What is the Enneagram?
November 30, 2007
Sat Nam,
Here’s what Hari Singh (8th) has to say about the Enneagram…
What is the Enneagram?
It is a teaching tool.
The Sufis, among others used it.
Imagine a Sufi master of old quickly identifying a student’s self-concept, then gleefully applying pressure to shatter that image so that the student might grow.
How would the old master do this?
In many ways. Perhaps the easiest of which was listening to the person’s choice of words. From habitual language clues, the master would understand a great deal about the student’s view of the world and his values. As for the application of pressure, masters all have their unique ways of teaching.
In the more casual surroundings of Yoga West, we have used language clues to help us choose appropriate ways of communicating.
Here’s an example:
An overly responsible, extroverted woman is working on a project with a quiet man who does not share her feeling of responsibility for all things. Both are competent. But his sense of time is more expansive than hers. She doesn’t want to be critical of him, but she wants to move their project along. The question is how to approach him without shutting him downn.
We learn in studying the enneagram that highly responsible people tend to be their own harshest critics. Criticism from outside cuts them very deeply as they tend to compound the effect with their self-criticism. When they wish to persuade someone they will speak in terms of principle and accountability. (this is how they motivate themselves)But they resist giving ultimatums.
We also learn from the enneagram that many quiet cerebral individuals actually thrive on being given ultimatums. They value the clarity while maintaining an objective perspective. They are very coachable.
The resolution for the responsible woman is to give the guy a deadline for moving the project along. If she is clear, chances are excellent that the project will progress, even if it takes a bit longer than she anticipates.
There is much more to learn about the Enneagram !
There will be a Enneagram Weekend Workshop With Hari Singh and Ad Purkh Kaur at Yoga West this weekend Sat, Dec 1 and Sun, Dec 2.
contact Yoga West for more information 604.732.9642 or visit the website -
