[Buddha-l] Enneagram and Buddhism

[Dhammanando Bhikkhu]

Richard Hayes:

> Upatissa and Buddhaghosa both observed that behavior tends
> to come in clusters. People who dress in certain ways are
> likely to eat in certain ways and to have certain kinds of
> work habits and certain ways of speaking to others. By
> studying behavior, they claimed, one can make a pretty good
> guess at which dhammas are at work "under the hood".

That's not quite correct in the case of Buddhaghosa. Though he accepted the
sixfold classification of character types and the need to prescribe meditation
themes in accordance with these, he held that a pupil's type could be
ascertained only by mind-reading or by interviewing him, and was sceptical
about the method of diagnosis based on observing the pupil's behaviour. After
describing it at some length, he concludes:

"However, these directions for recognizing the temperaments have not been
handed down in their entirety in either the texts or the commentaries; they are
only expressed according to the opinions of teachers and cannot therefore be
treated as authentic. For even those of hating termperament can exhibit
postures, etc., ascribed to the greedy temperament when they try diligently.
And postures, etc., never arise with distinct characteristics in a person of
mixed temperament. Only such directions for recognizing temperament as are
given in the commentaries should be treated as authentic; for this is said: 'A
teacher who has acquired penetration of minds will know the temperament and
will explain a meditation subject accordingly; one who has not should question
the pupil.' Therefore it is by penetration of minds or by questioning the
person, that it can be known whether he is one of greedy temperament or one of
those beginning with hating temperament."
(_Path of Purification_ III 96)

It's remarkable how many readers of the Visuddhimagga overlook this passage.
There have even been books published on meditation (authored by moha-caritas,
presumably) detailing the Visuddhimagga's methods of diagnosis-by-observation
as if they were something that Buddhaghosa wholeheartedly approved.

Best wishes,
Dhammanando

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