PLEASE REMEMBER:
Submissions over the 50-word limit will be deleted unread. Count “Egocentrickarmic- conditioning/self-hate” as one word. Do not include “R/L” in your word count.
Zen and the Enneagram: We Are All Nine Types
Thursday, August 24
Class 9
This email class has assisted us to uncover a BIG BAMBOOZLE hiding in plain sight. (The BIG BAMBOOZLE is a book that describes how we are conned into a life of suffering!)
Awareness Practice is an inquiry that involves paying attention, believing nothing, and not taking anything personally. We are always looking to see and see through ego in action. But if “I” am convinced that “I” know who “I” am (an enneatype Five say), then I have just given egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate free rein to control me through all the ways “I’m” convinced “I’m” not. I’ve been hoodwinked into wearing blinkers so that the con artist controls where I look while I believe myself to be a “very aware” Awareness Practitioner.
By practicing looking through the lens of different enneatypes, we have perhaps seen some ways ego operates through us that we’ve previously not seen. We are all, in some way or another, bamboozled into identifying with the “personality” rather than with Presence.
With type One, we notice the focus on what’s wrong keeps us from being present to the perfection of what is.
With type Two, we observed how a focus on “my way” prevents from letting Life lead.
With type Three, we saw how a focus on external validation robs us from experiencing the wholeness that we already are.
With type Four, we see attending to what’s missing prevents us from being present to all that we have.
With type Five, we discover how identification with the self-separate from life, keeps us from being part of all that is.
With type Six, we notice that identification with ego is the experience of fear.
With type Seven, we observe how the focus on what’s next keeps us from thisherenow.
And with type Eight, we notice how we are bamboozled into the illusion of control, when we are actually being controlled by egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate.
In this final class, let’s look at keeping the practice of “seeing” alive by examining enneatype 9
Type Nine – The Peacemaker
Worldview: Life is about harmony; let’s go with the flow.
Beliefs: Having one’s own agenda or preferences disrupts harmony, so it’s better to just go along with others. Nothing really matters that much anyway. Conflict is to be avoided at all costs.
Focus of Attention: Other people’s agenda
Characteristics
- Go with the flow - merging with others
- Self-forgetting, defined as laziness towards own needs, priorities, agenda
- Trouble with decisions: Do I agree or disagree? Do I want to be here or not?
- Suppression of physical energy and anger
- Replace essential needs with nonessential substitutes – the important things are left until the end of the day
- Act through habit and repeating familiar solutions
- Control through stubbornness and passive aggressive behavior
- Numbing out, inertia, running on auto pilot
No type is more devoted to the quest for internal and external peace for themselves and others. Nine’s are typically “spiritual seekers” who have a great yearning for connection with the cosmos, as well as with other people. They work to maintain their peace of mind, just as they work to establish peace and harmony in their world.
Nine’s tend to avoid conflict at all costs, whether it be internal or interpersonal. As the potential for conflict in life is virtually ubiquitous, the Nine's desire to avoid it generally results in some degree of withdrawal from life, and many Nines are, in fact, introverted. Other Nines lead more active, social lives, but nevertheless remain to some to degree "checked out," or not fully involved, as if to insulate themselves from threats to their peace of mind.
The Nine's inability to tolerate conflict sometimes translates into an overall conservative approach to change. Change can provoke unpleasant feelings and disrupt the Nine's desire for comfort. Less healthy Nines seem incapable of motivating themselves to move into action and bring about effective change. However, when change does come, as it generally will, Nines find that they are usually well able to adapt. They tend to be more resilient than they give themselves credit for. In fact, Nines tend not to give themselves enough credit in general, and their self-effacing attitude often seems to invite others to take them for granted or to overlook their often significant contributions. This can cause a subterranean anger to build inside the Nine's psyche, which can erupt into consciousness in occasional fits of temper which quickly blow over, but which more often manifest in passive aggressive foot dragging. Being overlooked is often a source of a deep sadness in Nines, a sadness that they scarcely ever give voice to.
Nines demonstrate the universal temptation to ignore the disturbing aspects of life and to seek some degree of peace and comfort by “numbing out.” They respond to pain and suffering by attempting to live in a state of premature peacefulness, whether it is in a state of false spiritual attainment, or in more gross denial. More than any other type, Nines demonstrate the tendency to run away from the paradoxes and tensions of life by seeking to find simple and painless solutions to their problems.
To emphasize the pleasant in life is not a bad thing, of course—it is simply a limited and limiting approach to life. Nines tend to focus on the “bright side of life” so that their peace of mind will not be shaken. But rather than deny the dark side of life, Nines must remember that “the only way out is through.”
Exercise
How are you an Enneatype Nine? How do some of the qualities, processes, and characteristics of the Peacemaker show up in you? How does the desire to “maintain the peace” prevent you from expressing yourself authentically? How are you caused to suffer because you are talked into avoiding confronting what is arising to be addressed?
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 Saturday, Aug. 26. Submissions received before 9:00 a.m. PDT on Saturday, Aug. 26 will not be accepted.
Submit Class 9 responses between 9.00 a.m. PDT on Saturday, Aug. 26 and 12:00 noon on Sunday, Aug. 27. Class 8 responses will be accepted until 12:00 on Sunday, Aug. 27.
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 of the assignments can also be found 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