Being a greed personality type myself, I have been too busy over-filling each of my spare moments with different activities and readings to have written a thorough blog entry on this subject. So in brief then:

I call the greed type the “just one more thing” personality. They can often run late because of their tendency to say or do just one more thing. While they are aware of the time, their desire to fill it with as much as possible, often tricks the mind into believing that there is in fact a 75 minute hour. The extreme of this is the addictive quality we can see in our own lives, and the hunger for more information, news, sounds, stimuli, etc. It is often personified in Buddhist psychology as the “hungry ghost,” a being with a huge belly and a really small neck and mouth that is perpetually hungry. Greed types have a knack for really enjoying life, but can also feel perpetually dissatisfied. The alchemy of spiritual and psychological practice can transform the greed pattern into gratitude, delight and love. Greed types often react to the notion of personality types by thinking, “I bet I’m the greed type, that’s the best one.” Famous aversive types include Bill Clinton, Jack Kornfield, Han Solo, The Blob, and Gollum. Slowest to enlightenment, but they have the most fun along the way.

And then there is the “I’m not aversive, you’re just stupid,” personality. Aversive types have an excellent knack for seeing what’s wrong in the world, in the people around them, and in their surrounding environment.  They can be very aware of time, particularly if you are late to meet them.  The need to address what is unpleasant in their life often outweighs the desire to enjoy pleasant things. (Whereas the greed types make the opposite calculation). They tend to be particular, hard on themselves, and indignant when others do not live up to their expectations of how people should behave. The aversive pattern shows up for all of us as the judging tendency of mind. The extreme is hatred and rage. Aversive types can be shrewd, balancing the visionary excitement of the greed types with a sober and necessary attention to detail. The alchemy of practice can transform the aversive pattern into wisdom, clear seeing, and kindness. Aversive types often react to the notion of personality types by thinking or saying, “this is stupid, how can you compartmentalize people into three different types?” Famous aversive types include the Princess and the Pea, John Stewart, Richard Nixon, Obi Won Kenobi, and The Buddha. Quickest to enlightenment.

The deluded type is often confused, unsure of who they are and what they want. They can often seem distracted, and when asked how they are feeling they might offer, “fine” or “I don’t know what I feel.” They can be punctual for appointments as long as someone else reminds them of the time. Lets reconsider the basic law of pain: it happens, and we can not avoid it. Sickness, old age, death, loss, separation are all inevitable. Pain simply is. Greed types react to pain by searching for more pleasant experiences. Aversive types react to pain by pushing the moment away, resting in the feeling of anger instead of the vulnerability of pain-just-as-it-is. Deluded types tend to react to pain by withdrawing from experience, aka spacing out. They are the most likely to have difficulty connecting with and feeling their body in meditation. The deluded pattern shows up for all of us as the doubting, or oblivious tendency of mind. Deluded types often profess no preference for things. They can be very pleasant people to be around. Easy going. The alchemy of practice can transform the deluded pattern into equanimity, spaciousness, and ease. Deluded types often react to the notion of there being personality types with, “I don’t know, which one am I?” Famous types include George W Bush, Smeagal, golden retrievers, Harry Potter, and Cheech & Chong.

So what’s the point of thinking about these 3 types?

In short - identifying the patterns of our mind, allows us to disidentify from these patterns of mind. Disidentification allows for clear seeing, compassion, and freedom.

More later.