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.
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