Meditation Vs. Introversion/Extroversion

Summary

Meditation is a practice distinct from introversion or extroversion, aimed at realizing impermanence, emptiness, and not-knowing to achieve peace with oneself and the world.

Abstract

The article distinguishes meditation from introversion, emphasizing that meditation is not inherently an introverted activity. It is described as a disciplined practice centered on observing thoughts without judgment, leading to an understanding of their impermanent and empty nature. This process helps individuals embrace not-knowing and cultivate acceptance of themselves and others, regardless of their personality type. Over time, meditation fosters a deeper peace within oneself and with the world, aligning with the Tao Te Ching's principle of spontaneous right action arising from inner stillness.

Opinions

Meditation is not about being introverted or extroverted but about experiencing reality without preconceived notions.
The core of meditation practice is built on not-knowing, impermanence, and emptiness, rather than mindfulness and awareness.
Both introverts and extroverts can benefit from meditation as both personality types grapple with overactive minds.
Regular meditation practice leads to self-acceptance and a truer expression of one's personality, whether introverted, extroverted, or a mix.
The ultimate goal of meditation is to achieve peace with oneself, others, and the entire world by understanding the transient nature of all things.
The article suggests that through meditation, one can eventually align with the Tao Te Ching's concept of effortless right action born from deep inner peace and understanding.

Meditation Vs. Introversion/Extroversion

Some thoughts on the point of meditation

A friend recently questioned if there was any difference between meditation, and simply just being an introverted person, theorizing that folks who meditated, or — perhaps — at least found meditation easy to do, were actually just naturally introverted.

Meditation has nothing to do with being introverted, or extroverted.

To get to the heart of this work we call meditation: the pillars of dedicated meditation practice aren’t mindfulness and awareness. Rather, they are not-knowing, impermanence, and emptiness. Mediation is not necessarily about going inside. Meditation is first about the discipline of sitting with your thoughts as they are, so that eventually you realize the emptiness of your own thoughts. Through such practice, over time, one ultimately realizes the impermanence, emptiness, and not-knowing in all things, including oneself. Note, even once realized, living not-knowing and impermanence is a life-long practice. The Buddha himself still sat four hours each day until his death; it’s a practice.

Meditation is ultimately about being with reality *as it is* (i.e., being fully in reality, without my ideas of how life, or myself, or others, should be). Introverts and extroverts equally suffer from minds that never cease their judgements and chatter, and equally must practice.

Because the more you meditate (i.e., practice sitting and watching your impermanent thoughts, anchored by your breath), the more you realize you don’t know why, much less how, you are the way you are.

As you do practice more and more, you naturally become more comfortable with yourself, and more fully yourself, whether that you be extroverted, introverted, sweet, bitchy, whatever, or all of the above (and, most likely it is all of the above).

And, you become progressively more at peace with yourself, as you are. Right now.

Then, with more time, you naturally begin to find peace with others *as they are.*

Then, eventually, you find peace with the whole world as it is…

It is at that point, fully in peace, and in complete understanding of the impermanence and emptiness of the world, and yourself, that (as the Tao Te Ching says), right action arises by itself.

This is the point of meditation.