Only the functional malefic planets can be afflicting planets.

It is very necessary to understand the difference between afflicting planets and afflicted planets.

Cdr. Ashutosh Pandey made the following presentation:

Personality and Personal Development (hereafter referred to only as Personality) plays a key role in society which requires constant touch with the external environment, be it family, friends, neighbours, office, peers, subordinates, staff, the boss or the billing accountant in the shopping mall. Phrases such as charming, enthusiastic, action oriented, focused, sensitive, humorous among numerous others have sponsored an avalanche of research in psychology to understand the root cause of an individual’s mental make-up and improve upon any defects. Some of the causes have been narrowed down to good parental upbringing, good school, nurturing office atmosphere and a devoted spouse. Conversely, the same factors were blamed as sufficient cause for personality disorders such as a difficult childhood, an aggressive and dominant parent, an unhappy marriage, a tragedy in the family or other unforseen occurrences. This paper examines the astrological factors involved in personality development using Systems Approach (SA) developed by our beloved Guruji Prof VK Choudhry, Jyotish-Vachaspati, Vastu-Shastra-Samrat, Sthapatya-Ratna, MBA and also to narrowly examine five sample Case Studies (CS) where everything looks excellent on the outside but deep rooted feelings of rejection, over-reaction, hostility and alienation lie immediately below the surface.

Personality and Personal Development Using Systems Approach

1. Introduction. While browsing at the airport book-stall looking for something to read, a catchy title drew my attention i.e ‘Get The Life You Want’ by Richard Bandler, the creator of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). The book listed five ‘tools’ to get rid of fears and phobias, anxieties, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, painful memories and a host of predicaments which exist in the mind. I was intrigued, as during the course of my studies in Astrology, people frequently approached me for help regarding similar problems which I had grouped under the heading Personality Issues. These individuals genuinely believed the cause of their difficulties were shaped either by the internal (home, family friends) or external (work, friends) environment. I would do a preliminary examination of the Natal Chart and the root-cause of their personality related issues would be identified. The nature of the Planets, the Mool-Trikona (MT) Houses involved and the nature of their Signs were key factors used to decode their personality. Most cases were successful where a breakthrough would occur after the individual grasped the essence of the advice. In a few cases, there would be anger, hurt or antagonism as the person refused to acknowledge the truth, especially in CS-03 where the mother of a rebellious teenager expressed complete disbelief in the analysis and expected any other reason except that her son was by nature a ‘difficult’ child. A quick recap of the Planets, Houses and Signs is offered in subsequent paras to aid our memory. 2. Planets and Their Relation to Personality. Planets have a direct bearing on the type of personality, given their qualities as Mool-Trikona (MT) Lord or Significators.

The Sun when strong gives administative capability and leadership. Wehn weak it gives pride, egoism and tendency to brag / talk too much, show off, etc.

The Moon when strong gives understanding, hospitality and imagination. When the Moon is weak it makes the person hyper-sensitive and the person almost always over reacts.

The strong Mars gives control through physical and rational power. The weak Mars gives lack of courage, inconsistency, impatience and haste.

The strong Mercury gives power of discrimination, confidence and analysis. The weak Mercury gives lack of confidence, indecisiveness and nervousness.

The strong Jupiter gives the qualities of benevolence, kindness, morality, sincerity, discipline and generosity. The weak Jupiter gives over confidence, immorality, greed and materialism.

The strong Venus blesses the person with etiquettes, understanding, team spirit and benevolence. The weak Venus gives lack of charm, lack of refineness, lack of taste and lack of manners.

The strong Saturn gives dutifulness, honesty, humility, discipline,etc. The weak Saturn makes the person selfish, insecure, miserly, cheat, immoral, harsh toungued, hard-hearted and indolent.

Rahu when strong gives the art of diplomacy and when weak makes the person manipulative and qualities of a weak Saturn.

Strong Ketu takes the person to mystic sciences and spirituality. The weak and afflicting Ketu brings miseries.

Note 1: source: Prof VK Choudhry, Impact of Ascending Signs (Sagar Pub, First Pub 1992) p 23 ‘How to Analyse a Horoscope in Three Minutes Prof VK Choudhry, Impact of Ascending Signs (Sagar Pub, First Pub 1992) p 23 ‘How to Analyse a Horoscope in Three Minutes

Note 2: Source: Prof VK Choudhry, LEARN ASTROLOGY - LESSON 53, "How to Judge PERSONALITY & STATUS" http://www.yournetastrologer.com/learn_astrology53.htm

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Dr. Jonathan Miller made a presentation.

We all acknowledge that the duty of an astrologer is to enter consultations with clients and conduct our personal lives in accordance with the intent to benefit others. Besides the fact that the source of authentic astrological precepts transcends ordinary human intelligence, it is this intention that makes astrology truly a ‘divine science’. So the aspiration motivating astrological work is to reduce the distress and increase the happiness of clients.

It could be criticized as a betrayal of common sense to attempt to do this without considering the underlying causes. So we recognize also that our experiences of happiness and suffering, and the basis of astrology, are determined by the cause and effect process of our own actions of body, speech and mind. Astrological calculations reflect the potentials in the stream of cause and effect present at the time of birth, something like a balance sheet.

Mercifully, not unlike our genetic potential, the continuity of cause and result is modifiable by our current actions. This is the principle upon which the skillful interventions that we term the ‘remedial measures’ are able to modify the results and improve the karmic outcome to reduce suffering and unease. Reflecting on this, the rest of my comments were mainly sharing questions that I was asking myself…

If a patient who suffers from heart disease or diabetes is not taught the importance of the lifestyle factors: eating properly, not smoking, adequate exercise, managing stress, supplementing documented deficiencies, etc. the medications and acute interventions will not be enough to prevent recurrence. Likewise, wouldn’t it be best if we were able to, the prescription of valuable astrological remedial measures, help clients to understand that their future happiness and suffering are produced by the sum total of all their thoughts, words and deeds?

As it’s said, a bushel of corn can relieve the affliction of hunger for a short time, but giving the materials and means for farming can relieve hunger for the long term. Could I be doing a better job in this regard? Considering the mental habits of people nowadays how realistic is it? If approached with sensitivity on an individual basis would it elevate the benefit and, perhaps, the spiritual integrity the astrologer?

There are a few things we know for certain:

• All conditioned phenomena, everything we are experiencing, are impermanent.
• It’s hard to know for sure when it will happen and where we are going afterwards, but we are definitely going to die.
• There is nothing that we are experiencing now that is not the result of our previous actions.
• There is nothing that we are doing now, even the slightest action, that we will not experience the result of later.

This being the case, should we in SA Astrology be embracing a formal determination to include fundamental instruction in the universal law of karma as tenet of astrological practice? Should we, in addition to prescribing strengthening agents and charitable actions, always endeavor to remind clients of these points and educate them in the basic discrimination between actions that produce suffering and those that result in happier conditions, so they can have a sure grip on the ‘steering wheel’ of their own destiny? Should cultivating the skill in doing this according to the nature and capacity of each client be a regular part of our training?

Enough of these ramblings, but they are what was on my mind when I shared some comments with our colleagues at the recent SA Conference. If it ends up helping anyone to remember that we produce happiness and suffering by own actions perhaps there may be some slight merit to it.

The ten Positive and Negative Actions are taught accordingly. Of the ten, there are four pertaining to the mind, three to speech and three to the body.

The ten Negative actions to be avoided:

1. Killing conscious living beings.
2. Theft
3. Sexual misconduct.
4. Falsehood
5. Slander
6. Irresponsible chatter.
7. Verbal abuse.
8. Covetousness.
9. Vindicativeness (malice).
10. Holding wrong views (such as "actions motivated by hatred produce benefit").

He also elaborated the Ten Positive actions to be engaged in as under:

1. Protecting life.
2. Not stealing.
3. Not engaging in sexual conduct that harms others.
4. Speaking the truth.
5. Not slandering or engaging in divisive speech.
6. Speaking meaningfully and with a positive purpose.
7. Not saying things that harm the hearts of others.
8. Maintaining a content mind that does not covet the resources of others.
9. Abandoning malice and cultivating the intention to benefit others.
10. Seeking the truth and understanding the natural laws of life and existence.

Furthermore, we can practise a way of life in general that supports happiness and the power to help others by endeavoring to engaging in the following:

1. Be content.
2. Act to benefit others.
3. Especially help the poor and needy.
4. Diminish anger, desire / attachment / greed / pride, envy and ignorance o ourselves and the way things are.
5. Increase loving kindness, compassion, equanimity and rejoicing for the well being of others. These four qualities can become infinite within us, and are thus known as the four immeasurables.
6. Increase the six qualities of generosity, moral discipline, patience and tolerance, diligence in accomplishing what is meaningful and beneficial, mental composure and meditative concentration, and wisdom that penetrates the truth of things and existence.
7. The last is the conduct of the bodhisattva, the noble individual who seeks enlightenment - ultimate wisdom and compassionate power - for the benefit of all living conscious beings. These are known as six transcendental perfections.

Col. B K Kailash (Retired) made a presentation on the word and its power. He said that each word results into vibrations which touch the life of individuals significantly. Therefore, we should be very careful in choosing our words for conveying the right meaning and generating right vibrations.

About 75 case studies were discussed in the conference based on the analytical techniques brought out in the beginning of the Conference. There was wide spread participation by all the participants. The case studies discussed included matters pertaining to health, setbacks in life, early death of father, twins, profession and transit influences.

Mr. Rajesh Lohia raised the issue of use of application of knowledge of astrology for entering into partnerships and employing of manpower. The matter was discussed and it was stated that the knowledge of astrology helps a lot in such matters. While entering the partnerships one has to see that there should be no implication of the close inflluence of lord of the sixth house in the birth chart of the person being considered for partnership. While employing a person, we have to avoid the close influence of the lord of the sixth house and the close influence of Rahu on the planets / houses ruling personality of the person. At the same time the planets ruling the personality traits required for the job requirements should be well placed / fairly strong in the chart of the person being considered for appointment.
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