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Is Buddhism a craving of certain personality types?
Tanda
Explorer
Here is a transcript of closing dialogoes fo the movie Frost/Nixon
Methinks, it is certain personality types that are given to indulging in life of thought, debate and intellectual discipline. And these are the people who are fascinated about the concept of Dukka; while apparently trying to be 'here and now' they are obsessed about past lives and nibbana.
Rest of the folks are just happy with whatever is, in tune with the flow of the stream, deal with their world on worldly terms, live their life and die their deaths. No invented pains
Just a pointed Q. I don't mean to be irreverential
Oh! Say, David, you think I could speak
to you, privately, just for a minute?
Do you know those
parties of yours?
The ones that I read about
in all the papers?
Do you actually enjoy those?
Of course.
You got no idea how
fortunate that makes you.
You know? Liking
people, and being liked.
Having that facility,
that lightness, that charm.
I don't have it.
I never did.
It kind of makes you wonder
why I chose a life
that hinged on being liked.
I'm better suited
to a life of thought,
debate,
intellectual discipline.
Maybe we got it wrong.
Maybe you should have
been a politician
and I the rigorous
interviewer.
Maybe.
Methinks, it is certain personality types that are given to indulging in life of thought, debate and intellectual discipline. And these are the people who are fascinated about the concept of Dukka; while apparently trying to be 'here and now' they are obsessed about past lives and nibbana.
Rest of the folks are just happy with whatever is, in tune with the flow of the stream, deal with their world on worldly terms, live their life and die their deaths. No invented pains
Just a pointed Q. I don't mean to be irreverential
0
Comments
Again , no irreverence meant.
If you have no fear of anything, no dissatisfaction in life, and even welcome death... then you'll not be needing the Buddhist teachings at this time. Thank you for stopping by; we're fine here, you're fine there. Be well.
Yes, there are all sorts of these types who are interested in many different subjects, not just Buddhism.
In fact, mostly not Buddhism.
No, many (most?) intellectuals do not contemplate the arising and passing away of dukkha. Many/most intellectuals have a huge identification with their intellect.
I also imagine there are people who are fascinated with a (improperly understood) notion of Dukkha because they are depressants, and they are wallowing in the notion of dissatisfaction. But even this isn't Dukkha, it is not dissatisfaction stemming from attachment to something else, but rather an attachment to dissatisfaction itself.
There are many schools of Buddhism and intensities of study. I've never been interested in past lives, or even nibbana.
I do think you are on to something, however. Imo, many people emphasize the "wrong" things in Buddhism. Some people over-intellectualize, without focusing on practice or seeing for themselves. Others focus on rituals and superficialities, without digging deeper.
I am normally an extroverted personality type, but I am also interested in thought, debate, and intellectual discipline. Buddhism would say that those you describe, "Rest of the folks are just happy with whatever is, in tune with the flow of the stream, deal with their world on worldly terms, live their life and die their deaths. No invented pains" are very stuck in samsaric existence, because they are relatively unaware of impermanence, and would tend to be "in denial" about old age, sickness, and death, and therefore relatively unprepared for these things when they happen. It's the "dealing with the world on worldly terms" that's the problem. How they live their lives and die their deaths is what is important, and their apparent lack of introspection or awareness that life is ultimately unsatisfactory may cause them problems because they are relatively unprepared for this unsatisfactoriness when it happens to them. I don't mean to be irreverent either, but I would say that excessively extroverted people, those who gain what they perceive as "happiness" from dependence on things in the world such as other people (who will ultimately pass) and other things or ongoing situations (which will also ultimately pass), would find themselves relatively unprepared for life's major knocks, which are inevitable.
So I disagree that things like the study of Buddhism or other supposedly "introspective" activities are necessarily dependent on personality type. These personality types may be more visible in certain situations, but that's not a real measure of what personality types tend toward the study of Buddhism. Many Buddhists, like many other non-Buddhists, have simply found the correct balance between introversion and extroversion.
Buddha Junkie, I am on to resolving my own confusions and conflicts. Sorry I am not able to invest enough time for systematic study. My 10 day Vipassana course has not helped me fully to grasp the first steps even.
That is the reason for my coming to this forum almost daily.
Thanks again to all
That doesn't make sense... what does the World Trade Organisation have to do with anything?
Anyway, it's about being like the wheel thingy below. One should take the Middle Way, not to be too self immersed in one's practice and neglecting one's role in his/her community. Ultimately, it's about reaching out to others. And vice-versa. ( I did my best
Absolutely right. But a clear diagnosis requires some investigation, whether sick or well. Perhaps we are sick, perhaps we are well, perhaps we are just a bunch of hypochondriacs or white-whine optimists ... who knows unless they are willing to diagnose the terrain?
I think the answer to the OP's question "Is Buddhism a craving of certain personality types?" is no, based on the wide range of personality types we see among Buddhists. It takes all kinds of people to make a world, and we see that among Buddhists as well.
[EDIT: Can see the pic now]
I personally don't see the peace of a (permanent) Nirvana being attainable, through any other means, than Buddhism (especially Mahayana) study. I can see that some worldly stuff gets close, but almost always contains a bit of "my-self nirvana = most important" type thing going on.
Most of us do not accept the status quo, we challenge capitalist values of greed and consumerism. A certain intellectual capacity to reject the way the "majority" lives is probably required too. In that regard, most of us will be similar.
I do quite enjoy standing out in the Buddhist crowd though, by being gregarious, cheeky and very challenging to my teachers
The point is to become a better person with love, kindness and compassion as a foundation.
If the difficult process of becoming that "better person" involves certain types of mental exercise or thinking tendencies at different points in one's life that's fine.
Just a thought. Thanks for the chance to have it.
I think it's Kharma that leads people to Buddhism, not their personality type.
Here in the USA we have too much TV and consumerism which is based on constant and immediate ego gratification. People are asleep and more likely to stay asleep because of that. Everybody's at risk of getting sucked into it.
Those of us who are smart enough to resist these pressures aren't of a certain personality type, were just more fortunate.
I dunno. You guys may be right. I'm just talkin'
It was not until catastrophe struck my life that I came running back to it, and experience a heightened sense of appreciation for its teachings.
When life was good, Buddhism was "nice." When catastrophe hit, it became that crucial path I follow back to the land of the living.
My experience tells me that Buddhism is more likely to attract people who are going through some sort of disillusion, suffering or agony, much more so than attracting certain personality type.
If you really think about it though, just about the same can be said of any "religion" or "philosophy." Things seem to be more plausible when we are suffering. However, I felt that Buddhism is the "most plausible."