding field of work initiates (has initiative) innovative insightful intelligent knowledgeable knowledgeable in a particular area leads others lives from the depths of life lucky; things go your way money circulated for improvement motivated nerves strong

generation inefficient lack of effort effort wasted listless enterprising, not entrepreneurial, not visionless inexperienced (in area) tired, fatigued unfocused, addled, scattered goalless, directionless evil clumsy never has enough time poor health, weak constitution low, no goals lower, no social interests ideas don't motivate to act unimaginative stays the same in static or declining field lacks initiative conservative lacks insight, blind to, ignorant of stupid ignorant, uniformed no knowledge in a particular area submits, yields to others lives on the surface of life, superficial unlucky money hoarded for security unmotivated nerves weak

objective observant organized patient personable physical stamina polite, mannered previous success in family life previous success in school previous success in work productive interactions with others professional (acts) professional qualification achieved punctual regular relationship with other(s) positive resourceful responsible results-oriented risk-taker sees the whole picture seeks improvement spiritual, inner connection stamina strong; physicallystrong; psychologicallystress-free, relaxed (has had) supportive family or friends systematic tough trustworthy wealthy

subjective, biased blind to, oblivious to disorganized impatient, expectant non-engaging, distant, cold lack of stamina impolite, ill mannered, rude previous failure in family life previous failure in school previous failure in work chit-chatting amateurish (acts) no professional qualification late irregular, erratic relationship with other(s) negative unresourceful, helpless irresponsible does for doing's sake, being merely occupied averse to risk seeing only parts of the picture self-satisfied lacks any spiritual, inner connection lack of stamina weak; physicallyweak; psychologicallystressed, tense (has had) indifferent, uncaring family or friends unsystematic, disorganized, disorderly, random weak, soft untrustworthy impoverished

wealth in present generation well-behaved

poverty in present generation ill behaved

work is in harmony with personal life work is in conflict with personal life

Social Endowments affectionate family upbringing high mental abilities in family parents attained high social status parents motivated, gave direction parents rose & accomplished (inheritance) physical attributes are fine (had) previous success (in school, work, family life) prosperity in family upbringing psychological health and wellbeing prosperity in surrounding society supportive social environment indifferent, hostile family upbringing poor mental abilities in family parents have low social status parents demotivated, gave no direction parents remained in same position (inheritance) physical attributes are poor (had) previous failure (in school, work, family life) poverty in family upbringing psychological problems poverty in surrounding society indifferent social environment

Skills capacity to judge others careful, graceful with objects communication skills (can) exercise authority delegation skills leadership skills listening skills management skills unable to judge others careless, clumsy communication skills, lack of cannot exercise authority delegation skills, lack of leadership skills, lack of listening skills, lack of management skills, lack of

motivating skills negotiating skills organization skills planning skills problem-solving skills public speaking skills reconciling problems, conflicts at higher level skills skilled skilled, talented exceptionally in particular area speaking skills teamwork skills technical work skills time management skills verbal skills writing skills

motivating skills, lack of negotiating skills, lack of organization skills, lacks planning skills, lack of problem-solving skills, lack of public speaking skills, lack of reconciling problems, conflicts at higher level skills, lack of unskilled not skilled, talented exceptionally in particular area speaking skills, lack of teamwork skills, lack of technical work skills, lack of time management skills, lack of verbal skills, lack of writing skills, lack of

PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS (inward focused) Positive accepts what's given aspiring, ambitious, motivated change; accepts, embracescheerful courageous decisive determined does what is necessary, right perseveres, endures enthusiastic expansive faith in life faith in oneself flexible Negative ignores, rejects what's given self-satisfied, unmotivated rejects change cheerless, gloomy, sour, grumpy cowering, fearful indecisive indecisive, unsure does what is convenient relents, gives up unenthusiastic, apathetic, indifferent kept back, tight, constricting life can't be trusted lack of faith in self inflexible, rigid, unbending, stubborn

focused frugal, thrifty grateful hard-working interested involved mature modest open-minded, tolerant optimistic perfects persistent, sustaining positive practical punctual realistic reliable responsibility; takesresponsible responsive self-confident self-directed self-disciplined self-esteem, high self-reliant serious systematic unpretentious

unfocused, scattered wasteful, spendthrift ungrateful, unappreciative lazy indifferent, uncaring complacent, indifferent immature vain narrow, close, small-minded, intolerant pessimistic allows imperfection flagging, fleeting, unsustaining negative impractical, not viable late, not on time naive, impractical unreliable, undependable blames others unreliable, undependable unresponsive, unreceptive lack of self confidence, insecure directed by externals undisciplined, unrestrained, indulgent self-esteem, confidence - low dependent silly, trivial, petty unsystematic, disorganized, disorderly, randoms pretentious, affected, ostentatious

SOCIAL TRAITS (outer focused) Positive accepts authority, loyal, devoted rebellious Negative

affectionate candid caring considerate, thoughtful cooperative courteous devoted faith in others forgiving freedom given to others friendly generous goodwill grateful honest humble interested involved jealous, not kind open-minded, tolerant reliable respectful responsibility; takesresponsible responsive self-directed self-giving self-reliant selfless sensitive sincere social independence sympathetic takes others point of view thoughtful towards others trusting unselfish willing does, willingness work-oriented

distant, cold, aloof closed, guarded, secretive uncaring, unfeeling, callous inconsiderate, thoughtless uncooperative, unhelpful, combative rude, impolite uncommitted, uncaring, hostile others can't be relied on unforgiving, resentful, spiteful authoritarian, controlling unfriendly, distant, aloof, hostile stingy, miserly, selfish ill-will, malice, hatred ungrateful, unappreciative dishonest, deceiving, lying arrogant, conceited, ego-centric indifferent, uncaring complacent, indifferent jealous, envious, covetous unkind, uncaring, cruel, mean narrow, close, small-minded, intolerant unreliable, undependable disrespectful, rude, impolite blames others unreliable, undependable unresponsive, unreceptive directed by externals self-centered dependent selfish Insensitive, indifferent insincere, dishonest social approval required unsympathetic, unfeeling insists on own view thoughtless, inconsiderate, callous suspicious, mistrusting selfish unwilling, reluctant, recalcitrant convenience first

Our Human Makeup

The Planes and Sublevels of the Individual in terms of function, expression, traits, and works
Growth Online by Roy Posner

Articles

The following information has been developed in tandem with Mother's Service Society, based on and an extension of the teachings of the seer and sage Sri Aurobindo and Karmayogi.

Introduction As a result of the development of the universe, including life on earth, mankind has evolved to his present status. Over time the individual human has developed a range of qualities, capacities, and planes that in many ways parallels the principles that occur in the unfolding of the universe and life on earth. Matter of the universe has become the physical body in the individual; Life in the universe has become the life force and vital consciousness in the individual; Mind in the universe has primarily manifest as the mental consciousness in the individual; and the Spirit in the universe is a the spiritual plane of consciousness that the individual can rise to (above mind). The physical, vital, and mental planes all exist and are simultaneously active in each person, though the extent of their relative development and the preponderance of the influence they exercise on the personality differs from person to person. Also, the physical, vital, and mental exist and functioninterdependently among one another. (The fourth plane, the spiritual occurs consciously in only a very few individuals, or in every one, but mostly at a very limited level.) Looking at the four planes of individual consciousness, in an ascending scale from the physical body, to the vital, to the mind to the spirit -- i.e. from the bottom up -- we can summarize each of these planes in the individual as follows:

Four Planes of the Human Individual The consciousness beyond mind that connects to the underlying spiritual reality of the universe and the transcendent Divine. The facts, thoughts, sentiments, opinions, beliefs, values, ideals, ideas, and concepts that guide our conscious thinking, conceptualizing and decision-making processes. Definition: The semi-conscious sensations, urges, desires, feelings,emotions, and attitudes. The vital provides the energy for human action and expresses itself through attraction, liking, desire and enthusiasm. Functioning: It (1) is where we experience the vital sensation of the central nervous system, our primal urges, desires, and

Spiritual ^
A

S C E N T ^

Mental

Vital/Emotional

fears; (2) where we experience our feelings, emotions, and passions of life; and (3) is where the emotions are processed into emotional thought, i.e. into the emotions' perception of knowledge, and it is where our attitudes, our life intelligence, and higher emotions reside. Definition: The subconscious awareness and impulses of the body expressed in animal instincts, basic drives of human nature, and inherited character traits. The primary drives of the physical are for self-preservation and reproduction. Physical Functioning: It is (1) that which gives us material form, our raw physical existence, consisting of matter; (2) it is where our movements originate; (3) it is the seat of our physical urges and sensations, and (4) it is where the body learns how to act, i.e. where it learns the primary skills needed for existence.

Four Planes Further Divided into Sub-Levels We can break down the table above into sublevels of human consciousness. Basically each plane can be divided into three or more subplanes. E.g. the mental level can be divided into the physical mental, the most fundamental, which is involved in thought processing; the higher level of vitalized mental, which contains our beliefs, values, and sentiments; and the pure mental, a third level higher still, in which we can engage in pure thought. In this way, we can see the subdivisions of our being from physical to vital to mental to spiritual. (A fuller explanation of each level and sublevel is given after the table.)

The Absolute, Brahman Supermind SpiritualMind Intuitive Mind and Pure Spirit ^ A S C E N T ^ Mental Illumined Mind Higher Mind Pure Mental (The mind proper)

The Absolute, Brahman, the Divine Consciousness (pure spirit) Knowledge by Identity (Truth Consciousness) (object of knowledge sought created within) Intuition, revelations (of total object of knowledge, w/o thought) Light and Illumination (descents of knowledge, w/o thought) Silence of mind (enabling better thought, greater knowledge) Ideas, Concepts, Rational Thinking, Logical, Pure Thought, Conscious Self-conception

Vital in the Mental Knowledge of Life's Workings; Knowledge Imbued with Feeling, (The vital part of Emotion the mental plane) (interests, opinions, sentiments, beliefs, values, and ideals) Physical in the Input, Processing, Organizing, Storage of Sense Data Mental (for understanding, comprehension; (The physical part of practical knowledge; used for decision making) the mental plane)

Vital

Mental Vital (The mental part of the vital plane)

Emotional Thought as Attitudes, Life Intelligence, Higher Emotions (including conduct, social norms, conscience)

Pure Vital (Vital proper)

Emotions, Feelings, Passions, Intense Human Relationships

Physical Vital Sensation of the Nerves (The physical part of (urge, desire, fear; seeks action, relationship, expansion, the vital plane) adventure, acquisition, conquest, and enjoyment) Mental Physical (The mental part of the physical plane) Vital Physical Physical(Body) (The vital part of the physical plane) Pure Physical (The physical proper) Body Knowledge of How to Act, Primary Skills of Existence Physical Urges and Sensation (pain, hunger, lust, craving, possessiveness, territoriality, attraction/repulsion, etc.) -Origins of Physical Movement, Instinct for Survival -Inconscient (i.e. unconscious) Physical Matter

Explanation: In this table we see a hierarchy of human functioning rising from the physical to the vital to the mental to the spiritual plane. Also, within the four general planes there are three subplanes, each higher than the previous subplane, reflecting an evolution of higher consciousness within that plane. At the very bottom of the table within the first general plane of the Physical, we see its first subplane, called the Pure Physical (or the physical proper). At that plane we are speaking of the raw matter of the physical body. It is the inconscient matter (passed on from our animal ancestry, itself from primitive life forms, on back to water, light, gas, mineral, to the solid matter of earth.) It is also in this plane that there is the origins of movement of the body, and instinct for survival. This is the primal qualities of the body; hence we call it the Pure Physical level. At the next level up, the Vital Physical (the vital part of the physical plane), we see the emergence of the physical urges and sensations of the body, in the form of pain, hunger, craving, possessiveness, attraction and repulsion. etc. An even higher level up, in terms of more refined substance and higher consciousness is the Mental Physical where the body "stores" its instinctive knowledge of how to act, which are in essence the primary skills of existing and surviving reside. Beyond the physical/body plane is the Vital plane. It is a substance of subtler substance and higher consciousness than the raw material substance and aspects of the physical plane. Its first subplane is the Physical Vital in the form of sensations of the nerves as urge, desire, and fear. These reflect for the individual in society as action, relationship, adventure, conquest, etc. From this emerges the Pure Vitalsubplane (i.e. the vital proper) where there is even more subtle substance and consciousness than the previous plane's sensation of nerves in the form of human emotions, feelings, passions, including their expression of the emergence of intense human relationships in the social sphere. A step up from this is Mental Vital, where there is the development of emotional thought in the form of our personal attitudes, our life intelligence, as well as other higher emotions.

Beyond the vital plane there is the Mental plane, which is unique for the most part to humans. This plane begins with the Physical in the Mental subplane where there is the most fundamental mental capacity in the form of the processing of thoughts gathered through the inputs of the five senses. This data is gathered, processed, organized, and stored for understanding and comprehension which becomes practical knowledge used for decision making. Beyond this is the subplane of the Vital in the Mental, in which processed thoughts are developed into a knowledge of life's workings. Here also our gathered knowledge is imbued with feelings and emotions, which takes the form of our interests, opinions,sentiments, beliefs, values, and ideals. Beyond this is the Pure Mental (the mind proper), where mind is engaged in the development of pure ideas and concepts, pure logical and rational thinking, and the development of ideas into newer insight. There is also here the ability to self-conceive one's or the world's existence, i.e. what he wishes himself, it to be. (At this plane, there is no longer a dependencyon the input of the senses.)

The mental plane then evolves to the Spiritual plane, which begins with the subplanes of the spiritual Mind, including the Higher, the Illumined, and the Intuitive planes of the spiritual mind, and beyond to the unitary consciousness of Supermind, and above that still to pure spirit and Being of the Absolute. In Higher Mind one reaches an inner silence from which thought and knowledge more readily emerge on their own. Beyond that is Illumined Mind where descents of light and knowledge come into the mind without thought. Further still there is a descent of intuitions and revelation of complete object of knowledge at the subplane of Intuitive Mind, again without thought. Beyond that is Supermind where the object of knowledge appears and is born within, created inside one's self. It is the knowledge by identity, the ultimate truth consciousness of Knowledge. Beyond that is communion with the Being, the pure spirit of the Absolute, Brahman, God. Note: It should be mentioned that this evolution did not take place in a perfect sequence. E.g. there may be the basic sense-input of functioning at the mental plane before attitudes at the lower vital plane were more fully developed.

Detailed Account of Three Planes of the Individual (spiritual not included)

The table below shows the three planes of an individual -- mental, vital, and physical -- and the breakdown of each these into three sub-aspects in terms of their function, expression, traits, and works. For example, within the mental plane, we can see three subdivisions; We have numbered these as 1-9 levels, with 1 at the highest level of mind where we engage in pure thought; 2 at the level of mental sentiments and values; and 3. at the mental level of thought processing. This is followed by a discussion of how humans evolve up the scale from levels 9 to level 1. (Note: The spiritual plane (above mind; i.e. spiritual mind) is omitted in this scheme, though more detailed information about this plane can be viewed by clicking here.)
(for a detailed list of human traits, click here.)

Explanation of the Evolution of Life in Terms of the Nine Levels Here we explain how the nine levels of the three main planes -- three levels each of the physical, vital, and mental planes -- emerged in the evolution of life, beginning with subplane 9. The evolution of life on earth begins in matter, from which first life and later mind emerge as higher principles and powers of consciousness, though in fact both exist in potential, involved, in material substance. The individual too progresses from physical to vital to mental levels of consciousness, each successive phase more conscious than the previous. The evolution begins with progress in the physical plane of consciousness from level 9 to level 7. Level 9 is the [pure] physical [the Physical Physical], the consciousness of the material body. In this plane, knowledge expresses completely as unconscious instinct of the bodily functions and the animal instincts for survival in an indifferent or hostile environment. The pressure of internal biological needs (hunger, thirst, sleep) and external threats force the individual to energize himself for self-preservation and self-defense. The impact of painful and pleasurable sensations acts as a stimulus to awaken and stir the consciousness and press it into action. As the consciousness progresses under this pressure and stimulus to level 8, the physical consciousness becomes energized by that which is pleasurable and painful. It learns to avoid the unpleasant and actively

seek the comfortable and pleasant. Its actions become embued with the vital intensity of these sensations. The vital principle gives rise to social impulses and relationships between people, such as the institution of marriage which sublimates the physical sex impulse into a social relationship. Human relationships at this level are primarily determined by the bonds of heredity and family. [Level 8 is the Vital Physical] In level 7, the mental principle emerges in the physical consciousness. Experience gives rise to the acquisition of knowledge in the body, which we call skills. The mind's capacity for organization leads to the organization of physical activities, such as the shift from nomadic hunting to sedentary agriculture.[Level 7 is the Mental Physical] The movement from level 7 to level 6 is a major transition. The needs of the physical consciousness gradually become subordinated to the needs and urges of the vital consciousness. The vital seeks not only survival, self-preservation and comfort, but also action, relationship, expansion, adventure, conquest and enjoyment. These needs express primarily in the field of social life in the relationships between people -- the urge to dominate or submit, to belong to and be accepted by others, to enjoy and control one's environment. [Level 6 is the Physical Vital] In level 9 the individual struggles for survival. In level 8 he experiences attraction and repulsion. In level 7 he acquires practical knowledge and skills to improve his chances for survival and ease the burden of existence. The acquisition of this knowledge and the organization of life enables people to reduce the expenditure of energy on mere survival. This excess pushes for fields of expression, looks for something more. In level 6, the life consciousness becomes more alert and dynamic and seeks a greater intensity of enjoyment. The skills of level 7 become energized by the urge for acquisition and expansion. The individual becomes enterprising. In level 5 the increasing vital energy expresses as an emotional consciousness. The attractions and repulsion of feeling, rather than the attractions and repulsion of physical sensation, become dominant. The individual is powerful drawn to express and find satisfaction for these emotions in human relationship and achievement. [Level 5 is the Pure Vital, the Vital Vital] The forging of intense emotional relationships is always unstable and insecure as long as both parties are on an equal footing. The strong emotional ego seeks greater intensity and security by attaining a higher level of control and domination over others. The weaker ego seeks the security of obeying a strong leader. In level 4 the mental element emerges strongly in the vital consciousness and gives a higher direction and organization to the expression of the vital energies. The entrepreneur and leader emerge. In this plane mind is fully at the service of life goals, not free to seek after its own ends. [Level 4 is the Mental Vital] The transition from level 4 to level 3 is a movement from a consciousness in which feelings and emotions dominate to one in which the mind increasingly governs and directs life and action. Level 3 is the plane of the physical mind. Mind here is fully absorbed with the external world, with seeking after material goals and understanding physical phenomena. The mental principle develops the capacity for systematic planning leading to organized action. The true seeking and accomplishment for Mind is comprehension, not merely survival or conquest. Mind wants to understand. In level 3, the quest for understanding focuses on the mastery of physical and natural processes. The mind's excess energy expresses as a thirst for more and more information and understanding. [Level 3 is the Physical Mental] Mind's quest for comprehension is as insatiable as the vital's thirst for enjoyment. As it masters the physical world, it turns increasingly to the complex richness and subtlety of the human relationships and emotions, giving rise to poetry, art and music in level 2, where the emotions lend to mind a richness and intensity that thought alone lacks. [Level 3 is the Vital Mental] At a higher level, the mental consciousness seeks for a pure knowledge that is not diluted either by the practical utility of level 3 or the emotional subjectivity of level 2. That quest for pure knowledge gives birth to the ideas and concepts of level 1. Here mental man living in the material animal body reflects self-

consciously on the mystery of the universe and the meaning of his own place in creation. [Level 3 is the Pure Mental, the Physical Mental] This movement from level 9 to 1 describes the emergence of an increasingly powerful, awakened and conscious energy in man giving rise to an increasing capacity for self-preservation, enjoyment and comprehension. However, the ascending movement is only one side of the process. At each stage of ascent, there is also a corresponding descent of the newly emerging principle of consciousness to change the character of life at the previous level. The skills of level 7 are expressed to support the survival instinct of level 8. The emotional strength of level 4 is applied to the activities of level 5 and 6. The knowledge of level 3 is used to aggrandize life and master the physical environment. The Spiritual Plane There is also a plane above the mental, vital/emotional and physical planes of a human being; the spiritual plane. From this plane we can conceive of the possibility of the emergence of a whole new type of person, the evolutionary, spiritualized being. For Additional Details of 1-9 levels, please click here.

Related Topics -The Horizontal Scale of Human Consciousness -- In addition to the above "vertical scale of human consciousness" that ranges from physical matter to spirit, there is also another scale of human consciousness that ranges from the surface of our consciousness to the depths within. For more on this, click here. -To read a key Growth Online article on the course of human evolution, including the makeup of the individual, his current status, and his evolutionary possibility, click here. -Who Am I? --In this extensive six-part interview Roy Posner, President of Growth Online, asks a fundamental question of existence, "Who am I?," and then comes up with some unconventional answers which reveal the vast scope of our human makeup and potential. To read, click here. -Factors -- To see a table that shows various factors that make up human consciousness, including an individual's (1) attitudes, (2) attributes, (3) endowments, and (4) skills, please click here.

Additional Thoughts Measuring A Person for Each of the Nine Levels Is it then possible to take any person and determine what their status is vis a vis each of these levels? We believe there is. An individual can be rated across each of the nine levels by determining their capacities at that level. For each of the levels we have determined that two ratings should be created, and then the two combined. First, the person would be measured in terms of their strength at each level. Second, at that level of strength for the level, we would determine if that degree of strength was positive or negative (i.e. "good" or "Bad"). Then the two figures at each level would be combined to create a complete rating of that individual for each level. For example, a person could be rated on a scale of 1-10 for each level in terms of the propensity at that level, i.e. their strength at that level. So at level 1 the individual could rate a 7, at level 2 a 6, and so forth all the way up the scale. Then we would need to determine if that person's rating at that level was good or bad, i.e. positive or negative. This is because at that level they can express their propensity in a positive way or a negative way. For example, someone strong at level 8 (say a 9 rating) can be moved to emotional action of

the body in a good way or a bad way; e.g. in a way that helps others or hurts others. So the 9 rating at level 8 could be listed in the following way: --9+++ (or perhaps better as 9 -1). In other words, at the 9 rating, there are two negative indicators, as well as three positive indicators (for a sum of one negative indicator). (It would probably require a rather large questionnaire to accurately fix the person at each level, in terms of both strength and positive and negative. The next question then is what to do with that number. Can we realistically use that number to understand that individual? Can we use that number to help the person rise to the next level among the nine levels, or better yet to rise to higher levels of accomplishment, success, and joy in life. Our conclusion at this point is that the best way to make improvements in life is to follow the process of growth approach to the development of the individual, and then use the model above as a way to measure the person. This change in the person through the process of development will be reflected in updated changes in the ratings of each level for that person. The makeup of the individual across the nine levels will update as the process of growth continues. -For a related article on how human consciousness and development ties in with social development, click here. -To see a table that shows various factors that make up human consciousness, including an individual's (1) attitudes, (2) attributes, (3) endowments, and (4) skills, please click here.

The Power of Personal Values

Growth Online by Roy Posner

Articles

1. PURE MENTAL (Pure Mental, The pure mental, Conceptual Mind, Mental mental, Thinking mind, Master of thought, speculative mind; seat of pure, rational thinking) Overview This is where mind is engaged in the development of pure ideas and concepts, pure logical and rational thinking, and the development of ideas into newer insight . There is also here the ability to self-conceive one's or the world's existence, i.e. what he wishes himself, it to be.(There is no connection here to the senses of the body here as perceived in the sense mind below. It is pure thought.) Function Pure mind not related to emotion or body. Pure ideas, conceptual thinking, organization of ideas Expressions Concepts, ideas, possibilities, mental skills, movement toward pure understanding, accomplishment by comprehension. One reflects on mystery of the universe, meaning of one's place in creation. Traits Logical, rational, thoughtful, insightful, analytical, mindful, perceptive, discriminating, learned, mentally organized, systematic. Skills -- Decision making, planning, problem-solving, writing related to pure thought Works Philosopher, philosophy, mathematics, theoretical physics 2. VITAL IN THE MENTAL (Emotionalized mental. The vital part of the mental plane, emotional mind, sense mind)

M E N T A L

Overview This is where we gain a knowledge of life's workings; where the practical organized knowledge and comprehension of facts of level 3 is imbued with the emotions and feelings that turn organized comprehension into our mental interests, sentiments, values, and ideals . Function Expressions Mental emotions, interests, opinions, beliefs, values, sentiments, idolization of ideas, idealism, passion for a goal, patriotism. Traits Interested, curious, inquisitive, resourceful, opportunity seeking, serious, idealistic, mentalbased devotion, focused, scrupulous (in details), perfects. Values -- (among them are-) honesty, integrity, open-mindedness, harmony, concern for others, tolerant, perfecting, practicality, selfreliant, individuality, truth seeking, freedom, democracy, family-feeling, community-oriented, work-oriented, perfection, etc. Other values Works Poet, high poetry, social sciences, inspiration of music. 3. PHYSICAL IN THE MENTAL (Basic thought processing. The physical part of the mental plane, the physical mind seated in the brain) Overview The mental processing, organizing, systemizing of physical, natural, practical facts of information from the senses into thoughts of understanding, comprehension, and knowledge, used for decision-making, action, and accomplishment. Function -Organizes & coordinates facts of physical phenomena that the senses gather, into systems & decisions, to create thoughts. -There is a mastery of physical and natural processes. One has the knowledge of the practical. -Is where systematic planning for organized action takes place. Seeks material goals. -It is the seat of action. -There is a thirsting for information and understanding. The mind wants to understand. -One can accomplish because there is comprehension. -Mind (levels 1,2,3) increasingly governs and directs life and actions. Expressions Thought facts, mental possessiveness (right, claim), organizer of mankind & society Traits Learns, processes facts into knowledge, understands, comprehends, processes, organizes, relates, connects, curiosity. Works Engineering, medicine, technician, physical sciences, scientist V I T A L 4. MENTAL VITAL (Mentalized emotion. The mental part of the vital plane, Vital Mind, Master of life) Overview This is where emotions (of the previous level, level5) are processed into emotional thought, the emotions' perception of knowledge. It is where our vital attitudes, life intelligence, and

higher emotions lie. It is the center of our vital skills. Function Knowledge of the vital. Emotions' perception of knowledge. Direction and organization of vital energies. Vital perception, vital skill, five senses, speech, attitudes, life intelligence, higher emotions. Processes emotions into emotional thought. Charges decisions with emotion. Monitor of attitudes and emotions. At the service of life goals (rather than one's own ends). Expressions Attitudes, social norms, conduct, and conscience. Traits Friendly (unfriendly), affectionate, responsive, willful, determined, motivated, expansive,determined, persistent, vigorous, ambitious, optimistic (pessimistic), positive, self-reliant, self-directed, self-esteem (high, low), negative attitudes (reluctance, contempt, distrustful, paranoid, jealous, unsympathetic, rude, selfish, shameless, stingy, stubborn, intolerant, vengeful, haughty, proud, naive, toady, deceiving, dishonest, etc.) Spirit in the vital -- self-giving, unselfish, generous, kind, selfless, modest, sympathetic, forgiving, goodwill, goodness, gratitude. Skills -- public speaking, leadership. Other attitudes Works Politician, public leaders, leadership, novelist, businessperson, entrepreneur 5. PURE VITAL (Pure emotion. The pure vital, Vital vital, Vital proper) Overview This is where our feelings, emotions, passion, enthusiasm reside. Function Attraction and repulsion of feelings, emotions. Expressions Feelings, emotions, passion. Pure energy. Fears, phobia, possession, superstition. Emotions express in intense human relationships; in achievement. Traits Happy, joyful, sad, grumpy, depressed, discouraged, gloomy, enthusiastic, optimistic, pessimistic, lively, worries, phobic, superstitious, finds attractive, finds repulsive, vitally energetic, courageous, courage of heroic warrior, emotional devotion, fearless, emotional strength,emotional love, passionate, emotional, tired, energyless. Works Hero, vital poetry, music, painting 6. PHYSICAL VITAL (Physical-oriented emotion. The physical part of the vital plane) Overview This is where we experience the vital sensation of the nerves, the central nervous system, where we experience urge, desire, and fear. Function Vital sensation, the nerves, the central nervous system, vital enjoyment, accomplishment by enjoyment Expressions

Vital desire, urge, nervous sensations (e.g. desire, fear), strength of the nerves, and social behavior, physical devotion, emotional sense of duty. Seeks action, relationship, expansion, adventure, acquisition, conquest, and enjoyment. Traits Adventurous, seeks to act, expand, acquire, acquisitive, wants, needs, desirous (vital), demands, possessive, devoted (physically). Works Industry, trader 7. MENTAL PHYSICAL (Mind in the physical (body). The mental part of the physical plane) Overview This is the consciousness of the body, where the body learns how to act, where the bodylearns and has acquired the primary skills needed for existence and action from movement. It is the center of our physical skills. Function Physical consciousness: The body's understanding of action. Body becoming conscious. The knowledge of the body (physical skills). Body's knowledge of how to act, the skills needed for survival, ease, and action. (situated in brain). Organizes physical movements. Generates skill out of movements. Learns primary skills for existence. Physical ideas of skills of acting. Skills and capacities seated here. Extracts essence of skill into capacity. Expressions Physical skills of the brain, subconscious knowledge of the body (physiology), voluntary & autonomic. Rustic folklore. P H Y S I C A L Traits Instinctive, hunter/gatherer, survivor; has survival. practical, physical skills, compelled to act, practical. Example physical skills -- hunting, gathering, cleaning, cooking, grooming, planting, harvesting, etc. Works Artisan, agriculture 8. VITAL PHYSICAL (Vital/Emotion in the Physical (Body).The vital part of the physical plane) Overview This is the seat of our physical urges and sensations. It is where nervous sensation, pain, physical urge, hunger, lust, craving, physical possessiveness, and territoriality are rooted. Function Physical sensations and urges, emotions of the physical. Experiences attraction and repulsion of physical sensations. Body being moved to act by physical emotions. Energized by that which is painful or pleasurable. Expressions Nervous sensation, comfort, pain, physical urge, hunger, lust, craving, physical possessiveness, territoriality, war, conquers, primitive physical energy, religious superstition. Relationships determined by heredity, family. Traits Lustful, hungry, attracted to, repulsed by, acquisitive, possessive, territorial, primitive,

craving,dominating, aggressive, conquers, war-like, attached, pained by, pleasured by, physical will, physical urge; bullying, crude, fanatical, acts on religious superstition, etc. Works Laborer. Unskilled, energetic, physical worker. 9. PURE PHYSICAL (The pure physical. The body, raw physical existence, matter) Overview This is the pure physical, the body itself, our raw physical existence, consisting of matter. It is also where our movements originate. Function Body without feeling or awareness; Inconscience. Pure physical matter of the body. Physical movement. Instinct of the bodily functions; animal instincts for survival. Physical act is completed only when it reaches here. Sleep Traits Attractive, unattractive, healthy, unhealthy, strong (physically), weak (physically), physicallyenergetic, energy less, alert, dull, lifeless, dim-witted, stupid, sleepy, dynamic, undynamic, unchanging, clean, substance-abuse, substance-free. Expressions Complete material accomplishment. (If transformed, the ultimate fulfillment of the being.) Works Primitive

1. Introduction to Values A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful. Whether we are consciously aware of them or not, every individual has a core set of personal values. Values can range from the commonplace, such as the belief in hard work and punctuality, to the more psychological, such as selfreliance, concern for others, and harmony of purpose. When we examine the lives of famous people, we often see how personal values guided them, propelling them to the top of their fields. For example, one actor was motivated by his commitment to social justice, which led to important acting roles related to that value that made him world famous. Likewise, a well-knownbusiness CEO was motivated by the personal value that technology should be easy to use, which caused his company to spawn a technology revolution. Whatever one's values, when we take them to heart and implement them in the smallest details of our lives, great accomplishment and success are sure to follow. Just as individuals subscribe to values, so do organizations and institutions. In fact, if we were to examine any company, we would discover that one or more business values was the key to their success. Examples are --- Sears' commitment to trusting the customer. [From the 19th century onward, any product could be returned to the company with a money back guarantee, which engendered great trust in both directions,enabling booming sales, and, the great success for the firm that followed.] -- Apple Computer's belief in the values of solving problems of society. [The company created the IPod player and ITunes online music store to overcome a conflict between those who sought to download copyrighted music for free and the music industry which sought to protect its artists and its revenues.] -- Marriott's values of systemization and standardization. [The company created a standard model hotel,

and then duplicated it hundreds of time around the world, enabling it to grow incredibly fast, and become the leader of its industry.] Likewise, we see how political parties and politicians subscribe to certain core values -- ranging from helping the poor, easing the burden of the middle class, improving the environment, making government responsive and efficient, engendering loyalty and unity, and so forth. The key point to keep in mind about values is that implementing them energizes everything concerned with it. For an individual, committing to and applying values releases fresh energies, which always attract success, achievement, and well-being. Likewise, when companies or other institutions adopt values, individuals working at the organization become energized, as do its customers, its products and services, and everyone and everything else associated with that organization. We can energize our lives by making the full effort to implement the values we subscribe to. Once we identify values that are meaningful to us, we can develop strategies to implement them. When we make the determined effort to implement those strategies, good fortune is sure to follow -- in the form of new opportunities, new sources of revenue and income, and other forms of material and psychological benefit.We may even notice that as we implement values, we experiences instances of "life response" -where good fortune suddenly comes to us from seemingly out of nowhere, defying our normal perceptions of what is logical and possible. Below is a list of important personal values culled from years of observing individual achievement andsuccess.

Common Personal Values

Accomplishment, Success Accountability Accuracy Adventure All for one & one for all Beauty Calm, quietude, peace Challenge Change Charity Cleanliness, orderliness Collaboration Commitment Communication Community Competence Competition Concern for others Connection Content over form Continuous improvement Cooperation Coordination Creativity Customer satisfaction Decisiveness Determination Delight of being, joy Democracy Discipline Discovery Diversity Dynamism Ease of Use Efficiency Friendship Fun Generosity Gentleness Global view Goodwill Goodness Gratitude Hard work Happiness Harmony Health Honor Human-centered Improvement Independence Individuality Inner peace, calm, quietude Innovation Integrity Intelligence Intensity Justice Kindness Knowledge Leadership Love, Romance Loyalty Maximum utilization (of time, resources) Meaning Merit Money Oneness Openness Other's point of view, inputs Privacy Progress Prosperity, Wealth Punctuality Quality of work Regularity Reliability Resourcefulness Respect for others Responsiveness Results-oriented Rule of Law Safety Satisfying others Security Self-givingness Self-reliance Self-thinking Sensitivity Service (to others, society) Simplicity Skill Solving Problems Speed Spirit, Spirituality in life Stability Standardization Status Strength Succeed; A will toSuccess, Achievement Systemization Teamwork Timeliness Tolerance

Enjoyment Equality Excellence Fairness Faith Faithfulness Family Family feeling Flair Freedom, Liberty

Patriotism Peace, Non-violence Perfection Personal Growth Perseverance Pleasure Power Practicality Preservation

Tradition Tranquility Trust Truth Unity Variety Well-being Wisdom

(Also see a list of business values and social values can be implemented in business and society.)

2. Power of Values to Shape Our Lives In the mid 1970s, I made a decision to move to California from New York City, where I was raised. Why I did so, and why I made other decisive turns in my life is the subject of this essay. My first thought on the subject is that I took these actions simply because I was motivated to do so. And yet, what really motivates us in life are the things we truly value. Then what were the values that compelled me to move to California -- in particular to the San Francisco Bay Area -- where I have resided for these last 30 years? Well, it is true that after five years attending college at frigid Syracuse University in upstate New York I was compelled to seek the warmer climes of California. But I could have moved south to Florida or to the Southwestern parts of the US. However, having been raised in the urban/suburban environment of New York City, I valued culture and a certain type of urban sophistication I might not find in those other locales. I also enjoyed being near the water, not only because of its shimmering beauty, but because cities at the edge of the great oceans tend to attract a diversity of people and a richness of culture from around the world. Though climate, beauty, diversity, and culture influenced my decision, there must have been something more specific that compelled me to move to this region. Looking at it in retrospect, I have concluded that I came to the area because of the existence of Marin County -- the progressive community that lies directly across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. Marin County at the time (and still is) was the prosperous land where many of the creative musicians, artists, and thinkers of the 1970s lived. From the articles and reports I had read while living on the East coast, the people who lived in that region were involved with matters that meant a great deal to me -- i.e. aspects of life that I truly valued. And because I deeply believed in those things, I wanted to be near them; to somehow participate in their way of life. And so I headed out to the SF Bay Area in 1975 in earnest -- and never looked back. But I have still not identified the specific values of the Marinites that compelled me to join them. Let me try to list them for you. For one, the residents were in the vanguard of the changes going in society at the time -- including an appreciation of Eastern culture and spirituality, a concern for the quality of the physical environment, a dissatisfaction with the mindless materialism of modern life, the rejection of conformity of the previous generation, and the development of new forms of music that expressed their new world view. These were the underlying values that drove me to the region. These were the ideals and beliefs that shaped my life at the time, compelling me to venture across country. Each of us is motivated to move our lives in certain directions. That motivation is determined by the values we subscribe to. Our values are thus the formations and ideations of thought, the distinct formulations of understanding that express what we perceive to be important truths about life. These ideals are then reinforced by our emotions and feelings, which turn those mental perception into a

vital passion that we hope to realize in our lives. Whether we actually make the effort to implement them is another matter. Without values or beliefs, we would be mechanical-like beings, driven here and there by the vicissitudes of life. Without values, we would be creature-like, compelled to action solely by our urges and passions. In this inhuman existence, there would be little consideration for truths we hold dear, let alone implement them to ennoble and enrich our lives. In this reality devoid of values, we would live unconscious lives, without meaning or purpose. On the other hand, when we take to values, we live a purposeful and dynamic existence -- i.e. we become truly human. This being the case, what are the truths of life, i.e. the personal values that you believe in? What are the cherished ideals and beliefs that have shaped your life; that are motivating and driving your life today? Why not take a little time and come up with a short list, and then consider how each has or currently is shaping your life. If we think about it, we will see that people relate to personal values in a number of ways. Thoughtfulpeople are continually thinking about those things they cherish and believe in. Powerful people are also motivated and driven to implement them in their lives. In fact, the most successful people are constantly evaluating their values, and are continually driven to turn them into a living reality. For these individuals, values are an inexhaustible source of inner power that energizes them to no end; driving them to the heights of success, while bringing about deep fulfillment in their lives. Interestingly, not only do values energize us, but when we implement them, it energizes everything they come in contact with! If I apply the value of customer service and delight when I speak with the client, I energize the conversation, which leads to greater response from the person on the other end, who is now motivated to purchase the services I am offering. Also, if I am truly sincere in my belief in customer satisfaction, I create an added value that reinforces and builds on the first one. A combination of values applied to a situation dramatically energizes circumstances, which not only increases the likelihood of success, but turns the interaction into an enjoyable, even thrilling experience. Thus, implementing values have an innate capacity to create more energy, accomplishment, and joy in living. Values are actually a very special power in the universe. It is one our minds can grasp for the purpose ofuplifting life. Values are actually spiritual skills -- a divine gift that comes to us from the infinite Source of things. The highest of principles -- such as Oneness, Love, Beauty, and others -- descend from the heavens, and are reinterpreted as values by our minds. For example, the spiritual principle of Oneness is recognized by our minds as values of cooperation, integration, teamwork, and others. Likewise, the universal principle of Love expresses through values of goodness, selflessness, self-givingness, openness, tolerance, respect for others, and a number of others. The last twenty-five years has seen an explosion in an interest in values. Tom Peters' book 'In Search of Excellence' started the ball rolling for values in the workplace. Religious leaders speak of family values, nations speak of moral values, spiritual teachers speak of the highest values of gratitude, benevolence, and self-givingness; even self-surrender to the Divine. Values drive us, motivate us, move life, move us forward -- enabling progress even evolution. Values are what enables life to take the Next Step -whether they drive our own individual lives in a positive direction; improve the economic, social, and cultural conditions of a nation; or move society forward in its never-ending ascending path of progress. Tolerance, openness, respect for the individual, and teamwork are several great human values, while Oneness, Love, Beauty, and Truth are some of higher spiritual values that they derive from. At certain points, the human and spiritual values come together and blend into one another, expressing throughspiritualized human values such as selflessness, self-givingness, and gratitude. Values are expressions of emotionalized truths that when implemented energize whatever they come in contact with, enabling the greatest positive results with the least effort in the shortest period of time -whether it is for the individual, a collective, or society as a whole.

Values are the nexus to our future progress. It is the call of the Divine to the minds of men to seek a better life -- to pursue ultimate delight and fulfillment in life.

3. Advanced Thoughts on Values What is a Value? Values are psychological objects. Although we cannot see or touch them, they are every bit as real as any physical object. People may dedicate their entire lives or even give up their lives to pursue their values, as so many loyal patriots have done fighting for values of freedom, equality and human rights during the past two centuries. We all have values that determine our decisions and guide our lives. Those who value their individuality take responsibility, are self-reliant and act with self-respect. Those who value truthfulness cannot bring themselves to tell a lie. Those who value family or friendship sacrifice their personal interests for the good of others. Those who value goodness cannot bring themselves to do something they know is wrong. We express values in our relations with other people when we are loyal, reliable, honest, generous, trusting, trustworthy, feel a sense of responsibility for family, friends, co-workers, our organization, community or country. On a more physical level, we may place great value on cleanliness, punctuality, orderliness, accuracy, quality, and physical perfection in whatever we do.

Values, Accomplishment, and our Psychological Energies Accomplishment in life depends not only on physical energy, but even more on the intensity of psychologicalenergy we are able to bring to our action. Interest, commitment, determination, passion, drive, enthusiasm are some of the ways in which we characterize the intensity of our psychological energy. It turns out that values direct our psychological energies for accomplishment. The scholar with a passion for accuracy will expend enormous energy in the search for facts and the effort to impartially verify them. Once he does so, his work will be relied upon by others and gain a reputation for its veracity. The gymnast or figure skater with a passion for perfection will continue to practice throughout her career to hone her skills, moved by the quest for the value of perfection - that score of perfect 10. The artist, musician, engineer, the chef, the flight attendant, the accountant are all guided by values in the execution of their work and the results they achieve are directly related to the level of values they attain. Thus, we see that Values determine the intensity and flow of our psychological energies. In the end, the quality of the values we embrace and the intensity of our commitment to them determines the level of our accomplishment in life.

Values as the Highest Psychological Form for Accomplishment We can see a continuum of psychological forms from data to values. Data are mental facts derived from sense observation. Information is data organized by the physical mind into meaningful relationships. Thoughts are specific conclusions or observations drawn from the information. Ideas are generalized conceptions derived from specific thoughts.

Opinions are thoughts which the mind endorses and the ego identifies as its own. Beliefs are ideas which the mind endorses and the mental ego identifies with as true for its life. Attitudes are opinions endorsed and energized by the vital ego. Values are idealized conceptions that are endorsed by the personality.

In terms of accomplishment, thoughts are mental forms of energy which do not necessarily lead to action. Ideas carry the energy of mental understanding. Opinions carry the force of mental conviction. Attitudes carry the vital force of our emotional endorsement. Values carry the power of psychological commitment and determination. Values issue from a deeper or higher center of motivation in our personalities and therefore carry far greater power than our opinions and attitudes.

Origin of Values - from Life and from Spirit From below, society acquires values through a long process of trial and error experimentation with various approaches to life. Over years and centuries, the collective comes to recognize that certain principles or guidelines are essential for the survival or vital for the growth of the individual and the community. They learn by experience to value these essential principles and pass them on to future generations as cultural guidelines for action. They discover that cleanliness is essential for heath. Punctuality and regularity of action are essential for success in agriculture. Honesty and truthfulness are essential in trade. Loyalty and patriotism are essential for the integrity and defense of the community. Responsibility, generosity and self-sacrifice are the bedrocks of the family. From above, enlightened individuals directly experienced higher states of spiritual consciousness and perceived self-existent truths of the spiritual reality that manifested the universe. They discovered the essence of what we call God, Spirit or Divinity expresses itself as fundamental spiritual values in the universe such as Freedom, Peace, Truth, Unity, Goodness, Harmony, Beauty, Love, Joy, and Self-Giving. They recognized that the more you strive to live by these values, the higher you rise in consciousness and the more the higher spiritual consciousness enters your being and expresses in your life. The wise perceived that the values derived from life experience are derivative truths and lower expressions of these same higher spiritual values and stepping stones on the ascending stair of evolution. E.g. the human value of tolerance can be said to be a reflection and melding of the spiritual values of Freedom, Goodness, and Harmony; and the value of honesty is honesty is a reflection of the spiritual value of Truth.

4. Example Values

Here are some thoughts on several of the more interesting personal values listed above: Simplicity In this time of great complexity and hurry, there is no more important personal value than "simplicity." Taking the time to simplify anything that is overly complex is a very helpful skill in these rapidly accelerating times. Simplifying a work not only streamlines it, but make it more effective and productive, leading to greater results when compared to its former complex arrangement. Strategies:

-Take any important work or project in your life and come up with at least two ways to simplify it. -Develop a half dozen ways to simplify your life. Harmony Harmony is the coming together of disparate elements for common purpose. It is the moving together of varied or opposing forces, so that they emerge in a higher truth that all can benefit from (not merely a compromised truth). The value of Teamwork is one variation of the value of Harmony, as is the value of Organization. Harmony is such noble and elevated a value that it can be considered a spiritual value. Strategies: Make harmony a permanent personal value that you believe in and practice. Over the next few days and weeks notice points of conflict that appear in your work and life and seek to implement a higher truth, or point of view, or action in each situation that can harmonize the opposing ideas, conflicts between people, and other forms of opposition. (For additional thoughts on harmony, click here.)
Content Over Form We know the expression "don't judge a book by its cover". It means that is what is inside that is important, not the superficial surface. This expresses in a variety of ways in life. For example, any serious person will judge the truer, deeper meaning of a thing, rather than merely its outer form. A tendency to react to the outer aspect and not its intrinsic value prevents one from getting at the heart, the inherent truth of the matter, taking one away from the full knowledge that would have led to right decisions and actions, and thus great accomplishment and success in life. It is from the depths of situations and circumstance that you find its essence. For example, if one admires another's social position, instead of their true accomplishment, including the values they subscribe to, you will miss the key to their success, and therefore fail to learn from it. Or, if you are merely evaluating a person from the shallow perspective of their appearance, or quickly coming to a conclusion based on a brief acquaintance, then you also miss the deeper and wider truths behind. If you judge a book by its cover you will never get to know the depths of others, and the true meaning of life's situations. Strategies: Consider various circumstances in your life where the outer or surface form is more important to you than its intrinsic content and value. Adjust your attitudes and beliefs accordingly.

Concern

for

Others

Perhaps the single most powerful way to succeed in life is to have more concern for our fellow human beings. Normally, we are overwhelmingly concerned about our own selves, driven by our own personal motives and ambitions. However, the happiest people literally lose themselves in the feelings, thoughts, and aspirations of others. Are you ready to "forget yourself" and be genuinely interested in the welfare of others? Are you willing to be tolerant and kind to others, listen attentively and silently to their words, be non-judgmental, and open to their opinions and points of view? If you are, you're an excellent candidate for great success in life, not to mention an ever-increasing personal happiness and joy.

Strategies:

Try a little experiment. When you meet with others, immediately put yourself in their shoes. Think only of what they want. Listen carefully to their thoughts and feelings, and show genuine concern and empathy. Do this for the entire meeting. Now watch how the interaction goes. Watch how the energy level of the other person increases. The other individual becomes more animated and involved. In addition, if you watch closely, you may notice some interesting things starting to happen. An unthought of point of view or perspective may be raised in the conversation. New ideas or fresh new insights are suddenly revealed. Or, a new interesting idea, project or event might suddenly come out of the discussion. This all happens because you have shifted your concern toward the other person.

(For additional thoughts on concern for others, click here) Practicality Often people with great talent, artistic temperament, or other qualities fail to achieve because they are not practical in their thoughts and deeds. For example, when important opportunities come their way, they shun them; or they have a prejudiced view about the value of money, i.e. they shun it. Any attempt on one's part to be more practical will rapidly catapult one from one's current status towards the pinnacle of success. Strategies: List two to four ways you have been or are impractical in life. Now make an effort to your ways. keep reaffirming your new approach till it becomes part of your being. If you are not sure if and how you are impractical, why not be brave and ask those who are looking out for your best interests for their opinions. Integrity, Honesty Sometimes people don't say what they mean in order to hide something, protect themselves or someone else, or simply because they are trying to deceive in order to gain from circumstance. Do you have any of these traits? If so, why (i.e. where do they come from)? What can you do to overcome these tendencies? (For additional thoughts on honesty, click here) Results-Oriented Some people do their work to keep busy, occupied, entertained or otherwise pass the time. A key to success and achievement in life is to insure that the activities you are engaged leads to a constructive, useful purpose. Those who value real results from actions they take make far greater use of their time, leading to higher levels of success and achievement in life. Hard Work It is universally agreed that hard work is one of the keys to success in life and work. Without it, few can succeed. A person may not be hard working for a number of reasons -- the influence of parents, a lack of energy, a lack of motivation, a bad experience, pure laziness, etc. Consider why you may not be hard working, and then make a determined effort to change the behavior. Keep up the effort over time. Watch how life continually blossoms with good fortune!

(For additional thoughts on hard work, click here)

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Continuous Improvement/Progress One of the most interesting values in life is one's innate desire for continuous improvement. Both individuals and organizations, such as a business, can adopt this value. For example, continuous improvement for an individual might can come in the form of a continuous urge to increase one's knowledge and skills in an area, a desire to improve one's attitudes and temperament, or a desire to do things better or get the best out of things. A company on the other hand can implement the value by continually evaluating and upgrading its procedures, the way it interacts with its customers, the way it treats its employees, and many other ways. Any value when applied can create a positive response from life. Consider this example where an individual's interest in implementing the values of continuous improvement for her company created a positive result that came out of nowhere.:
I am working in Railway Recruitment Board and in-charge of entire pre-examination work. We have an elaborate procedure for conducting examinations and have to work in so many stages. A week back I was discussing with my Chairman the possibility of candidates giving their examinations electronically, which may also bring down expenditure. But my Chairman was apprehensive and it ended our discussion. But within myself, I strongly believed that it was possible. After two/three days he called me to say that he has got an invitation from a Foreign based Computer Firm who were launching their new software, and since he was preoccupied he had proposed my name to represent our organization. When I attended, to my surprise I could learn that the software was all about enabling candidates to give different types of examinations through Computers. I not only enjoyed the program but also could interact and get clarifications on various points of its practical feasibility. (For more on this extraordinary phenomenon of "life response," click here.)

Respect for the Individual One of the most significant personal values is to look on every person as a special, unique individual. This form of deep respect for each person has the power of generating good will, great happiness, and great achievement. -Every time you meet someone listen to their story and show and feel a great interest and respect. Also, see what unique perspective, knowledge, or insight they can offer. Then be totally responsive to their interests. Make this a regular daily habit in life. Ultimately, make this a value that you cherish.

SELF-ANALYSIS:

-Think about two to five values that have shaped your life. If necessary, refer to the list above. Also think about specific ways they have benefited you in your life. -Now review the list above and consider which one or two new values you would like to implement in your life. Now think about the specific ways you can implement them.

Then come up with a detailed action plan(using specific dates for action) to implement the values in your life. Make sure you review your plan down the line to evaluate the progress you are making so far. -Make your values, including, your new values, the cornerstone of your life. Contemplate them deeply and see that they fill all aspects of your life and being.

Additional Information

PERSONAL VALUES To see additional thoughts and essays on Personal Values, please click here. SOCIETY'S VALUES -To see additional thoughts and essays on Society's Values, please click here. -For a list of social values (i.e. values of society) , click here. VALUES IN BUSINESS -To see additional thoughts and essays on using Values in Business, please click here. -For a discussion of how values are developed and implemented in the business environment, click here. OTHER To see how the above values (and related social values) are categorized by spiritual principle, click here.

What are Society's Values

Growth Online by Roy Posner

Articles

"The social organization consists of a single interconnected fabric. The threads and the weave of the fabric are formed by the multidimensional interaction of social activities, organizations, institutions and values." (MSS) "The ultimate determinants of the power of social organization are the values of society." (MSS)

I. List of Values of Society (alphabetical)

Accomplishment Accountability Accuracy Act on things Adventure Diversity Duty Education (Right to, need of, value in) Efficiency Loyalty Environmental, Concern for Equal Opportunity Equality Rule of, Respect for Law Respect for Others(individuals, cultures, races)

All for One; One for All Athletics/Sports, Competitive Attitude, Right Authority Behavior, ProperBeauty (of environment, art, people, etc.) Benefits to All Calm, Quietude Celebrity-Worship Challenge Change Charity Chastity, Purity Children, Nurturing of Civic Duty Civic Pride Civil Rights Cleanliness, Orderliness Collaboration Collective, Needs of the Commitment Common Purpose Communication Community Compassion Competence Competition, Competitiveness Concern for Others Conformity Consensus Consumer Rights Content Over Form Continuity (from past) Continuous Improvement Cooperation Coordination, Integration Courage Courtesy Creativity Culture (art, etc.) Decisiveness Democracy (representative government) Determination Diplomacy (overconfrontation) Direction, Purposefulness Discipline Discovery

Empowerment of Individual Entertainment Essential Services, right to Equal Opportunity Excellence Fairness Family Family Values-honor parents, Nurture children, etc. Fate Fitness Flair Flexibility Force Fraternity Freedom Free Will Friendliness Friendship Fun Generosity Genius Global View Goodness Government Power Gratitude Grievances, Right to express Happiness, Pursuit of Hard Work Harmony, Unity, Oneness Health & Well-Being Helpfulness Hero-worship Heroism Honesty, Truthfulness Honor Hospitality Human Rights Individuality Inner Directedness Informed, BeingInnovation Integration of People Types Intelligence Integrity Justice Knowledge Leadership Learning

Factual Faith Lifestyle, a certain Love (Romance, other forms of) Knowledge Majority Rule Mannered, WellMaximum utilization (of time, resources) Meaning Merit Minority Rights Money, Wealth Nation's Status (in World) Nutrition Neighborliness Openness, Openmindedness Orderliness Organization, Systemization Outer Directedness Participation (e.g. in democracy, decisions) Patriotism, Country Peace, Non-Violence Perfection Perseverance ("never give up") Personal Growth (human potential) Philosophy, a certain Pioneer Individual Pleasure Popular Will (deferring to) Power Practicality Preservation Privacy Progress, Improvement Prosperity Protection (of law, etc.) Public Access Punctuality Quality (of work, service etc.) Rationality Reason Regularity Regulation & Control Religious Life Resourcefulness

Respect for the Individual Respect for Elders Responsibility, TakingResponsiveness Results-oriented Right to Bear Arms Romance of Life Ritual Rule of Law, Legality Sacrifice Safety Safety Net (for elderly, unemployed, etc.) Security Self-givingness Self-Improvement Self-Reliance Self-Respect, SelfWorth Seriousness Service (to others, society) Simplicity Sincerity Skill Solitude Speed Spirituality, Spirit Stability Status (individual, social, collective, nation's, etc.) Standardization Strength (physical, psychological, power, force) Subtlety (beyond the seen) Succeed: A Will toSuccess, Achievement Teamwork Thinking, Thought Timeliness Tolerance Tradition Tranquility Truth, Seeking the underlyingTrust Valuing Values Variety Wealth Wisdom Women's Rights World Unity

(Also see the following list of personal values and business values that can be implemented in a business.)

II. Thoughts on Society's Values

Click Here to Read Thoughts

III. Society's Values Categorized by Spiritual Powers Here is another view of many of the above values, categorized by fundamental spiritual powers of existence. (Some values appear in more than one category. Others that are listed once may also deserve to be related to another category to some degree.) Let us say that a collective - e.g. a family, a community, an organization, a state, nation, culture, or society overall - becomes aware that one of these aspects are seriously lacking; such as a deficient sense of Oneness in that collective. An effort can then be made to understand, appreciate, focus on, and implement a handful of the values that fall under that spiritual power. (In this case implement cooperation, coordination, consensus, etc. under the spiritual principle/category of Oneness).
Oneness All for One; One for All Benefits to All Collaboration Collective, Needs of the Common Purpose Communication Community Concern for others Consensus Consumer Rights Cooperation Coordination, Integration Diplomacy (over Confrontation) Equality Fairness Family Family Values-honor parents, Nurture children, etc. Fraternity Global View Harmony Integration Neighborliness Oneness of purpose Organization Popular Will (deferring to) Diplomacy (overconfrontation) Regulation & Control Respect for Others(individuals, cultures, races) Service (to others, society) Spirituality, Spirit Teamwork Unity World Unity Truth Accountability Accuracy Act on things Change? Content over form Factual Honesty Integrity Justice Meaning Public Access Rationality Reason Sincerity Spirituality, Spirit Truth Goodness Attitude, Right Behavior, ProperBenefits to All Charity Chastity, Purity Compassion Concern for others Consumer Rights Cooperation Courtesy Equal Opportunity Essential Services, right to Fairness Friendliness Generosity Goodness Gratitude Grievances, right to express Helpfulness Hospitality Justice Openness, Open-mindedness Regulation & Control Sacrifice Safety Net (for elderly, unemployed, etc.) Safety? Self-givingness Service Spirituality, Spirit Tolerance Trust Knowledge Diplomacy (overconfrontation) Education (Right to, need of, value in) Genius Informed, BeingIntelligence Knowledge Learning Meaning Openness, Open-mindedness Philosophy, a certain Public Access Reason Skill Spirituality, Spirit Thinking, Thought Wisdom Power/Strength Accomplishment Accountability Act on things Authority Commitment Courage Decisiveness Determination Direction, Purposefulness Discipline Empowerment of Individual Force Government Power Hard Work Health & Well-Being Money/Wealth Perseverance Power Prosperity Purposefulness Regularity Results-oriented Rule of Law, Legality Self-Reliance Skill Spirituality, Spirit Status (individual, social, collective, nation's, etc.) Strength (physical, psychological, power, force) Success, Achievement Wealth Delight of Being Entertainment Fun Happiness, Pursuit of Pleasure Romance of Life Self-Improvement Spirituality, Spirit Love Celebrity-Worship Children, Nurturing of Children, Nurturing of Civic Pride Family Family Values-honor parents, Nurture children, etc. Friendliness Friendship Love (Romance, other forms of) Loyalty Beauty (harmony of form) Accuracy Beauty (of environment, art, people, etc.) Cleanliness, Orderliness Culture (art, etc.) Efficiency Environmental, Concern for Fitness Health & Well-Being Mannered, WellOrderliness Organization Perfection Pleasure Quality (of work, service etc.) Simplicity Spirituality, Spirit Systemization Creator in Life Adventure Continuous Improvement Creativity Direction, Purposefulness Discovery Individuality? Innovation Pioneer Progress Resourcefulness Responsibility, Taking Romance of life Self-reliance Spirituality, Spirit Peace Calm, quietude, Faith Peace, Non-Violence Protection (of law, etc.) Regulation & Control Rule of Law Safety Net (for elderly, unemployed, etc.) Security Solitude Spirituality, Spirit Stability Tranquility

Romance of life Spirituality, Spirit

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Theory of Personality

Dimensions of Personality Manners-Behavior-Character-Personality-Individuality Physical, Vital, Mental Nine Levels Stages of individuality Skill & value formation Values Stages of Personal Growth Strategies for higher accomplishment Higher Career Accomplishment Strategies for psychological growth Energy Accomplishes Strategies to overcome ego Psychological Growth in Pride and Prejudice Individuality:Darcys transformation Significant Individual Four Levels of Personal Progress Power Over the Subconscious True and the Spiritually True Individual Eternal Romance Stairway to Romance Ten Levels of Romance Ten Levels of Harmony Myths & Truths about Romance & Marriage Unfailing Strategies for Love & Romance Applying The Secret for romance Methods to build and restore harmonious human relationships The psychological and spiritual significance of Romance Brief history of mind Decision Making False step Mind over matter

Growth of Personality

Human Relationships

Mind

Definitions

Personality Will Conscience Honesty Gentlemanliness Success Culture Individuality:Darcys transformation Jane's Equanimity Emergence of Individuality in Mona Lisa Smile Concept Note for a Person-centered Website for Accomplishment and Personal Growth, Schematic for creation of an web-based system for personality profiling and personal
accomplishment, Sept 5, 2008

Personality: Case Studies

Personality Profiling

12 Levels of Personal Self-Discovery

Personality Discussion Forum

Raise questions or provide answers to questions raised by others in the Forum:Personality Portal

External Links

For a new model of personality derived from Sri Aurobindos view of human development see MSS Research

Nine Levels
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For an introduction to the Nine Levels, please refer to the Physical-Vital-Mental Levels of Human Consciousness and Evolution. Human consciousness consists of three levels or planes the physical body, the vital plane of life energy and the mental plane of conscious awareness. The physical is the plane of form. The vital is the plane of energy. The mental is the plane of thought. Each of these three planes can be further subdivided into physical, vital and mental components, because each of these elements exists in all planes. This article describes the predominant attributes and characteristics of each of the nine levels.

Contents
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Level 1
1. Number Level 1 is the pure mind, the mental part of mind, the pure thinker. 2. It is here that the concepts are formed and understanding rises to its purity. 3. Mother refers to it as speculative mind, the seat of mental light. 4. Level 1 represents the philosopher. 5. Level 1 becomes most powerful when detached from the sentiment of two and the decision of three of the same plane. 6. The essential faculty of Level 1 is organization, the organization of ideas. 7. This is the seat of mental ego deriving its strength from the organization. 8. Ideas arise from the body. The bodys motion that becomes skill, energized by the vital attitudes, having decided in Level 1 fashion and developing sentiments for it, finally let go the essence of these exercises as Ideas which find their proper seat in Level 1. 9. In the process of development, Level 1 conceives and level 2 to level 9 execute. 10. The knowledge of the process of external social development being really the knowledge of the process that moves from level 9 to Level 1, Level 1 is capable of acquiring that knowledge. 11. Level 1 has light, but no energy or power, even mental energy or mental power. 12. Mind itself has no power of concrete accomplishment, except the mental power of decision in the consciousness and determination in the substance. 13. Level 1 has the power in the measure other parts willingly accept Level 1. 14. Intrinsically, Level 1 has the power over all the parts of level 2 to level 9 if its clarity, organization and strength of idea attain to the required perfection. 15. As Level 1 is connected with four and seven, Level 1 can dominate seven since, in truth; Level 1 is the extracted essence of seven. 16. Level 1 moving seven is Mind dominating Matter whereas in practice it is Matter that dominates Mind. 17. The subconscious substance of seven can be moved by Level 1, if the spirit in Level 1 is awake and reaches the spirit in seven. 18. All conscious social development is Level 1 directing and dominating the parts of level 2 to level 9.

Level 2
1. Level 2 is the vital of the mental plane. 2. As concept and idea belong to the consciousness and substance of Level 1, feeling and sentiment belong to Level 2. 3. Level 2 is that which generates the poet. 4. Poetry belongs to the sphere of ideas that are idolized and it is Level 2 that does it. 5. As Level 1 deprives the idea of sentiment to become a pure idea, level 3 refuses to mature into sentiment which will prevent its decision from being effective. 6. But Level 2 overcomes the practicality of decision and before maturing into pure idea, creates poetry. 7. Level 2 is in direct relation with level 5 and level 7.

8. Seven produces the rustic folklore. 9. Five produces the hero, the artist and the vital poetry whose thought content is not rich. Maybe the bard of ballads comes out of level 5. 10. Idea before becoming the action matures into sentiment. 11. Decisive action before becoming essential idea acquires the feeling and sentiment. 12. The language of decision and determination is matter of fact. 13. The language of concept is precise, well-defined, leaving no room for sentiment. 14. Physical action before becoming mental idea stops at the destination of poetry. 15. Not only poetry, but idealism belongs to this seat of Level 2. 16. An idea becomes an ideal when the emotions espouse it. 17. Philosophers are doctrinaire; men of action act and do not speak. Idealists who exhort the population cannot resort to doctrines nor will mere action inspire the people. Emotion of patriotism, metaphor of poetry, inspiration of music and passion for a goal belong to Level 2. 18. Passion without ideas or energy is that of a worker who prides himself on his servility to the master. 19. Passion with energy is un-idealistic ambition for wealth or status. 20. Passion informed of an ideal or led by an ideal is no longer passion, but can become devotion to an ideal or dedication to a cause.

Level 3
1. This is the physical mind, seated in the brain, centre of intellectuality, decision and determination above and below. 2. Being physical, it is in direct relation with 6 & 9; being mind, it is in direct relation with level 7. Juxtaposed between level 2 & level 4, both influence it. 3. This -- level 3 -- is the organizer in Man. All the civilized ways have been built up only by level 3. 4. Level 7 organizes physical movements, level 1 organizes pure ideas and level 3 organizes thought, the sensational facts that interpret themselves in the brain as thoughts. 5. Its organization consists in creating systems for action by coordination. The facts fed by the level 5 senses are converted here into thought and then are coordinated. That coordination is thinking. To create a system out of those thoughts is intellectuality. 6. For this reason, it rarely fails as its facts are empirical, not hypothetical. For the same reason, it cannot be creative as level 1. 7. Level 4 offers emotionally energized facts to level 3. level 3 accepts the facts and rejects the emotional colouring. Action -- decision for action -- is born when emotion is shed. At a further stage, emotion can energize action. 8. Level 7 organises physical movements, while level 3 organizes sensational movements. 9. Level 9 is physical existence or awareness. Similarly, level 3 is the existence of thought or mental awareness. 10. Level 3 offers the physical basis for the poet and the philosopher. 11. Level 3 is unemotional. 12. As level 7 generates skill out of movements, level 3 creates thought out of sensational facts. 13. Great administrators belong to level 3. 14. Henry Ford had pragmatic intelligence. Level 3 is its seat.

15. Executives of all types are those, who have a developed No. level 3. 16. It loses its effectivity when sentiment colors it. 17. Thought is the product of sensation in the physical part of the mind. 18. It is said that mind is the function of brain. The function of brain produces not mind but thought. 19. Level 4 is cunning. Level 3 takes its feed without that cunning. 20. It is the seat of action because it moves level 7, which acts.

Level 4
1. The mind of the vital plane is level 4. 2. If organization is not considered at all, vital mind is the most efficient in man. 3. Vital mind often penetrates the organizer level 3 and claims success occasionally. This is so because the organization takes a long time to perfect itself. Vital mind can spot the chinks and attacks with its subtle knowledge. Perfect organization is always invulnerable, especially an established one. 4. Vital mind accepts nothing less than victory and seeks it at all costs. Therefore it is not moral. 5. Famous generals who came under the civilian authority before the advent of democracy, were of level 4. Their courage issued from level 5 even as their strategies emanated from level 4. 6. Shivaji was a vibhuti but had no compunction to kill his opponent by a fraternal embrace, a heinous crime for a leader of that stature in a country where Rama had set standards. 7. The enormous courage of level 5 refines itself into enormous cunning that is cleverness at level 4. 8. It is level 4 which despises the organizer level 3 and his systems of action because level 4 knows level 3s systems can have chinks while its own insight is flawless. 9. It is again level 4 that ridicules level 1, the philosopher and his ethereal conceptions. 10. But level 4 is in direct relationship with level 1 above and level 7 below as they too are mental parts. 11. Sandwiched between level 3 and level 5, it is the prerogative of 4 to process the emotions of level 5 into emotional thought of level 4 and feed it to level 3. 12. Foresters, rustic community leaders, mafia chieftains are of this cut or cult. 13. Level 4 is the seat of superstitions when the person lacks courage. 14. In the ascent level 4 receives the emotions of level 5 to process it into thought. In the descent, level 4 receives the decision of level 3 and infuses it with emotion to charge the decision with emotional ideas. By itself, level 4 is the preserver of social security, fashions social norms, lays down public conduct and plays the role of the social conscience. 15. In times of social degeneration, the strength of level 4 determines the length of psychological social survival. 16. In times of social upward movement, one does not approve of the changes if level 4 sulks. 17. Shrewdness, insight, penetration, alertness, resourcefulness are its endowments. 18. Athletes, film artists, public figures, commercial executives, if endowed with a strong level 4, will move from success to greater success successively. 19. Public speakers with linguistic ability can be made into public leaders if level 4 is strong. 20. Strong level 4 makes fiction writers popular in the beginning because of a penchant for sensationalism. They degenerate into obscene writers, as fiction does not thrive on sensationalism. 21. Strong level 4 in the head of a family will make the family a victim of tyranny, but the family will become a success, though a success shrouded in fear and tension. 22. A weak level 4 will make the person a victim of all circumstances. The victimization will be intensified by his own imagined fears without number.

23. It is not for level 4 to be ethical. In case it espouses any ethic that will be followed religiously like Gan dhijis goats milk. 24. Level 4 is the monitor of attitudes and motives in consciousness and substance. 25. Gita advocated the surrender of motives to reach Satchidananda and the Supreme as those were days of the vital man.

Level 5
1. Level 5 is the pure vital, the vital of the vital plane. 2. Being vital, it is in touch with level 2 and level 8. 3. Naturally it is between level 4 and level 6 and therefore in powerful touch with both. 4. Level 5 is the seat of the courage of the heroic warrior, the artists, the poet of the second level or the middle level, the pure emotion untouched by the minds of either the vital plane or of the mental plane. 5. Level 5 energizes the physical vital of level 6 and gives it the greatest force of the person. 6. Level 5 is sensation in consciousness and sensitivity in substance. 7. Sensation is an organization of responses of the five senses co-ordinated. 8. Sensation has energy but no power. Sensitivity has power of substance. 9. Six vitalizes the physical energy of the person while level 5 vitalizes that energy of level 6. 10. Its force and power come from its being pure energy. 11. As it is untouched by mind, so it is untouched by the faculties of mind such as memory or judgement or even imagination. 12. One is oblivious of the entire surroundings while at level 5, because the surroundings come to one through observation or its memory. 13. Senses do not think through memory or observe through mind; they only sense. 14. When level 5 was the highest height man had ever reached, he was in complete tune with nature. 15. His faculties at that time were the faculties of senses, i.e. pugnacity, gregariousness, survival, self-preservation etc. 16. The movement from the physical plane to the vital plane is vastly expansive in energy. A further movement of greater expansiveness is that of level 5 over level 6. Hence the greatest power of man is at level 5, made possible by expansiveness of two levels. 17. Music is the form of sound; painting is the form of lines; courage is the force of form of pure energy in action. Hence level 5 is their seat. 18. Level 8 energizes level 5 from below; level 2 elevates it from above. From below, it gets force, from above, it gets direction. 19. Negatively level 5 is the seat of fear, phobia, possession, especially obsessive possession, total lack of understanding and energy of superstition. 20. Sensation of level 5 energizes the natural physiological functions with energy, such as running in fear.

Level 6
1. Level is the physical part of the vital. 2. Level 3 is the physical part of the mental plane, seated in the brain. 3. Level 9 is the physical part of the physical, seated in the body, the pure physical. 4. Level 3, level 6 and level 9 are in direct touch with each other being the physical parts of various planes. 5. Also, level 6 is in touch with level 5 above and level 7 below.

6. Six is the nerves, the central nervous system, even as level 3 is brain and level 9 is body. 7. Six is the point at which the physical plane emerges into the vital plane. 8. That we know releases enormous energy but is still of the physical character. 9. Ideas, opinions lodged here in level 6 cannot be removed by a mental effort. It may succeed to some extent even at level 4 since level 4 is a mental part. It rarely passes on to level 5, never to level 6, as there is nothing of mind to receive or respond. 10. At times of riots, flood havoc etc., man puts aside his mind for all intents and purposes. At such times, he acts mostly from level 7 or level 6. 11. Emotion and devotion are seated here in the consciousness and substance. 12. Devotion is strongest vitally at level 5, but physically devotion reaches its maximum power only here. 13. Emotion at level 4 will be colored by emotional knowledge, but here will be pure untouched by mind of any description. 14. In Victor Hugos Les Miserables, Jean Valjean with his emotional sense of duty to his sister's kids lived centered in level 6. 15. As level 6 is the point where physical plane enters the vital plane and the only mental touch it so far has seen is the mental ability of level 7 to learn the primary skills for existence, level 6 remains pristine pure unspoiled by the crooked mind. 16. In the descent, level 6 is to offer physical stability to the vital power of level 5. 17. The warrior who is thus supported feels like a rock, as it is the support of the physical. 18. All the power of organization of level 3, in spite of its relationship with six does not reach level 6 essentially as it knows not what organization is. 19. It is open to the raw physical influence of level 9 as it is of its type. 20. It is here, vital sensation and physical sensation interchange in the descent and ascent.

Level 7
1. The mental part of the physical is level 7. This is the very first appearance of Mind in Man. 2. Level 7 is the conscious mental part even though it is seated in the subconscious physical. 3. The subconscious has its mental part in what Mother calls Material mind which is the mental part of level 9 when it is subdivided into mental, vital and physical parts. It is this mind that controls our involuntary organs and the reflex action. 4. That Material mind emerges into conscious existence in level 7. 5. Thus, level 7 is the seat of all conscious learning of our physical such as walking, talking, eating etc. 6. When Level 7 understands, the body immediately starts doing. 7. Its efficiency is thus total and for the very same reason it does not respond till it fully learns. 8. Mind means turning sensations into ideas and organizing them. 9. Level 7 turns the physical sensations of eight into physical ideas of skills of acting. 10. The mere undirected movements of level 9 become skilled movements in level 7 through the sensations of level 8. 11. Level 7 is vitally reinforced by level 4 and conceptually educated by level 1. 12. Level 7 is in touch with level 3 and gets the benefits of its organization, decision and determination. 13. There is no emotion of any kind in neither level 7 nor any thought of any description, since it is incapable of both. 14. Level 7 is the foundation for level 3 directly.

15. Skill and capacity are seated here in the consciousness and substance. 16. This is the raw human individual which rises in times of utter crisis to act as beast even as the sailors in the stranded ship started eating human flesh before they perished. 17. Its greatest function is the formation of skills and extraction of their essence into capacity to be stored in its substance. 18. Skill formation is a process where each unit is to be originally fashioned and co-ordinated by an original process of trial and error. As bricks are to be molded one by one and laid one by one to erect a wall, skills need their psychological bricks of movements brought under an order. The writer writes each letter, not each word separately to form a word, which forms a sentence. Skill formation is a basic fundamental biological process. 19. The trials and errors have given a resultant knowledge to level 7 that it has arrived on its own. That is its mental functioning. The physical memory of acts repeats those skills ad infinitum. 20. What level 7 does with primary physical movements, level 3 does with primary thought movements. 21. We can say level 7 is the mind emerging from the physical while level 3 is the physical base that helps the thought mind to emerge. 22. In level 7, the thought emerges from the physical sensation, which the mind there organises. 23. In level 3, the physical organizes itself as a suitable right basis for thought mind to emerge. 24. In the relationship of level 7 with level 3, one supports the other from below and from above in this fashion. 25. Thought in level 3 becomes coarse by the physicality of level 7 while the physical in level 7 becomes bright with the light of level 3. 26. Thought in level 7 is a physical movement, which the scientist is trying to measure and track. 27. Function of brain, the physical movement in level 3 is a thought in level 3. 28. Level 7 does not respond to a vital sensation and rejects it. 29. A concept of level 1 does not reach level 7 and when it does reach, it has no faculty to respond with and therefore ignores it. 30. Level 7 is the seat of the physical psychic as it is the mental part of the physical.

Level 8
1. Level 8 is the vital of the physical plane, the very first point where vitality is born in Man. 2. This is the first stage where there is a part, absolutely untouched by mind. 3. Level 8 is vital but is the vitality of the physical, not having any resemblance to vital energy, even as the wedding function in the poorest circumstances has the characteristic of the wedding without resembling any function. 4. The vitality here is energy, not fully converted into sensation. If any sensation is there, it is the physical sensation. 5. The sensations of level 8 will have the newness to the individual, which the neo-literate feels in the excitement of literacy. 6. This is also the first seat that converts physicality into vital energy. The sense of wonder of the first recipient will characterize this conversion. 7. What it receives from level 5 and from level 2 are of great interest to us. It is on a parallel to the effect on the bottom of the population by what the cream receives. It may be negligible but is significant. 8. A study of these patterns is of great importance but we do not enter into these branches of expression here. 9. Poetry even at this level is appealing to the population of that level. An old man composed a song on the spot and sang it at the thanksgiving function at Ramapuram.

10. In the life of the warrior and the poet, either in his early life or in the previous generations, one can witness the presence of level 8 without fail. 11. Level 8 is in indirect touch with level 2 and level 5, in direct touch with level 7 and level 9. 12. Man at level 8 is the unskilled, energetic and physical worker. 13. The only endowment he has, is the primitive physical energy, which does not condemn him as a bulk of dead flesh. 14. Superstition will be his religion. 15. He may not have evolved to the extent of either questioning his superstition or fearing to lose it. What he has is his possession. 16. To him, emotions are objects, concepts are invisible. 17. Even to be mercenary, he may not have faculties. 18. Skills, emotions, ideas pass him as objects without his noticing them. 19. Their sleep is unconscious; their dreams are of the subconscious. 20. Even tree climbing is a skill that defies him.

Level 9
1. Man begins his existence as physical existence at level 9. 2. This part is exclusively and purely physical, even as 1 is exclusively and purely mental. 3. Level 9 is untouched by vitality or mentality in the least. 4. It is in direct touch only with 8 and in indirect touch with level 3 and level 6. 5. Movement and sleep are its statuses in consciousness and substance. 6. What appears to us as a clod from the point of view of devel oped man is really the culmination of Mans evolution from the animal. The animal vitality having evolved to human mentality is born as Man whom we find at level 9. 7. This man is only capable of movement and emotion or thought has not yet been born in him. Mentality is only in potential while Man is at level 9. 8. According to Sri Aurobindo, the intelligence of the primitive man who fashioned the tools out of stones is the same as the modern scientist. When the species is born, its highest intelligence is also born with it. Only that, it is in potential while he is at level 9. 9. For that intelligence to flower and reach either level 3 or even level 1, it has to evolve emotions and sensations. 10. Man at level 9 is one, who is in a dazed mental condition, if it could be called mental by any stretch of the imagination or linguistic usage. 11. The only thing he is really capable of is movement. 12. In the absence of those inherent movements, he lapses into sleep. 13. As the newborn baby, he is representing the nascent conditions of the newly evolved member of the species. 14. Level 9 can be compared to level 1 with respect to the higher mental silence. The conditions of level 9 with respect to Man are the same as level 1 with respect to the faculty of the higher Mind that understands through silence. 15. Level 9 is to the physical as level 6 is to the vital and level 3 is to the mental. 16. Level 3 is empirical and organizes its facts into system that is decision, but is at sea faced with the concepts of level 1. So does level 9 feel with respect to level 7. 17. Level 6, which is the first member of the vital, is placed in a similar position with level 4. 18. The one asset of level 9 is movement and that is all the source of its energy and later intelligence.

19. The purity of level 9 as pure physical is so complete that it permits evolution of vitality by its movements. 20. The Supra mental being will be born, if level 9 is supra mentalised in consciousness and substance. 21. As its freshness permits it to evolve vitality, so too its pristine purity when reconditioned to its original status permits supramentalisation. 22. By the time it is ready to be mentalised, the very flesh turns into the grey matter of brain. 23. The influence of level 1 penetrates to level 9, to its substance.

Dimensions of Personality
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Core article: This article has been classified as a core article. Readers are encouraged to comment on and discuss the article on the talk page either in confirmation or criticism of the views expressed rather than directly altering the core content which has been locked to preserve the original statement.

This article presents an overview of human personality in terms of six basic dimensions. Separate articles will also be found on this site exploring each of these dimensions in greater detail.

The composition of human personality is the subject of innumerable theories. Each focuses on one or several particular aspects or dimensions of personality, but none appear to consider it in its full scope, depth and integrity. Some theories focus more on differences in type, others on the relative development of specific characteristics and competencies and still others on the dynamics of interaction between several psychological constructs such as Freud's ego, super ego and identity.

A typological approach to categorize personalities fails to take into account wide variations in intensity that would adequately distinguish a Napoleon from a dominant local leader. Behavioral descriptions do not adequately distinguish between external expressions of personality and inner motivation. In an effort towards scientific objectivity and impartiality, most theories omit assigning values to differences in personal orientation to other people and the world around, yet the distinction between a good, kind, generous person who relates positively to everyone and one who is jealous, mean or evil-motive cannot be merely dismissed as a difference in type. A comprehensive theory of personality would need to account for and integrate all these dimensions -- typal differences, varying levels of development and dynamics. A first step in evolution of such a theory would be to clearly identify the structural dimensions on which personalities differ. Human personalities can be examined and differentiated on six core dimensions: 1. Energy 2. Direction: positive-negative attitudes 3. Values 4. Depth: Manners-Behavior-Character-Personality-Individuality 5. Consciousness: physical-vital-mental development 6. Strength

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Energy
This is a subjective measure of the strength or intensity of personality which is very tangible to observation and experience but extremely difficult to define and measure. Great personalities in politics, business and even in the arts are almost invariably described as 'high energy' people. Personality theory needs to identify the source and determinants of that energy. It needs to distinguish between qualitative differences in the type of energy observed, such as the difference between a Napoleon and Mahatma Gandhi. It needs also to account for varying intensities of energy at the mental, vital and physical levels of the being which is discussed below.

Direction
This refers to whether the person's attitudes, motives, intentions and actions are positively or negatively related to the welfare and well-being of other individuals and society. In common parlance, whether the person is 'good' or 'bad'. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Moriarty are both depicted as well-formed high energy, mental characters, yet they dedicate their lives and direct their energies in diametrically opposite directions. Goodwill is an expression of positive direction.

Values
This refers quite literally to what is most important or valuable to a person. If direction is a horizontal measure of good vs. bad, values are a vertical measure of higher vs. lower. Selflessness is high, selfishness as a central motivating force is low. This vertical dimension expresses at all three levels of consciousness. Thus, idealism, honesty, integrity, selfrespect, self-reliance and self-giving are high mental values. Loyalty, courage and generosity are high vital values.

Cleanliness, punctuality and efficiency are high physical values. For a fuller discussion and illustration of personal values, see Values and Personal values.

Depth
Human personality can be viewed as an onion skin of many layers from surface behavior to inner depths -- including Manners -- Behavior -- Character -- Personality -- Individuality Depth refers to the degree to which these deeper layers are formed in the person. Manners -- Superficial, external forms of formalized response, a subset of social or interpersonal skills. Behavior -- The capacity of a person for directed activities based on conscious understanding and intensity. Character -- The fixed attributes reflecting values that have become fully organized, internalized, fixed and subconscious. Personality -- The capacity for expansive or creative initiative that transcend the limitations imposed by character, society or personal experience. Individuality -- A center of uniqueness, quite independent of social conditioning, personal experience and character. We have referred elsewhere to several stages in the formation of personality under the terms Manners-BehaviorCharacter-Personality-Individuality. There are people such as Lydia Bennet and Mrs. Bennet in Pride & Prejudicewho have not yet developed the self-control and maturity needed even for reasonably good manners and are very unlikely to do so, regardless of their upbringing. Their very nerves are not yet capable of that discipline. Others acquire perfect external manners, such as the teachers and students in Mona Lisa Smile, but how they behave outwardly does not really reflect how they think and feel inside. Still others, such as Jane Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, have achieved a level in which their inner feelings are fully in accordance with their external manners. They truly mean and feel what they say, but the form of their personalities is largely determined by the social norms and standards of the society in which they were raised. Still others have a formed character that is capable of higher accomplishment, such as Darcy in Pride & Prejudice. Then there are a few at the level of personality and true individuality who have developed to the point where they can transcend the limitations imposed by society and their own upbringing. Mikhail Gorbachev exhibited real personality in undermining the monopoly on power of the political party and government which he headed. For a fuller discussion and illustration of these levels, see Manners-Behavior-Character-Personality-Individuality

Consciousness
This refers to the relative development and predominance of the physical, vital and mental parts or levels of consciousness. Physical -- Consciousness related to the body, physical needs and material things, which is fixed, inflexible and gives credence only to the here and now. Vital -- Consciousness related to the nervous and emotional, the centers of energy, sensations, feelings, desires and urges. Mental -- Consciousness related to the ideas and ideals, the capacity for thinking, analysis, understanding, organization and planned initiative. For a fuller discussion and illustration of these levels, see Physical, Vital, Mental Consciousness

Strength
This factor is difficult to describe or measure, but differences in the size and intensity of personality can be readily perceived in some instances, especially when one is in the presence of a towering personality such as a Napoleon, a Goethe, a Churchill or a Gandhi. Every individual have their own characteristic level of intensity which is distinct from

the vital or mental energy that they express and may best be represented by their overall capacity to change or influence the people with whom they relate and the environment within which they live.

Composite view of Personality

These six dimensions combine and interact with one another in complex ways to form the web and woof of human personality. It may be helpful to think of human personality as a point or small three dimension object in space. Our trajectory for growth is to expand from that point in multiple dimensions to become a sphere. The point is present level of personality formation with limited knowledge, capacity, power and enjoyment. The sphere is our greater, true being which is potentially as vast as the whole universe and infinite in knowledge, capacity, power and joy. Our progress from a point to a sphere is a progress along the dimensions described briefly in this article and explored in greater detail in the Personality Portal and Spirituality Portal. See also Stages of personal growth