Enneagram Expressions
1
This type of man elevates objective reality, or an objectively oriented intellectual formula, into the ruling principle not only for himself but for his whole environment.
This type of man elevates objective reality, or an objectively oriented intellectual formula, into the ruling principle not only for himself but for his whole environment.
There’s a crack in everything; That’s how the light gets in.
There’s a crack in everything; That’s how the light gets in.
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
If you really want to be free, you’ve got to be prepared to lose your world—your whole world.
If you really want to be free, you’ve got to be prepared to lose your world—your whole world.
Hate the sin, love the sinner.
Hate the sin, love the sinner.
It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.
It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.
The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.
The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.
For a good man to realize that it is better to be whole than to be good is to enter on a straight and narrow path compared to which his previous rectitude was flowery license.
For a good man to realize that it is better to be whole than to be good is to enter on a straight and narrow path compared to which his previous rectitude was flowery license.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
2
It took me a long time to understand that although everyone needs to be loved, I cannot be the source of that gift to everyone who asks me for it.
It took me a long time to understand that although everyone needs to be loved, I cannot be the source of that gift to everyone who asks me for it.
“It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being.”
“It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being.”
It may seem a little strange to hear this because you were once taught that the connection of love is to be reserved for special moments...
It may seem a little strange to hear this because you were once taught that the connection of love is to be reserved for special moments...
This is how it works. I love the people in my life, and I do for my friends whatever they need me to do for them, again and again, as many times as is necessary...
This is how it works. I love the people in my life, and I do for my friends whatever they need me to do for them, again and again, as many times as is necessary...
The ‘basic building blocks’ of life are relationships, not individuals.
The ‘basic building blocks’ of life are relationships, not individuals.
3
[This] character orientation… is rooted in the experience of oneself as a commodity and of one’s value as exchange value…
[This] character orientation… is rooted in the experience of oneself as a commodity and of one’s value as exchange value…
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
No matter what, you have to feel legit inside first.
No matter what, you have to feel legit inside first.
Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.
Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.
In the coming world, they will not ask me: “Why were you not Moses?” They will ask me, “Why were you not Zusya?”
In the coming world, they will not ask me: “Why were you not Moses?” They will ask me, “Why were you not Zusya?”
4
We search in the light for what we would find in the dark.
We search in the light for what we would find in the dark.
[To] master our sorrows, we must know how to be fully immersed in emotion, yet not ruled by it
[To] master our sorrows, we must know how to be fully immersed in emotion, yet not ruled by it
You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out. To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.
You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out. To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.
One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light but by making the darkness conscious.
One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light but by making the darkness conscious.
If you seek a spark, you will find it in the ashes.
If you seek a spark, you will find it in the ashes.
The first step is into the world,
The second step is into self,
The third step is into the Mystery.
The first step is into the world,
The second step is into self,
The third step is into the Mystery.
Tears are the medium of the ego’s surrender to death.
Tears are the medium of the ego’s surrender to death.
Painful emotions challenge us to know the sacred in the broken
Painful emotions challenge us to know the sacred in the broken
If you are not here faithfully with us, you're causing terrible damage.
If you are not here faithfully with us, you're causing terrible damage.
Despair finds fertile ground in an indigestible truth. Often, it will not let up until we face these darker truths about ourselves and our world.
Despair finds fertile ground in an indigestible truth. Often, it will not let up until we face these darker truths about ourselves and our world.
Awakening is the realization that happens after the mind says, “I give up. I just have no idea who I am.”
Awakening is the realization that happens after the mind says, “I give up. I just have no idea who I am.”
5
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
The majority of people have no understanding of the things with which they daily meet, nor, when instructed, do they have any right knowledge of them, although to themselves they seem to have.
The majority of people have no understanding of the things with which they daily meet, nor, when instructed, do they have any right knowledge of them, although to themselves they seem to have.
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.
In shallow men the fish of little thoughts cause much commotion. In oceanic minds the whales of inspiration make hardly a ruffle
In shallow men the fish of little thoughts cause much commotion. In oceanic minds the whales of inspiration make hardly a ruffle
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.
Be careful how you interpret the world; it is like that.
Be careful how you interpret the world; it is like that.
Nobody sees a flower—really—it is so small it takes time—we haven’t time—and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.
Nobody sees a flower—really—it is so small it takes time—we haven’t time—and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.
6
What is worry, really? It’s your ability to build a picture in language of “what could be” in the future—a picture that looks frightening or dangerous—and then fall into a mod that corresponds to the picture as if it were “true.” What you forget is that you are the artist drawing the picture.
What is worry, really? It’s your ability to build a picture in language of “what could be” in the future—a picture that looks frightening or dangerous—and then fall into a mod that corresponds to the picture as if it were “true.” What you forget is that you are the artist drawing the picture.
Courage (Excerpt)
Courage (Excerpt)
Some of the worst things in my life never happened.
Some of the worst things in my life never happened.
In the Jewish tradition, doubt and despair are not sacrilegious. They are not signs of weak faith or spiritual sin. On the contrary, struggling with God, arguing with God, fighting with God, even accusing God of crimes against humanity—these are all very much a part of the Jewish, particularly the Hasidic, soul.
In the Jewish tradition, doubt and despair are not sacrilegious. They are not signs of weak faith or spiritual sin. On the contrary, struggling with God, arguing with God, fighting with God, even accusing God of crimes against humanity—these are all very much a part of the Jewish, particularly the Hasidic, soul.
Our faith is not faith until it’s tested.
Our faith is not faith until it’s tested.
There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.
There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.
A mind too active is no mind at all.
A mind too active is no mind at all.
The man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
The man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.
It’s safer to be a domestic animal than a wild one.
It’s safer to be a domestic animal than a wild one.
The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.
The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.
Thinking is a great servant, but a lousy master.
Thinking is a great servant, but a lousy master.
7
A grief deferred is a grief prolonged. There are no short-cuts in the alchemy of the dark emotions.
A grief deferred is a grief prolonged. There are no short-cuts in the alchemy of the dark emotions.
At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.
When a flower opens, it opens equally to sun and rain.
When a flower opens, it opens equally to sun and rain.
What we play is life.
What we play is life.
Patience is the ability to hang in there with feelings that appear to be going nowhere.
Patience is the ability to hang in there with feelings that appear to be going nowhere.
One may lie down weeping at nightfall, but at dawn there are shouts of joy.
One may lie down weeping at nightfall, but at dawn there are shouts of joy.
Being an artist means: not numbering and counting, but ripening like a tree, which doesn’t force its sap, and stands confidently in the storms of spring, not afraid that afterward summer may not come.
Being an artist means: not numbering and counting, but ripening like a tree, which doesn’t force its sap, and stands confidently in the storms of spring, not afraid that afterward summer may not come.
He says, "Feynman, that's pretty interesting, but what's the importance of it? Why are you doing it?" "Hah!'' I say. There's no importance whatsoever. I'm just doing it for the fun of it.''
He says, "Feynman, that's pretty interesting, but what's the importance of it? Why are you doing it?" "Hah!'' I say. There's no importance whatsoever. I'm just doing it for the fun of it.''
8
A sense of self-actuated worth derives from both the context and the exercise of power. On no other aspect of human existence is vanity so much at risk; in William Hazlitt’s words, "the love of power is the love of ourselves."
A sense of self-actuated worth derives from both the context and the exercise of power. On no other aspect of human existence is vanity so much at risk; in William Hazlitt’s words, "the love of power is the love of ourselves."
On Vulnerability
On Vulnerability
Here we put the teaching on our hearts so that when they break, the teachings will fall in.
Here we put the teaching on our hearts so that when they break, the teachings will fall in.
No matter the self-conceited importance of our labors we are all compost for worlds we cannot yet imagine.
No matter the self-conceited importance of our labors we are all compost for worlds we cannot yet imagine.
You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.
You have to keep breaking your heart until it opens.
He brings his vision to life, he presents it convincingly and with dramatic fire, he embodies it, so to speak. But this is not play-acting, it is a kind of fate.
He brings his vision to life, he presents it convincingly and with dramatic fire, he embodies it, so to speak. But this is not play-acting, it is a kind of fate.
If you were able to give up control absolutely, totally, and completely, then you would be a spiritually free being.
If you were able to give up control absolutely, totally, and completely, then you would be a spiritually free being.
Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.
Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.
And behind a very sturdily built and staunchly defended facade of practical, unromantic hard-headedness towards life, there was just that little pool of softness that would never show if you poked for it, but could be reached if you knew just how—and never let on that you were looking for it.
And behind a very sturdily built and staunchly defended facade of practical, unromantic hard-headedness towards life, there was just that little pool of softness that would never show if you poked for it, but could be reached if you knew just how—and never let on that you were looking for it.
If you let go of control, then you cannot help but be liberated and free. It’s like jumping off a building. You can’t help but go down; gravity pulls you that way.
If you let go of control, then you cannot help but be liberated and free. It’s like jumping off a building. You can’t help but go down; gravity pulls you that way.
9
You could find a hundred oak trees and each would have a personality but no ego.
You could find a hundred oak trees and each would have a personality but no ego.
Clouds in Each Paper
Clouds in Each Paper
“I wonder what Piglet is doing," thought Pooh. "I wish I were there to be doing it, too.”
“I wonder what Piglet is doing," thought Pooh. "I wish I were there to be doing it, too.”
In Greek, the word for truth is alethia, and its opposite is lethe, which means “forgetfulness” or “oblivion.” In Greek myths, if you drink the water of the River Lethe—which flows through Hades’s underworld—you forget who you are and remain there, lost and wandering. Truth means remembering. The experience of direct recognition is like waking up from sleepwalking: it reveals who you have always been.
In Greek, the word for truth is alethia, and its opposite is lethe, which means “forgetfulness” or “oblivion.” In Greek myths, if you drink the water of the River Lethe—which flows through Hades’s underworld—you forget who you are and remain there, lost and wandering. Truth means remembering. The experience of direct recognition is like waking up from sleepwalking: it reveals who you have always been.
I would like to paint the way a bird sings
What keeps my heart awake is colorful silence
I must have flowers. Always and always.
I would like to paint the way a bird sings
What keeps my heart awake is colorful silence
I must have flowers. Always and always.
You need to claim the events of your life to make yourself yours.
You need to claim the events of your life to make yourself yours.
Is there anything that is not included in this piece of paper?
Is there anything that is not included in this piece of paper?
Your physically felt body is in fact part of a gigantic system of here and other places, now and other times, you and other people — in fact, the whole universe. This sense of being bodily alive in a vast system is the body as it is felt from inside.
Your physically felt body is in fact part of a gigantic system of here and other places, now and other times, you and other people — in fact, the whole universe. This sense of being bodily alive in a vast system is the body as it is felt from inside.
Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.
Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.
The other quality that I found in awakening was a love for the mere fact of existence itself.
The other quality that I found in awakening was a love for the mere fact of existence itself.
My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature.
My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of nature.
I am human, nothing human is alien to me.
I am human, nothing human is alien to me.
Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.”
Every blade of grass has its Angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.”