The two types of people, the extrovert and the introvert, can both practice self-mastery and strive for perfection in life. However, they may do it in different ways. To walk another person's path is not recommended, even if it appears externally to be the favored way.
Transcendent dharma, or duty or nature, is one. That is the characteristic of anything transcendent. It applies to all of us, beyond the differences in body and mind. For example our dharma, or mission in life and humans, is to remember our relationship with the Absolute, with the causeless cause of all causes (sarva karana karanam in Sanskrit). Our dharma is to achieve mastery in yoga, the word yoga meaning to link up with the source in a relationship of love and service primarily.
We all approach our dharma in different ways according to our natures, which are not unlimited and have unique qualities according to our birth genes. But approach we must, if want to perfect our lives. The introvert may retreat to the forest or temple in the hills in order to look within and find peace from the hectic material activities of humanity and society.
The extrovert, on the other hand, may stay within the mass of people in the towns and cities in order to share with them the valuable teachings so that as many as possible can benefit and be uplifted along the way.
These outgoing practitioners subject themselves to all sorts of challenges and distractions when staying within the community of people. They may need to be stronger and more disciplined or determined in their practice, lest they be dragged down by the mundane activities of everyone around them.
It takes a certain degree of resilience to stay surrounded by wealth and women and for a monk to still keep his vows, for example. Or for a person on a strict diet to keep the company of food lovers or drinkers of strong brews.
Nevertheless, the idea of retreating to a hermitage or cave may appeal to some but if you don't have the nature or personality, then it is not the only or recommended way to practice. Perhaps for a small retreat it may be healthy to get away from the busy city, but not everyone should try to artificially renounce the ways of the world under the assumption that it will be safer to hide somewhere in nature.
Furthermore, the masses also need to be educated, and if all the teachers retreat to fulfill their own path, who will share their wisdom and experience with the rest of us? So the goal is one - liberation - but the approach may vary according to our material natures along the way.
Bhagavad Gita ch 6:32
आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन ।
सुखं वा यदि वा दु:खं स योगी परमो मत: ॥ ३२ ॥
ātmaupamyena sarvatra
samaṁ paśyati yo 'rjuna
sukhaṁ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṁ
sa yogī paramo mataḥ
SYNONYMS
ātma—self; aupamyena—by comparison; sarvatra—everywhere; samam—equality; paśyati—sees; yaḥ—he who; arjuna—O Arjuna; sukham—happiness; vā—or; yadi—if; vā—or; duḥkham—distress; saḥ—such; yogī—transcendentalist; paramaḥ—perfect; mataḥ—considered.
TRANSLATION
He is a perfect yogī who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, both in their happiness and distress, O Arjuna!
PURPORT
One who is Kṛṣṇa conscious is a perfect yogī; he is aware of everyone's happiness and distress by dint of his own personal experience. The cause of the distress of a living entity is forgetfulness of his relationship with God. And the cause of happiness is knowing Kṛṣṇa to be the supreme enjoyer of all the activities of the human being. Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor of all lands and planets. The perfect yogī is the sincerest friend of all living entities. He knows that the living being who is conditioned by the modes of material nature is subjected to the threefold material miseries due to forgetfulness of his relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Because one in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is happy, he tries to distribute the knowledge of Kṛṣṇa everywhere. Since the perfect yogī tries to broadcast the importance of becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious, he is the best philanthropist in the world, and he is the dearest servitor of the Lord. Na tasmāt kaścid me priyakṛt tamaḥ. In other words, a devotee of the Lord always looks to the welfare of all living entities, and in this way he is factually the friend of everyone. He is the best yogī because he does not desire perfection in yoga for his personal benefit, but tries for others also. He does not envy his fellow living entities. Here is a contrast between a pure devotee of the Lord and a yogī interested only in his personal elevation. The yogī who has withdrawn to a secluded place in order to meditate perfectly may not be as perfect as a devotee who is trying his best to turn every man toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Reference: Bhagavad Gita As It Is, translation and commentary by Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta, original Macmillan 1972 edition, freely available at www.prabhupadabooks.com.
Image: https://pixabay.com/vectors/montenegro-flag-national-flag-162363/
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ai-generated-warrior-snail-cartoon-8966597/
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/coat-of-arms-of-the-russian-empire-1530851/
I sometimes struggle with this retreatment, I believe it's necessary to do from time to time but there's always this urge underneath to dissappear from the outside world and purely focus on the inner world, getting work done to reach liberation.
Evidently, this seem practical, especially when it's coupled with the realization that you're born into an unprecedented time in history where fundamental changes with huge ramifications are happening on many levels, both tangible and intangible. I think being a player in this outside world, in some shape of form, is also needed to better navigate this modern times we live in.
Hey there friend, it may be good to have a foot in both worlds, or to have occasional retreat times for deeper meditation. At this time in history, with the rise of AI which is becoming so invasive, it may help to be educated in using modern tools and to be up to date with society, but at the same time we may need to switch off our tools and take time to remember what it means to be purely human. That may mean spending quality time with people, or spending time in deep meditation or study.
With age we can more easily leave behind the duties of the world and family in order to devote time to our path of liberation. Some will retire to meditate, but then also be able to use our modern tools to record or share their insights and deep realizations, so that everyone who is interested can learn from our lifetime's experience. We need the elders to be around to teach us what they spent a lifetime learning.
Indeed! Those that have been there need to inform those that haven't been there yet as a way to keep the aspiration to seek beyond the mundane or rather mechanical aspects of life. I think it could be like a balance of sorts to strike between participating in the modern world while still having time to pursue lifelong learning for liberation.
Thanks for the insightful reply!