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Zen and the Enneagram: We Are All Nine Types
Monday, August 21
Class 8
The causes of human suffering are often described as the three poisons: greed, aversion, and delusion. The orientation of Enneatype 7 assists us to understand how suffering is caused through aversion/avoidance. Through the lens of this orientation, the moment is considered to be too “painful” to be present to, and so we distract ourselves through pleasure, planning, and possibilities. Instead of learning to be with what is arising in compassion, we flee from what is arising. And since we cannot find compassion within ourselves for ourselves, we are unable to find it for others.
Through Awareness Practice, we learn to tune in to the wisdom, love and compassion of the Mentor, and in so doing find that not only are we adequate to our lives, we have the support we need, through the Mentor, to be with whatever we have to encounter and transcend.
Let’s move to Enneatype Eight.
Type Eight – The Challenger
Worldview: Only the strong survive.
Beliefs: The truth comes out in a good fight. The world is black and white. Life is to be lived passionately, lustily, with nothing held back. Weak is unworthy. I protect my own.
Focus of Attention: Control
Characteristics
- Control of personal space, possessions, people likely to influence an Eight’s life
- Concern with justice and protection of others
- Impulsiveness – action before thinking
- Unafraid to express anger
- Sparring as a way of making contact – trusting those who can hold their own in a fight
- Difficulty in being vulnerable and recognizing dependent aspects of themselves
- All-or-nothing way of seeing the world
- Impatience with indecisiveness or inaction
Eights at their healthiest are magnanimous and highly moral, especially in showing kindness or forgiveness. They are champions of the underdog, lending their time and strength to those who are less fortunate or disempowered. Generally, they are unafraid, generous, and have a ready sense of humor.
Eights are straightforward, able to take charge and make decisions quickly. They are people of action, able to inspire others through sheer force of will. They are larger-than-life leaders who partake of life’s pleasures wholeheartedly. Being “in charge” and leaving their imprint on their sphere is uniquely characteristic of them.
More than any other type, they want to be independent and resist being controlled by or indebted to anyone. They often refuse to give in to social convention and can defy fear, shame, and concern about the consequences of their actions. Although they are usually aware of what people think of them, they do not let the opinions of others sway them.
Eights are tough and can absorb a great deal of physical punishment without complaint. Yet they are afraid of being hurt emotionally and will use their physical strength to protect their feelings and keep others at a safe emotional distance. Beneath the tough facade is vulnerability, although in less self-aware Eights this vulnerability can be covered over by emotional armor.
Eights often feel hurt and rejected, although they seldom talk about it because they have trouble admitting vulnerability to themselves, let alone to anyone else. Because they fear rejection, Eights defend themselves by rejecting others first. The result is that average Eights become blocked in their ability to connect with people or to love since love gives others power over them.
Exercise
How are you an Enneatype Eight? How do some of the qualities, processes, and characteristics of the Challenger show up in you? How does control show up in your life? How does armoring yourself against rejection or emotional hurt prevent you from authentic connection?
In 50 words or fewer, write to us about your process. Here is the link to use:
https://www.livingcompassion.
Submit your response after 9.00 a.m. PDT on Thursday, August 24. Submissions received before 9:00 a.m. PDT on Thursday, August 24 will not be accepted.
All submissions and responses will be posted as Cheri finishes with them. As we begin posting Cheri’s responses for each class, we will send a notice. All responses and assignments are posted here: https://www.livingcompassion.
NOTE
When writing your responses, please pay attention to spelling and punctuation. This will help Cheri to more easily discern your meaning.
We recommend recording the class, listening to it, responding, and recording your response before submitting it. Remember to include “R/L” with your response to indicate that you are Recording & Listening.
Gassho