The 3 Personality Types in Buddhist Psychology: Which One Are You?

You may not be who you think you are

Hello & welcome to another edition of Beyond Self Improvement!

Last Wednesday, I wrote How to Stop Rejecting Yourself: A Call for Self Acceptance.

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Dear Friends,

In Buddhist psychology, there are three basic personality types. While you may strongly associate with one type or another, most of us tend to be a combination of all three.

Exploring these personality types can help us understand ourselves better. Before we look at them, it’s important to understand they are simply pointers rather than temperaments to be rigidly identified with. They do not define who you are.

Our perceptions about ourselves and life tend to inform how we see the world. In any given situation, some people will see what is positive, some will see what is negative, and others will be confused. These general views of life comprise the three basic personalities in buddhist psychology: the greedy type, the aversive type, and the deluded type.

In childhood, our family of origin conditions us in certain ways, and this conditioning is subsequently reinforced by society. It is from this conditioning that our personality type develops. In this way, our personalty is deeply rooted in the psyche, shaping the mind’s tendency to see the world through a certain lens.

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Greedy. The first personality is the greedy type. If this sounds like you, it doesn't necessarily mean you are a greedy person. This person has been described as someone who walks into a room and sees all that is beautiful, desirable and likable while overlooking all that is shabby, misshapen or broken. With a desire only to see the pleasant, this personality tends to put a positive spin on life events.

Aversive. The aversive type is the opposite (my type). This person tends to focus on what is wrong, difficult, or obstructing one’s desires. This temperament is described as someone who walks into a room and sees all that is unpleasant, undesirable, and unlikable while looking past all that is lovely, appealing and pleasing.

Deluded. The deluded type tends to be confused or spaced out. They don't know what's going on and when life isn't to their liking they tend to yawn, tune out, or even go to sleep. If something is delightful, they may not be available to appreciate it. They may be relaxed but tend to lack discernment unless they have practiced training their attention.

Perhaps you can relate to one or more of these.

We all know the first type who always wants things to be beautiful and finds it difficult to face life’s challenges. We all know the second type who always seems to see all that is wrong in the world, pointing out things others don’t see or avoid acknowledging. And we all know the third type who is often confused, doesn’t know what they feel and tends to turn to others for advice or direction.

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While I identify with the aversive and deluded personality types, I tend to be more aversive than deluded. When the conditions are right, I tend to notice all that is right. But when my mind is agitated, I am likely to find all that is wrong.

The other day, I flew to a family reunion on limited sleep, and I also had a headache and was hungry. My mind complained about the heat and humidity, the frustration of not being able to find a parking spot at Costco, and the surly checkout clerk at Trader Joe’s.

At my worst, I'm impatient, angry and judgmental of others (and even more judgmental of myself). I can rail at the world’s problems and feel as if I need to right every injustice.

At my best, I am wise, discerning and insightful. I am constant, generous, and loving. I speak truthfully, directly and clearly. I am brave and vulnerable and act with integrity, even when it would be easier to be a schumuck.

Such beneficial traits are the flip side of the coin, deriving from my aversive nature. Instead of fighting against my temperament, my task is to cultivate the positive aspects of my personality.

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While we may have been conditioned in childhood, awareness can liberate us from our conditioning. Each type has a cultivated and uncultivated form, meaning there is possibility for transformation hidden within each temperament. Through mindfulness we can change the mind.

The mind’s tendency is not the problem but rather our automatic compulsion to react in a certain way. Awareness allows us to see our unconscious behavior, enabling us to choose whether we respond or react to life’s events.

That’s all for this week. Thanks for being here, giving me this space to share with you, and for your ongoing love and support. I’ll be back in your inbox next Wednesday.

Keep exploring yourself,

Ryan

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