Is there such a thing as?

Question

Is there really such a thing as a selfless act? You can give to charity, help out people in need, listen to a friend in need and so on and so forth, but isn't there usually always something in it for them, even if it's as small as a good feeling for doing it?

That's a very good point lisa! Thank you

Answer 1

usually you do things to make yourself a better person, so it is selfish - everything you do is to satisfy yourself somehow, even if its torture, you know u will be proud of yourself later etc

Answer 2

I have wondered about that too. I think tht the act would have to actually make you a little unhappy. It's easier to give twenty dollars to somebody when you have a hundred. It's a lot harder if you only have twenty to begin with. A truly selfless act happens because you have recognized that another person's need is greater than your own and acted on it, even at your own cost. It involves sacrifice. If it is done for your own benefit in any way, it is not selfless.

Answer 3

The good feelings we derive from unselfish work are a benefit, but only for acts that lift someone else. Isn’t most of life like that? We choose what we are going to do, based on our expectation of the outcome of our actions. I am rewarded by feeling good for my efforts in enough cases for me to continue that habit. The few times when I might feel used or unappreciated I say it's the other person’s problem, not mine.
Anyway, I would say that that was a very good question. Thanks,
P.S.
Regarding actingthoes’ comment; I Once risked my life to save someone, and was surprised to find that the experience made me slightly angry. When I thought about it I realized that I didn’t like being put in a position where I had to choose between risking my A** to save a stranger, or living my life knowing I hadn’t tried. I did what I had to do, but it was not a particularly giving act by intent. Just a thought.

Answer 4

Yes there is. Sometimes people want to give and stay away from the limelight and all the thank you's. The extra good feeling isn't all too necessary. You have every right to ask this question as such people are pretty rare nowadays.

Answer 5

This is very similar to the question 'is there unconditional love'. Yes, there is selfless action, but we almost never find it in this world. No, the parent is not selfless. Does the parent selflessly love and care for any child? No, she cares for her own child. This is conditional. And the soldier who dies for his country is not selfless either. It may be a noble act, but he/she is fighting and killing others to help his own family and countrymen, not some other people. If we ask a boy born in Iowa to fight for another country is he likely to do it? His service is dependent or conditioned upon fighting for his own country, or what he perceives as his own country. It's normal for a philanthropist or the humanitarian to want their name on the building they donated, their name on the foundation, etc. They want the perks that come with name and fame. No selflessness there either.

One person said that to be selfless you would need to lose your self, which is impossible. This is very close to the truth. It is possible to be completely selfless when you are completely absorbed in the transcendental devotional service of the Lord. You can lose yourself in His service because you forget your own material desires and act only to fulfill His desires. So the material self is lost, or forgotten, and only the Lord's desires are important. Devotional service to the Lord, known as bhakti-yoga in Sanskrit, is not slavery to a tyrant. Our material conceptions and conditioning cannot understand the pure love and selflessness involved in the relationship of the soul with the Lord. Not until we are completely purified of all material designations and desires can we get a glimpse of it. This is called self-realization. In our present state of consciousness, we think we are Americans or Europeans, white, black, rich, poor, male, female, etc., etc. These are all false indentities, false ego. In material consciousness, we are selfish, but we don't even understand who we really are, so our selfishness doesn't not bring us any happiness.

Our eternal nature is spiritual, one in quality with the Lord. The Lord is pure spirit and we are also pure spirit. When we act as spirit soul in the service of the Supreme Spirit, to please Him without any motive for material or spiritual gain, that is selfless action and this is our constitutional position, our reason for existing. Because it's our constitutional position to be completely engaged in the Lord's service, we enjoy complete unending bliss. This is the eternal hankering of the soul.

Answer 6

Perhaps that small reward of feeling good is a gift from God for a truly selfless act.

Answer 7

The only selfless act is the natural death of a person, everything else has a motive.

Answer 8

Nothing is entirely selfless. You'd have to eliminate the self in order to have selflessness. It's just not possible.

Answer 9

there is such thing as selfless act.. what about giving your life for someone

Answer 10

Parents often do things they know their kids won't appreciate, but they are done out of love. Mom or dad know it will go unnoticed and that is selfless. It reflects the heart of God toward us all.
In the true Christian faith I accept that Jesus created me and then redeemed me from sin by dying on the cross for me. Now it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives within me(Galatians 2:20).
Now I still live in my own body, but I submit my life to God's Holy Spirit who lives inside me. He gives me comfort and guidance from within; I hear Him when I read the Bible or when I pray and when I go to church, or share His life with others.
One of the benefits or results of the Holy Spirit living in me is humility. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. Doing a selfless act can be because you love God. Not for reward, but for gratitude to a Loving God.

Answer 11

i think you have a good point ...the only true selfless act would be to die for either your country or someone .