Posted by Tuppence on March 30, 2001 at 18:41:02:
In Reply to: Strange interpretation posted by Tiggy on March 30, 2001 at 14:29:32:
Gurdjieff used "personality" and "essence." Ochazo used "ego" and "essence."
In non-essence (personality or ego) a "false-self" exists.
Developing "real-self" involves aquiring the ability to observe the "false-self" at work in daily life. Our fixations by type impede this process.
Releasing fixations facilitates "real-self," but does not automatically
result in "essence." It is a step in the right direction. Riso uses levels of health. One does not leave "self" "personality" "ego" and become
essence. One aquires the ability to experience "essence" as transcendance is developed.
Some suggest a fence. I am on one side; Essence is on the other. I develop
an ability to jump up and glimpse esence. I get brief insights; I do not
climb over the fence. My "self" develops (Riso's level of health.) I am
aware of living in essence, but unable to do it unconditionally. The
Five Centers concept considers this topic (personality, essence.)
Withdrawing types (4,5,9) have fixations that result in diminished access
to Gut. Increasing awareness and appropriate use of Gut releases the grip
of the fixation. (The ego-fixation is lessened; "true self" can see "false self." Ego-dystonic and ego-syntonic become more apparent. "I" emerges.
I suspect that you consider that particular "I" as essence. I am saying that for withdrawing types, "I" is more nascent than that. Gut makes boundaries possible. With boundaries, "I" can evolve. Before there was
a more diffuse sense of "I."
In the earlier post about abandonment, I suggested that the barrier to
separation was depression (lack of will-ful, self investment) and that
working through the "abandonment depression" involved developing a sense
of independent self (or ego.) I am not suggesting a stronger ego-fixation.
I am suggesting a different "level of health." In enneagram terms, gut
is the remedy. Arrows point the way. I suggested that 4 and 9 differ
in the extent of self-other separation and the way in which they "pay attention." Working through differs but is seritonin mediated. Transference
may do it; SSRIs will do it. SAM-e may help. Gin and Tonics will ease
the anxiety up to a point.
Books have been written by better and clearer writers than I, so I cannot
improve upon them in a post. Terminology is somewhat subjective.
My own usage may be imprecise. I do see matters out of my own window and am attempting to describe the view. Your window might have a different view.