TODAY’S CONSIDERATIONS
Yesterday:
The term "liberation" simply refers to being liberated from the consequences of personality assumption which include being driven by the hidden, subconscious agendas of false identities and which control and determine every thought that is thought, every word that is spoken, and every action that is taken by persons trapped in the Ultimate Sickness without persons having a clue that such is exactly what is happening.
So, liberation involves being liberated from the belief in personality and from being driven by the hidden agendas of personality. Moreover, sanity can only be restored if persons are freed of their beliefs in false identities (it being insane to believe that one is something that one is not).
Maharaj said that science would advance to the point where, someday, it would prove the validity of the non-dual teachings. Front and center with those teachings is the pointer that personality identification must go if one is to be free of the symptoms and effects of the Ultimate Sickness.
[Key among those symptoms, Maharaj said, are "ignorance, stupidity, and insanity," all of which involve the mind which is where the symptoms of the Sickness are accumulated and stockpiled.]
Maharaj has proved to have been spot on regarding the science. There is now a science which has evolved around the study and understanding of personality and its effects. That science has resulted in a variety of tests which attempt to measure and quantify the exact degree to which each of the nine basic personality types or styles have manifested in any given individual and the degree to which those types are influencing and determining - and even subconsciously controlling - the thoughts and words and actions of the masses.
The test used here, after studying most of the ones which are currently available, is the one which has proved (to use Maharaj's words) through my own experience to be the most accurate and the most revealing. So here, the Enneagram personality inventory is used to test persons who are interested in finding out why they think the way they think, why they say the things they say, why they do the things they do, why they feel (or emote) the way that they do, and to understand why the sages for ages have recommended freedom from all of that.
It is an excellent, accurate and in-depth scientific tool if the results are discussed with one who understands all of the implications of the results of the test. It is now available for those seekers on the "path" who would understand fully the subconscious forces which have been driving them all their lives, starting around the age of five or six and continuing - for most persons - right up to the point when they take mahasamadhi.
A. WHAT IS THE ENNEAGRAM AND WHAT ARE THE NINE PERSONALITY TYPES?
The enneagram is illustrated via a pictograph made in the shape of a star polygon with nine sides. In psychology or philosophy or sociology, it is a means for studying the nine basic personality types that have been recognized for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
Some believe that the Sufis first used the tool in the Middle East hundreds of years ago. Others believe that the roots can be traced to the Far East and were transmitted orally even thousands of years ago.
It is known that the modern use of the Enneagram can be traced to the Russian teacher Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff in the 1920’s.
The tool has been used in the U.S. since the 1960’s.
More significantly as far as the pointers in this book are concerned, it is just that . . . simply a tool. The tool can be used to understand the forces that drive persons to do the things they do and to feel the way they feel.
It can also be used to promote understanding of others and their behavior and also to catalogue the disintegration of persons who move downward from the stages where they can function in society through the declining stages and into the dysfunctional stages.
It can also provide a series of actions that can be taken to “undo” that process and return to a stage where one can be functional or even totally liberated via Realization.
For the purposes of this study, little explanation will be offered to explain the ways that the types adjacent to your own influence behavior or the way that other types connected by lines to your own affect your conduct. Much information is available on the web if you are interested in those other aspects.
B. TRAITS, “ASSETS,” AND “LIABILITIES” AMONG THE NINE PERSONALITY TYPES
[TYPES 2, 3 AND 4 ARE CENTERED IN THE HEART, IN FEELINGS, IN IMAGE]
2
THE HELPER / THE RESCUER / THE ONE WANTING TO BE LOVED BY ALL
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Demonstrative, Sensitive, and Generous.
WHEN NOT: People-Pleasing, Martyr-like, Manipulative, Hysterical, Mean, Controlling, Demanding, and Possessive.
3
THE ACHIEVER / THE PERFORMER / THE IMAGE MAKER / THE ADMIRATION SEEKER
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Adaptive, Energetic, Optimistic, Assured, Excelling, Goal-Oriented, Driven.
WHEN NOT: Image-Conscious, Vile-Tongued, Narcissistic, Pretentious, Vain, Superficial, Vindictive and Overly-Competitive.
4
THE INDIVIDUALIST / THE ROMANTICIST / THE REBEL / THE SEEKER OF AUTHENTICITY
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Expressive, Strong Feelings, Warm, Dramatic, and Perceptive.
WHEN NOT: Self-Absorbed, Depressed, Guilt-Ridden, Moralistic, Isolationistic, Stubborn, Moody, and Temperamental
[TYPES 5, 6 AND 7 ARE CENTERED IN THE HEAD, IN THINKING, IN FEARS]
5
THE INVESTIGATOR / THE KNOWLEDGE ACCUMULATOR / THE WOULD-BE KNOWER
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Analytical, Persevering, Wise, Objective, Perceptive, and Innovative.
WHEN NOT: Secretive, Intellectually-Arrogant, Stingy, Distant, Critical, Unassertive, a Know-It-All, and Negative.
6
THE LOYALIST / THE QUESTIONER / THE DEPENDENT ONE and / or THE CO-DEPENDENT ONE
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Engaging, Responsible, Loyal, Caring, Compassionate, and Practical.
WHEN NOT: Anxious, Suspicious, Controlling, Unpredictable, Paranoid, Defensive, Rigid, and Self-Defeating.
7
THE ENTHUSIAST / THE ADVENTURER
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Spontaneous, Energetic, Optimistic, Versatile, and Lively.
WHEN NOT: Distracted, Scattered, Impulsive, Histrionic, Undisciplined, Self-Destructive, and Restless.
[TYPES 8, 9 AND 1 ARE CENTERED IN THE GUT, IN INSTINCTS, IN ANGER]
8
THE CHALLENGER / THE ASSERTER / THE BOSS / THE SOCIOPATH / THE PSYCHOPATH
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Self-Confident, Direct, Self-Reliant, and Decisive.
WHEN NOT: Willful, Confrontational, Controlling, Domineering, Aggressive, and Self-Centered.
9
THE ONE OBSESSED WITH MAINTAINING HIS / HER OWN PEACE (often by using avoidance)
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Receptive, Reassuring, and Agreeable.
WHEN NOT: Passive-Aggressive, Complacent, Lazy, Spaced Out, Obsessive, Judgmental, and Users with a Sense of Entitlement.
1
THE REFORMER / THE PERFECTIONIST / THE JUDGE / THE SPINNER AND DISCARDER OF ONE'S OWN TRUTH
WHEN PSYCHICALLY HEALTHY: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, Realistic, Conscientious, Productive, Honest, Orderly, and Self-Disciplined.
WHEN NOT: Extremely Perfectionistic, Judgmental, Inflexible, Dogmatic, Obsessive-Compulsive, Critical, Overly-Serious, Anxious, and Jealous.
If you notice that all nine types are centered in some areas that are not especially conducive to being at peace and at ease (IMAGE, FEAR, or ANGER) then one can understand the rationale behind the statement that:
The less we are influenced or driven by personality, personas, ego, or ego-states, then the greater chance we have of becoming truly free and truly happy; additionally, it can also be said that those who are healthy and integrating can exhibit “the best” of all nine types and those who are unhealthy and disintegrating can exhibit “the worst” of all nine types.
To be continued
Please enter into the silence of contemplation.
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