Enlightenment, And Introversion Vs. Extroversion

[Frogfucius]

Do you think introverts are more likely to become aware of enlightenment and deep spiritual truths? Are extroverts too distracted by their need for socialization, and use it as a crutch? Or is it the opposite - are extroverts more likely to understand deeper truths, while introverts are too stuck in their heads? Or is there no correlation at all?

In my opinion, I think introverts are more likely to feel outcasted from society. Society idealizes the outgoing, charming social person that has an abundance of activities and friends to enjoy them with. Introverts may suffer more as a result, because they associate more with their lonely thoughts and mind patterns.

[TheLawisOne]

4 minutes ago, Frogfucius said:

Do you think introverts are more likely to become aware of enlightenment and deep spiritual truths? Are extroverts too distracted by their need for socialization, and use it as a crutch? Or is it the opposite - are extroverts more likely to understand deeper truths, while introverts are too stuck in their heads? Or is there no correlation at all?

In my opinion, I think introverts are more likely to feel outcasted from society. Society idealizes the outgoing, charming social person that has an abundance of activities and friends to enjoy them with. Introverts may suffer more as a result, because they associate more with their lonely thoughts and mind patterns.

To attempt to know the self without the external world, or interaction with others, would be like trying to grasp what your body looks like with out a mirror/reflection it's possible but without the external catalyst it is not very efficient to simply work on the self in complete solitude. Yet, generalizing whether an introvert has more potential for understanding than an extrovert, or vise versa, is missing the point that each person  will understand deeper truths in their own and unique way. 

[Frogfucius]

2 minutes ago, TheLawisOne said:

To attempt to know the self without the external world, or interaction with others, would be like trying to grasp what your body looks like with out a mirror/reflection it's possible but without the external catalyst it is not very efficient to simply work on the self in complete solitude. Yet, generalizing whether an introvert has more potential for understanding than an extrovert, or vise versa, is missing the point that each person  will understand deeper truths in their own and unique way. 

I'm not implying introverts are shut-in recluses with mental problems...not at all. I'm factoring in society, because let's face it, extroverts are glamorized. The better looking a person is, the more outgoing and personal, the more success and wealthy, the more friends and accomplishments a person has are all idealized. People rush to post pictures of their 'perfect' lives on instagram, on facebook, and get their sense of self out there into the world to try and prove something. Being more out in the open as a unique, outgoing snowflake is the norm in this society. It caters towards the extrovert.

[Prabhaker]

@Frogfucius A total man is neither extrovert nor  introvert. Then you have the tranquillity of the introvert and the excitement of the extrovert. That's what a rich life has to be - the silence of the introvert and the joy of the extrovert, the centre of the introvert and the periphery of the extrovert.

The introvert becomes more and more sad - silent of course, but not happy. The extrovert is very excited; the introvert is never excited. He remains calm and quiet, but calmness and quietude are not the goals of life. Ecstasy is the goal of life. Just to be calm and quiet can mean death, can mean suicide. You can dry up all the sources of life in you. You will become calm and quiet, all the fever gone, all the passion gone, all the lust gone - but then you are also gone. You are just an empty room, a negativity, a sort of absence, not a presence. You are not fulfilled. You cannot dance - you have nothing to dance about. You cannot sing. No song arises in your life because all songs dry up when love dries up.

You can be with an extrovert, happily; you can relate with him. He is an excited being. He sings, he plays around... many games. He enjoys. Of course he is tense. He is never silent; that is his problem. Happiness is at a cost - that he loses tranquillity, equilibrium, balance. His excitement becomes more and more feverish, and there is every possibility of it turning into a delirium. The extrovert can be mad at any time; the breakdown can come very easily to him. He is so excited and so tense. He has no centre - just the revolving periphery.

 

[TheLawisOne]

4 minutes ago, Frogfucius said:

I'm not implying introverts are shut-in recluses with mental problems...not at all. I'm factoring in society, because let's face it, extroverts are glamorized. The better looking a person is, the more outgoing and personal, the more success and wealthy, the more friends and accomplishments a person has are all idealized. People rush to post pictures of their 'perfect' lives on instagram, on facebook, and get their sense of self out there into the world to try and prove something. Being more out in the open as a unique, outgoing snowflake is the norm in this society. It caters towards the extrovert.

Generalizing extroverts as being self-absorbed may not be helpful. An introvert can be self absorbed, an extrovert can be self absorbed, a hybrid of the two can be self absorbed. 

I would stress that it is important to have the external influences, to deal with other people, because it is in the dealing and interaction that we understand the fruits of our being. That vitality to want to go out and interact with the world is very primal and a foundation of life experience. 

[Frogfucius]

 

@Prabhaker Good stuff. I have a friend who is introverted, and she’s friends with my cousin on Facebook. She told me she wishes she was more like my cousin, because he’s always out having fun and doing things with people, while she’s just “lame” and doesn’t get out and do much. I told her to not judge a person based on what they post on Facebook, because they’re only building up some kind of story in their head. She doesn’t know what’s really going on with that person on the inside. She agreed. And personally knowing my cousin and having grown up with him, I know that he’s an unhappy and insecure person that runs from his emptiness by partying and doing drugs. We all have different ways of trying to deal with our emptiness.

I know she’s not unique, people like her are always comparing themselves to the person who seems to have the most going on. And even people who have a lot going on compare themselves to other people. It’s a never-ending cycle of mental masturbation. I used to do the same shit, so I’ve abstained from social media or judging people on what goes on at the surface.