Over the years, I’ve lost friends and family connections, and I often find that people distance themselves from me for reasons I can’t understand. I try to build friendships, but others rarely accept my invitations or respond. Even those I’m on good terms with tend to keep their distance. I've stopped inviting people out to do things because of so much rejection. Even when they do accept, I can't seem to make connection with them. Sometimes, people that I know for long start turning against me, as in they actually become like enemies. Meanwhile I don't recall doing anything bad to them intentionally. This repeated pattern makes me feel that the world is against me, and since human connection is such a large part of life, I feel doomed. I’ve reflected deeply but haven’t found clarity. How can one overcome such a state? I'd like concrete things that I can do to measurably improve in this. (I know of metta, but I doubt it is much helpful in my case?). Thanks!

Making emotional connection to others is an instrinsic part of reality, since people are nothing but nature in a complex form, and buddhism teaches how to prepare oneself for dealing with all aspects of nature. This is somewhat ignored in traditional buddhism, swept under the rug using the advice to develop loving kindness. While that advice might be true, it is in general quite broad and not specific enough for many people, including myself as a man with Asperger's. I am looking for more concrete and practical advice which is still quite fundamental and applicable in general. Can you please give your insights on developing emotional connection with others - what traits within oneself need to be developed/strengthened to get good at it? Thanks!

People usually start off treating me kindly, but over time their behavior shifts toward dislike and hostility. Despite my genuine efforts to be caring and accommodating, others often perceive me as rude or uncaring. They begin to disregard my boundaries and treat me dismissively. Even those initially supportive often turn against me or side with others. My ideas and contributions frequently go ignored, while less thoughtful suggestions from others are praised. I seem to unintentionally provoke negative reactions, despite my best intentions. When disputes occur, authority figures consistently side with others, regardless of objective facts. Even my professors overlook my objectively high-quality work, favoring coworkers whose contributions are clearly inferior and often later proven incorrect. Recently, during a soccer match, the opposing team became openly hostile, and one player deliberately injured me. Although I forgave him later, incidents like this spark intense anger and a strong urge to confront and retaliate aggressively. I fear that under bad circumstances, this could escalate into group physical violence against me. I've noticed this troubling pattern for some time and genuinely don't understand its cause. I'm committed to resolving this issue once I clearly identify what's causing it. Have you experienced something similar or do you have insights on this? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

A number of people have become enlightened since Shakyamuni Buddha's realization of the truths. I'm curious as to who the latest person to have obtain enlightenment and become a Buddha is (as considered by the consensus of Buddhists)?

No matter how many retreats or how much I meditate and try to practice metta etc people mostly just irritate me. I just feel happier alone like a hermit in a natural setting. I hate living in a shoebox in a city full of ignorant selfish people. It's like hell to me. I actually get up at 2am so that I can do a whole bunch of stuff before I have to deal with people. One on one I can do social things but as far as humanity as a whole I find people repugnant. Animals are so much nicer. They love unconditionally, they don't judge, bully, use, destroy and pollute nature etc etc