WHO ARE YOU BEYOND THE FORM, SHAPE, COLOUR AND TEXTURE OF RELATIVE LIFE? PART 2– GUEST WRITER: LOUISE STERLING

The ego-driven corrupted consciousness mistakenly believes itself to be planning, creating and directing the scribble that you call your life. It is fixated with the colour, the shape, and the story in the scribble. It is convinced it can improve the quality of the scribble.

From the outside looking in on this metaphor, perhaps it is easier to see that the ego and its personas are phantoms – they are just clusters of thoughts: temporary, fleeting, ephemeral. They provide the faulty lenses through which the scribble of “your” life is perceived. Before examining these lenses in more depth, ensure that You have a clear understanding that the scribble of the individual human life itself is of no particular consequence. It too is temporary, fleeting, ephemeral. The Advaitan Teachings point You beyond to abidance as the Absolute -- that which is eternal, stable, unchanging. However, for the seeker, there is a strong sensory attraction to the colour, shape, and form of the temporary scribble. For this reason, it can be clarifying to see the faulty lenses of perception from the mind-identified state, which "hook" the mind and draw it into the external.

1. The filter of personality typology: the nine types
The Enneagram model of personality typing used on this site reveals nine distinct personality types. (There are other personality models; however the Enneagram is an effective tool, and the idea is to “see” the filter of personality and be free of it, not “fix” or dig deeper into the conceptual mess from which personality arises). The effect of personality is like a lens which tints the scribble with its particular flavour. For a FOUR, the scribble may be flavoured with the hue of romanticism and melancholy. The NINE, may superimpose the flavour of peacefulness and inertia. The THREE lens may view the scribble in terms of great achievements and accomplishments – and the frustration when achievements are not realized. Be sure that You see clearly that the SAME scribble viewed through the lens of each personality type, will be perceived differently with a different character and flavour. In other words, the life witnessed is interpreted via this filter of personality. This is the viewpoint of attachment – the stance is evaluative, judgmental, separating, egotistical. The Advaitan Teachings invite You to “see” this filter or lens of personality and be free of it; to simply witness the life as it unfolds in the absence of attachment.

Are you aware of the filter of personality through which you see the scribble you call your life? Are you able to identify the particular flavourings – the desires and the fears which make up this filtering mechanism? Remember – You need to see what is false to discard it; so that You can see what is True.

2. The filter of persona identification: the typical personas
The prevailing personality type is usually “fixed” by a young age. However, the ego personas are generated via roles played by persons and shift and change over the course of a “lifetime” or in ego-driven reaction to circumstances. Common personas played out include: The Mother, The Father, The Child, The Helper, The Rescuer, The Employer, The Boss, The Lover, The Wife, The Husband, The Teacher, The Friend. Listed like this, the personas appear quite neutral. However, this is not the case. Let’s take the example of The Friend. This persona driven by desires may become The Loyal Friend, The Best Friend, The True Friend. Imagine the scribble of your life viewed through the filter of The True Friend. Do You see that the mind will select events, thoughts, and circumstances that “prove the case” – that you are indeed a Fine and True Friend. In duality, everything dissolves into its opposite eventually. The same persona driven by fears may become The Betrayed Friend, The Used and Expoited Friend, …The Enemy. Now, the same scribble is viewed through the lens of the fear-based Betrayed Friend – and incidents and circumstances that show betrayal of the Innocent One are revealed. Again – notice that the scribble has remained unchanged. Only the filter or lens through which the scribble is perceived has changed.

This is why “Floyd” repeatedly describes the instability of the Non-Realized. It is because their so-called reality is constantly being re-interpreted to fit the pattern of desires or fears of endlessly shifting ego-driven personas -- some of which are highly volatile.

Are you aware of the personas that drive you? Are you aware of the desires and fears that trigger these personas? Can You see clearly how the View of the relative life is not stable or neutral, but constantly changing to match the egoic needs of fluctuating personas? Are You able to observe any remaining personas as desires or fears are triggered, and simply witness without reaction?

As Nisargadatta Maharaj explains:

“When is there an ego? The ego is there when you have a reaction, when you register and take delivery of whatever is being observed spontaneously. Only when you cling to the observation, then there is an ego. If you are nobody, you will not bother … you will just observe and go on your way. But, if instead, you receive delivery and cogitate over it, then ego will start.”

“Don't say that you are an individual, just stay in the beingness; that is true bliss. You fill the world with selfishness due to your association with the body; but that selfishness vanishes once you understand the underlying principles and dissolve the personality.”

Please enter the silence of contemplation.

(For extending teaching on the Advaitan Understanding – that guide You from the temporary fluctuating relative stance to abidance as Your Real Nature, see the links on the right hand side of this blog.)

Comments / clarifications may be sent to louise.advaita@gmail.com – a temporary email address available for the duration of these guest postings.