Is there such a thing as a completely selfless deed? If Yes, what is it?

Question

See, I've been all over this question for years now, and i've done everything, from letting the girl i dearly loved go, to teaching computers to mentally retarded children in spite of heavy oppsition claimng the futility of my action. All this i did in search of that one completely selfless deed, which I'm afraid I have still not found. Nothing we do, it seems, is totally, completely selfless. Think about it. You can give everything you own to a homeless person but that would leave you with a feeling of greatness and ego, and even if it doesn't it would definitely bring you inner-peace. I need to know that one deed that asolutely free of self, in which one does not gain anything, nothing at all. Can anyone answer?

Answer 1

When love becomes a natural way of 'being' of a person, whatever he does is in his experience a selfless deed. Out of unbounded love, action flows out of him, and it becomes selfless. When a person experientially sees that everything around is a part of him, then the question of 'self' itself vanishes ! And without a 'self' where is existence for 'self-ish, or self-less' ! Please see, the very term 'self-less' suggests, when there is no adamant identification with 'self' any action or deed, performed out of such a state (at that time), is a selfless deed ! When your left hand scratches the palm of your right hand to relieve from an itch-feeling, it is very difficult to 'see' any selfish motive of the left hand, because you experience left and right hands as a part of your same self ! Well it takes a little more depth in experience in of life, to feel the same way about the 'other' person as a part of yourself.
And I admit, a thought provoking question. A good opportunity to respond a bit 'selflessly' (shall I say so !). The reward is the chance itself, to answer it !

Answer 2

Excellent question. I think as long as we have pride and self-esteem, we can't do anything, regardless of how good it is, without being fulfilled in some way. I've thought about that before. People throw around the word selfless, but I think it would take a pretty incredible person to do a great deed and completely, totally forget about it, and NEVER take any pride in what they've done.

Answer 3

According to the dictionary, Selfish means: self-centered, self-serving, self-important.
There are a few actions which i think are not selfish. (1) When you give your seat to an elderly person in a crowded bus (2) When you hold the hand of a blind person and help him cross a street. (3) When your colleague sacrifices his life on a battlefield for you (4) When you do not run over an animal which comes across your road. We do not gain anything for ourselves in most of these acts. You may say, it satisfies our ego but i do not agree because i do not see any ego satisfaction for such simple deeds.

Answer 4

No; But that doesn't mean its a bad thing.

Selfishness is a grey area, an area of moderation. Too much of it or too little of it can be quite equally 'bad'. Selfishness has been slandered deeply. Even the highest form of love, which is often refered to as 'empathy', stems from selfishness: Or to be more apt, the sense OF the self in TERMS of the self.

The semantics of the word selfishness often make us focus on the negative, rather than the postivive aspects of it. But selfishness makes us care for loved ones, prevents mutually assured destruction, and forces people beyond their limitations. It is a mental tool that can be shifted for good or evil.

Answer 5

Have you ever wondered that your search of this "selfless" is in fact a search of your own "Self"? I know it sounds very ironical but thats what the real "Self" can be. You will realise that you are not helping anyone in particular as you, he, she all are but one. You have to first understand that, then it will make you free of your search for "selfless deed". Am I confusing you?:)

Answer 6

To die for a country or a belief, especialy if it is an atheist who does so. This way he won't live to enjoy the results of his deed , and being an atheist he wont even be hoping for a place in heaven! It would be utter self sacrifice and a total slefless deed.

Answer 7

why must it be selfless?

If it must, donate blood, pick up trash, or donate money but do them all without recognition, pride, or "social credit."

I think if you take the time and energy to make this lump of dirt a better place, I'd be more than happy to give you credit, a pat on the back or perhaps elevate your standing in my "book."

Answer 8

I would think that risking your life to save someone else's would be selfless (assuming you're not doing it because you're being paid to).

If you lived you would probably have the feelings described above, but I think that just doing it without regard for yourself would be selfless.

Answer 9

there are various things without shrink; some are finite, some are endless. some are genuine issues, some are recommendations. The record of numbers has no shrink. despite huge form you think of is the biggest, purely upload a million to it. the floor of Earth or any sphere (in case you talk approximately purely the two-measurement floor) is finite, yet has no end. you are able to initiate off in any course and additionally you will pass on forever without ever assembly an end. you will omit your initiate element returned and returned, yet you will on no account attain an end. to boot, area is increasing. so as that the furthest element we are able to become attentive to is receding on the fee of light (and all of us know that the universe is going previous that distance in all course). for this reason, you are able to initiate off in any course and whether you hold going forever, you may on no account even pass the element we are able to become attentive to. no longer purely might you no longer attain the tip, you does no longer even attain the furthest element we are able to be certain. historic human beings on no account thought the land grew to become into endless. as a procedures back as 3000 years in the past, they already knew that the Earth grew to become right into a sphere. They even measured its circumference particularly properly around 2500 years in the past. yet, by way of fact of an American author from the mid-1800s, many individuals think of human beings used to think of the Earth to be flat. it is purely fake.

Answer 10

i really dont know. i guess if you do nothing, not even breathing, you would gain nothing. neither would you give anything, except for your life. I know it sounds stupid but it is the only thing i can think of rite now! But i suggest you dont try this!