Selfishness is part of love

[pghguy]

Although it seems so obvious now, it also seems so easy to miss.

Virtually every human action is done in selfishness. Thus, love is inherently linked to it.

Although it may seem absurd at first, just stop and think about it. Any act of charity, environmentalism, relationships and more are all based in this concept.

Let’s take some examples:

Bill Gates donates 10’s of billions of dollars to charity. Some motives likely include – 1. tax write off 2. positive publicity and 3. feeling good about his self for doing so.

The men and women who rescued the miners trapped in Chile. Motives may have been – 1. notoriety 2. getting a sense of pride and joy out of it.

Even every martyr from every religion. If nothing else these people died willingly for their beliefs under the expectation that they would be rewarded for doing so in the afterlife.

The bottom line is that even the most loving action is done so that we feel good about doing it - selfishness.

 

[c0de]

welcome to the world

 

[Ciel]

The bottom line is that even the most loving action is done so that we feel good about doing it - selfishness.

pghguy,

The bottom line is the first rung of the ladder, each step leading to new perspective....... better first remove away from mud and change boots.

- c -

 

[Bhaktajan II]

Yes, pghgu, it is written in the Vedas of India:

'There is no love in the material world, there is only give and take'.

 

[Thomas]

I rather think this is what the whole of Christian Scripture is about ...
... the gift of self to another.

But selfishness is no part of love.

Thomas

 

[Virtual_Cliff]

It's a question of degree. Some acts of apparent generosity are done purely to get a kick out of it. Other great deeds are done with only a trace of self-awareness. Once we are sensitive to our need to feel good about ourselves, we can start to get it into perspective.

But I agree, it is a trap for the unwary.

 

[arthra]

Selfishness is reality a stage in development toward selflessness.. A small child will be self centered and believe the universe revolves around them ..and the adults will flatter them and focus on them..after this stage they will play with others in a parallel sense with others..after this they will play interactively and begin to appreciate the other selves.. after a long process they will come to realize that unless they sacrifice self for others they will not know the mystery of love.

This was the theme of Oscar Wilde's story of the Nightingale that sacrificed itself on the thorn of the White Rose and sang its song so the rose could become "Red".

The Nightingale and the Rose - Oscar Wilde

 

[Ciel]

Arthra,

It seems a very insipid tale and the waste of a beautiful nightingale......

In maturity love becomes compassion able to interact on all levels without sacrifice. The true self in the core of being releases strengh of love beyond giving and taking. It is the very issness and essence of love it'self.

I once discovered love without any reason for the discovery.
The realisation showed me love existed without form.
Love exists in it's own right and caused me to wish to share in mine......

- c -

 

[Ciel]

Thomas,

I was looking through old post and found a quote of yours so apt.....
"Grapes are not harvested from thorn trees........" Gospel of Thomas 45.
Do you remember.......
I would add compassion brings absolution.

- c -

 

[Ciel]

pghguy,

To try to enlighten......

When I give to charity..... and I do, it is not that I feel good, it is more the terrible feeling........how can it ever be enough, because we live in a world that should have got it's act together by now. And I'm doing the best I can.

- c -

 

[Bhaktajan II]

So teenage sex is just "love making"?

"Make love not war", is not neglect of civic duty, its an important cosmic mandate?

Hey baby, you are so sexy! I would like to spread compassion in the world if you would oblige me the 'right-of-way'.

 

[Ciel]

Bhaktajan,

You know compassion is like the manure on the fields......
You have to have some to spread it.

- c -

 

[Bhaktajan II]

Compassion is like ... knowledge of other's sufferring, and thus, the knowledge of how to avoid "Throwing it in others face" ---but rather, how to raise others above the muck & mire.

OTOH, sayings or advertising slogans like, 'Have it your way' etc ---designed to get people's salivary glands oozing over the posh dining of fastfood & gourmet fares does not convey compassion to animals & beast & crawling creatures ---but rather, it conveys the proclamation that "your purpose for existing is to satiate my desire to eat you".

OTOH,
Some are way down the road and cannot see any light at the end ---since they have no idea it's tunnel vision they have.

 

[Bhaktajan II]

Bhaktajan,

You know compassion is like the manure on the fields......
You have to have some to spread it.

- c -

BTW, you may not be aware that I am an orthodox conservative Hindu.

I am a Hare Krishna Chanting Yoga practitioner ---for whom the Cow is sacred, The cows' dung & urine has medicinal properties, the cow is the living embodiment of mother nature & the agrarian eco-system.

I assume you are a vegetarian, and thus, abhor the idea of eating farm animals' flesh; and thus an adherent of the rules/laws of "ahimsa" [non-violence]? If so, then I understand your post. If not, you are inspired by self-interests only.

 

[c0de]

But selfishness is no part of love.

come on dude, admit it, you know it is.

Only God is capable of true love and unselfishness.

Humans just... do it for the cake.

 

[Ciel]

BTW, you may not be aware that I am an orthodox conservative Hindu.

I am a Hare Krishna Chanting Yoga practitioner ---for whom the Cow is sacred, The cows' dung & urine has medicinal properties, the cow is the living embodiment of mother nature & the agrarian eco-system.

I assume you are a vegetarian, and thus, abhor the idea of eating farm animals' flesh; and thus an adherent of the rules/laws of "ahimsa" [non-violence]? If so, then I understand your post. If not, you are inspired by self-interests only.

Yes Bhaktajan....
And I am aware of your position though not always of where you're coming from...........
Am I a qualified vegetarian? Yes.............. So I presume I qualify to your requirements. You appear to have a very narrow margin.

namaste - c -

 

[Ciel]

come on dude, admit it, you know it is.

Only God is capable of true love and unselfishness.

Humans just... do it for the cake.

Code......

It is true cake is a selfish substance........ therefore I always give the cherry on top to the angels.

Therefore I confirm selfishness is no part of love in the higher aspect.

- c -

 

[c0de]

Code......

It is true cake is a selfish substance........ therefore I always give the cherry on top to the angels.

You're missing the point,

by misunderstanding the nature of the "cake",

and therefore the true motivations behind giving away the "cherry" (<< pun?)

Therefore I confirm selfishness is no part of love in the higher aspect.

True, but -you- are not capable of that "higher aspect" of love.

No human being is.

Only God can truly give without getting anything back.

 

[Ciel]

Code,
As I have not had the pleasure to meet every human being on this planet, only a rare few. I do not have your faith there are none to rise to the celestial requirement. For in the few is the light of many and without doubt the higher aspect of love is possible, alive and living.

Our cakes are of a very different nature and not the same mentality.
I cannot give you the recipe for my own for I see your appreciation would be that it's not possible to find the required ingredients on earth.

So better to stay with the cake proven to your own self.

- c -

 

[c0de]

Code,
As I have not had the pleasure to meet every human being on this planet, only a rare few. I do not have your faith there are none to rise to the celestial requirement.

It's not a "celestial requirement," it is a transcendent requirement.

So any person who rose to that requirement would no longer be human.

It's simply a matter of definitions.