Buddhist Path to personality development: Framework for human flourishing

Personality refers to the unique set of characteristics, traits, behaviours, and patterns of thinking that define an individual's distinct identity and influence how they interact with others and navigate the world.

- Bhante Ethkandawaka Saddhajeewa (PhD) Content supervisor- University of Arizona Co- Abbot- Bhavana Society

It encompasses a person's attitudes, values, beliefs, emotions, and social skills, and is shaped by a combination of genetic, environmental, and experiential factors. Yet understanding what personality is naturally leads to deeper questions about what personality is for—the fundamental question of human existence that centers on the purpose and quality of life. While Western psychology, particularly through Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, identifies self-actualisation as the pinnacle of human development, Buddhist philosophy offers a complementary yet distinct framework for understanding personality development and human fulfillment. The Buddha's teachings present a systematic approach to addressing the universal human condition of dissatisfaction and cultivating lasting well-being through mental development. This exploration examines how these two perspectives one rooted in Western psychological theory and the other in ancient Eastern wisdom-illuminate different dimensions of personality and its role in achieving a meaningful life.

The Foundation: Understanding Dissatisfaction

The Buddha articulated a central truth about human existence through the concept expressed in the Pali phrase Dukkhe loke pattitto—the recognition that the entire system of conditioned existence is characterised by unsatisfactoriness or suffering. This observation raises a fundamental paradox: if dissatisfaction pervades human experience, how can individuals achieve the satisfaction that Maslow and others identify as a primary human goal? The Buddhist approach suggests that addressing this paradox requires investigating its root causes rather than simply pursuing external solutions.