GOING BEYOND THE PERSONALITY

Part II

7. The "Transcendence Questionnaire"
After some discussions with members of our life training group, we have come
up with an analytical approach that we hope will offer a combination of
self-knowledge and transcendence.

It would probably require a small prelude like this:

«I can understand fully how such an event or situation would cause these
emotions and want to support you as much as possible in your process. It is
very natural and human for you to be feeling the way that you are and most
likely I would feel the same in your position. Thus, your first step is to
love and accept that part of yourself even though and whenever it is feeling
this way and give it all the time it needs in order to move out of this, or
move on.

«However if you would like to, we can also approach this from a alternative
view point. We can do this only if you agree and would like to. Let me
explain. Most religions and spiritual philosophies state that we are not
actually these bodies and personalities but rather a spiritual being or
consciousness that has temporarily taken these bodies and personalities in
order to learn, grow and create. If this is true then you are not actually
the personality who is suffering at this moment but your true identity is
the soul or consciousness that is witnessing what is happening.

«Also according to such philosophies and theologies, whatever we are
experiencing is actually a perfect opportunity to learn the specific lessons
we have chosen to learn before we took these bodies. If this is true, then
what is causing your pain or fear or anger at this moment is something you
have actually «chosen» (perhaps before birth, perhaps now subconsciously or
as a soul) to happen in order to offer yourself an opportunity to become
spiritually, mentally and emotionally stronger and more aware of your true
self. In such a case, you can gain so much by looking at this situation in
that light, seeking to understand what you can learn and gain from this.

«Are you interested in answering some questions that might aid you here in
both perceiving possible growth opportunities but also letting go of your
identification of the personality?»

If the answer is yes, then we can continue.

1. Which are the emotions that your personality is feeling about this issue?
2. Which emotion would you like to work on first?
3. What exactly is the stimulus real or imaginary, from the past, present or
future that is triggering these feelings for your personality?
4. Now what is the attachment that is causing this emotion? What does your
programming say that it must have here in order to be safe, worthy or happy?
5. More specifically, is this attachment one based on your personality's
need for self-worth, security, control, pleasure or freedom?
6. Does all of your being feel this way? Are all the parts of you feeling
this way?
7. Are there are parts of you that do not feel that way?
8. Can you actually be the one who is feeling the emotions here, if there
are parts of yourself that are not feeling this way?
9. "Who is actually feeling this pain, fear or other emotion?"
10. Thus this must be only a part of you that is feeling this way?
11. If you are able to observe that part of you that feels that way, then
you cannot be that part. Then who or what are you?
12. Now the question is, what is the role you are identifying with that is
causing you to be attached to this for security, control or self-worth. What
or who do you «believe you are» here which is causing these emotions?
13. Does this role or aspect of your personality define you? Is this the
entirety of your being. If you stop being that role, do you stop existing?
14. Can you feel larger than that role?
15. Can you accept that a small part of you has identified with that role
and is feeling this way, but that you are something much greater and beyond
that?
16. Can you accept and love that subpersonality or persona (part of your
self) that is attached and fearful here concerning this issue?
17. Can you let go of that part of yourself and while honoring it, go beyond
it and experience yourself as a soul in evolution or as a consciousness
witnessing this part of yourself that has been programmed in this way?
18. What truths would you like to share with this role or subpersonality?
19. What do you believe that part of yourself that is feeling this way needs
to learn?
20. What can that part of yourself do in order to learn that lesson?
21. Is there something you need to share with that part of yourself so that
it can learn that lesson or feel better?
22. Is there something that you can do externally – such as changing habits
or activities or behaviors that will help that part of yourself become free
from its attachment and /or emotions?
23. Now that you understand that you are not these roles and that you are
not your personality, what is your relationship with your personality, or
how would you like that relationship to be?
24. Now that you realize that you are not this body, mind or personality,
how do you feel about this issue?
25. Again, if you are able to observe those emotions and beliefs, how can
you be them?
26. And if these emotions and beliefs change or disappear – which they
surely will - then will you disappear? If not then you cannot be those
emotions or beliefs. Then who or what are you and what is your relationship
to these emotions, beliefs and your mind?

And some questions to ponder on in your free time.
27. Can you remember when you were not identified with this role, when you
were not a mother, father, professional, etc
28. Did you not exist?
29. Who or what were you then?
30. Where is your existence centered?
31. Who would you be if you removed all of the roles you are identified with
– if you were on a desert island?
32. Who will you be when you leave your body?
34. Who were you before you entered you body?
34. Who would you be if you had no arms, legs?
35. Who would you be if you could not talk or hear or see?
36. Where and what is your true self?
37. Who are you when you have no consciousness of the external world - when
you are sleeping?
38. If you are indeed eternal as all religions agree and your body and mind
are not – then who or what are you?