Calliope Center

A Moment of Stillness

Posted by Prudence Tippins on 4 April 2010 | 2 Comments

            We hear a lot about how beneficial meditation can be for us.  Researchers have linked meditation with radically lower rates of heart disease, tumors, and infectious diseases,[1] and there is new evidence indicating that meditation could be of significant benefit in combating attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, major depression, and even Alzheimer disease[2].

            But what is it that we're actually doing when we meditate? Why quiet the mind? From the perspective of those who use the Enneagram for self-exploration, meditation is a way of acknowledging and observing the busy ego-driven self with the quieter Essential self.  When we take the time to consistently notice what's going on in our minds, we begin to realize that this endless thinking that we identify with is actually -- not us!  This revelation leads us to the question, "Who, then, am I?" and that is a question with real possibilities.

            In their book, Personality Types, Enneagram theory pioneers Don Riso and Russ Hudson explain,

"We must be willing and able to go beyond ego to reach out to something more, to experience the parts of ourselves that have nothing to do with the agendas of our personalities. At the same time, we must also be willing to experience the limitation and pain that our ego's habits are causing us."[3]

            The ego is born when we are very young as a protective mechanism for what we call "Essence," which is the true nature of the Self.  The Enneagram describes nine Types of Essence qualities.  Everyone is born as one of these nine Types and interprets the world they are born into according to the perspective of that Type.  But as we begin to interact in the world and recognize that there are times we must manipulate our environment to get our needs met, our ego self develops to make that happen.  The ego attempts to protect the Essence self, but at the same time suppresses it.  There is a longing for the Essence qualities, so the ego tries to recreate those qualities through manipulation of the environment.  We therefore try to be good, or loving, or successful, or unique, or knowledgeable, or loyal, or joyful, or strong, or peaceful, but we don't get it quite right as long as the ego is in charge. 

            In fact, the reason the ego cannot reproduce the qualities of our Essence is because the ego is based in fear.  And as stress increases, fear increases, which creates strong desires and avoidances.

            Of course, the only real way to Essence is through presence.  That's where meditation comes in.  Ridding oneself of cravings and aversions is actually eliminating the ego's defense mechanisms to reveal Essence, which knows no fear. 

            There are many different types of meditation, all of which can offer the benefit of quieting the mind.  Some types focus on the physical aspects of breath or body sensation to continually bring one back to the present moment. Other practices focus on a repeated word, or mantra, to focus the mind.  Still others encourage focusing on a holy idea or person to purify the mind. All of these practices can also provide a calming effect to the ego part of ourselves, allowing our Essence to emerge.

            So yes, go ahead and meditate because it can reduce your blood pressure or lower your risk of cancer. But each time you sit, acknowledge that you are also helping the ego understand that you're doing just fine so that it can relax its tight grip on your Essential Self.  The more you practice, the more you will be revealed.  And in the end, it won't just be about avoiding disease.  Meditation will have become your liberator.

 

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[1] D. Orme-Johnson, Pschosomatic Medicine 49 (1987): 493-507.

[2] Charles Q. Choi, Live Science (September 2, 2008); http://www.anandapaloalto.org/joy/BenefitsOfMeditation.html

[3] Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson, Personality Types (1996);  460-61.