ANNOUNCEMENTS
[Walter Driscoll asked to interview me in order to preserve on video some of the latest modifications and evolutions in the versions of the message offered here since 1989. He would label the discussion, "Unlearning with Floyd Henderson."
Please note: For those who have a problem hearing what is being shared, the video offers a fairly accurate set of closed captions which some listeners might want to activate.
The interview is available for viewing by clicking on video "NUMBER THIRTEEN" in the column to the right.]
1. [See the offer in gold text following this post for details on how you can watch a retreat on video which includes a detailed discussion of all of the steps on the path as used by Maharaj]
2. Here, with those who are still driven to talk about "god," the "Son of god," the "Holy Spirit," "Buddha," "Krishna," etc., etc., etc., the invitation to them is to view those as verbs, not nouns. See the green text after today's post for the full meaning and implications of that.
3. A newer video ("Number Ten: Awakening Together Satsang, March 2018") has now been added in the far right column of this page, offering the opportunity to view a recent 2018 satsang session with Floyd being interviewed by Regina and Jacqueline of "The Awakening Together Group." (See the details in the blue text after this post.)
4. Some prefer paperback books even if they have to wait a day or so to receive it and have to pay more for a printed book and its shipment. Now, 10 paperback books by Henderson are in print and available in two anthologies through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and over 40,000+ booksellers around the globe including in the Americas, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, China, Spain, Brazil and South Korea. See the end of this post in red text for details.
5. Would you like to have us send to someone as a gift from you a copy of any ebook in our inventory?
6. You may purchase a Floyd Henderson Shopify Gift Card here for someone and offer recommendations for the books in Floyd's store which might be of assistance to them.
7. You may click here to visit Floyd's bookstore which offers both digital books and paperback books which deal with non-duality, non-duality-based fictional adventures, recovery, and financial budgeting.
ARE YOU AT THE WET CHARCOAL STAGE OR THE GUNPOWDER STAGE?
(Most haven’t a clue and must be told)
“There is no one here that has any beliefs, so there will never be anyone here who desires that you believe what he believes.”
“There will never be any implication here that the non-dual understanding can replace any need for professional treatment of mental illnesses.”
“The Non-dual message emphasizes that personality identifications set the stage for the development of personality disorders when personality disintegrates into Levels 7-9 as discussed yesterday and stage the stage for the development of neuroses and psychoses.”
--floyd
What is the Enneagram and What Are the Nine Personality Types?
In geometry, the enneagram is 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 post 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.
The point was offered yesterday that some use non-duality and personality inventories to address some of the nine levels of personality defects / psychic health / psyche deterioration:
Levels 1-3 identify high-functioning aspects of personality types.
Levels 4-6 identify average aspects of personality types and disorders.
Levels 7-9 identify deeply dysfunctional manifestations of personality types and personality disorders.
The fact, Very few persons nowadays are at the 1-3 stage levels of psyche health; the numbers in Levels 4-6 average psychic health have increased; and the number now operating in Levels 7-9 with psychic deterioration is manifesting at very high levels.
Thus Maharaj said, “Insanity is universal. Sanity is rare. Yet there is hope because the moment we perceive our insanity, we are on the way to sanity.”
The non-dual understanding can sometimes facilitate an “undoing” process whereby one can return to a stage where one can be functional or even totally liberated via realization. (That seldom happens with those who have disintegrated to Levels 7-9 of psychic unhealthiness)
The nine types (and their interactions with each other) are typically illustrated by use of a star polygon. 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.
Liberation
“Liberation” when used in non-duality terms refers to having been liberated from belief in false personal identifications.
Eventually, Maharaj would reduced the number of steps on “the path” from seven to four when he said, "You need not find the answer to ‘What am I?’ It is enough to know what you are not.”
Liberation from belief in personality identifications is one part of what is required to be free of all beliefs, of all learned ignorance, and thereafter reach a state of realization.
[Maharaj: “Realization is but the opposite of ignorance.”]
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
WHEN HEALTHY: Demonstrative, Sensitive, and Generous. WHEN NOT: People-Pleasing, Martyr-like, Manipulative, Hysterical, and Possessive. Seekers of the love not received in childhood.
3
THE ACHIEVER / THE PERFORMER
WHEN 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
WHEN 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 KNOWLEDGE
SEEKER / THE ANALYST / THE KNOW-IT-ALL
WHEN 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 SEEKER OF CARETAKERS
WHEN HEALTHY: Engaging, Responsible, Loyal, Caring, Compassionate, and Practical. WHEN NOT: Dependent and / or Co-Dependent, Anxious, Suspicious, Controlling, Unpredictable, Paranoid, Defensive, Rigid, and Self-Defeating.
7
THE ENTHUSIAST / THE ADVENTURER / THE ADDICT
WHEN 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
WHEN HEALTHY:
Self-Confident, Direct, Self-Reliant, and Decisive. WHEN NOT: Willful,
Confrontational, Controlling, Domineering, Aggressive, Self-Centered, Sociopathic, Psychopathic.
9
THE PEACEMAKER
WHEN HEALTHY: Receptive, Good-Natured, Reassuring, and Agreeable. WHEN NOT: Passive-Aggressive, Complacent, Lazy, Spaced Out, Obsessive, Judgmental, and Users w / a Sense of Entitlement. Actually Concerned with Keeping Her or His Own Peace.
1
THE REFORMER / THE JUDGE / THE PERFECTIONIST
WHEN 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.
A suggestion: Re-read the descriptions of the nine types, trying to identify which type(s) you are most like.
(Everyone has some degree of all nine types but all will have a primary type and maybe a couple of secondary types.)
Then tomorrow I’ll provide more insight into the nine types and what they are like at the different levels of psychic health or psychic unhealthiness.
To be continued.
Please enter into the silence of contemplation.
To watch the most recent talk and Q&A with Walter and his guests, click:
Walter Driscoll and Floyd Henderson
To watch the interview when Walter and Floyd discussed the fact that the Ultimate Sickness is a mental / mind sickness and why learning more is not the answer and why unlearning is the answer, click:
