#495. Why Is Everyone Talking About the Enneagram? And What the Hell Is It? | Susan Piver
In the last couple of years, many people have been extolling the virtues of something called the “Enneagram'' but—what the hell is it?
On today’s show, longtime dharma teacher, Susan Piver, is here to demystify it. As she explains, the Enneagram is a tool that allows people to figure out their personality type and says it has been one of, if not the most important, tool in her personal development.
Piver has been a student of Buddhism since 1995, graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004 and was authorized to teach meditation in 2005. In 2012, she founded The Open Heart Project— the world’s largest online-only meditation center. She’s written ten books including her latest called The Buddhist Enneagram: Nine Paths to Warriorship.
In this episode we talk about:
- What the Enneagram is and why Piver finds it so helpful
- What she means by warriorship
- The nine personality types, which she views as maps of our blind spots
- Why, unlike other personality systems, there is no test for the Enneagram (at least in Susan’s view)
- And we talk about why Susan thinks the Enneagram and Buddhism mix so well even though on first blush it would seem to contradict the dharmic emphasis on the self being an illusion
*Photo Credit: Lacey Melguizo
Where to find Susan Piver online:
Website: openheartproject.com
Social Media:
Books Mentioned:
- The Buddhist Enneagram: Nine Paths to Warriorship
- The Wisdom of a Broken Heart: An Uncommon Guide to Healing, Insight, and Love
- Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation
- The Four Noble Truths of Love: Buddhist Wisdom for Modern Relationships
Other Resources Mentioned:
