2006-09-28 05:48:56 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why should I tell you when I'd just as soon keep that info to myself. What's mine is mine, Sara. And don't be snooping through my stuff, either............
What question was Fireball answering? A question from last night?
2006-09-28 05:52:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It (selfishness)can be integrated... It can become an inner faculty that actually can teach that at a highest octave "selfishness need not have any divergence with selflessness"...
Thomas R's first three lines are pretty apt, but then he gets lost in a digression that loses the lines(perhaps the first part is a quote, the second his misinterpretation?... Parsu and steven g are mere "intellectualisms" of spiritual themes- that are again "just lost" ....
andymcj66,GLSigma3, and even fesspoint "may" be slightly on the right track ...
I apologise being mr.critic here ... as it obviously weakens the concision and clarity of my first statement ... but thoroughly reading every response here with great interest ... IMO Thomas R and Parsu,and steven g - are drinking from Vedic streams(Hindu) which I love ... But they are taking them no deeper than the mind- with it's cluttered rationalizations ... and echoes of scriptures they took no deeper than "mental" consideration ...
The second three I name come off as more honest and genuine in real consideration.. albeit little realised ... fireball doesn't even need a mention... her noose is her tongue ... lol
:D stephen g with the "rubber/glue" Prabhubeta analogy ... destruction of an inner aspect of self is "repression" ... some day I hope you make the journey inward to integrate and expand... That will require your leaving an addiction to surface knowledge and Occidental prattle ...
2006-09-28 21:37:13 · answer #2 · answered by gmonkai 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
TO BEGIN WITH:
Self sacrificing love for a goal greater than self is a start to living a free and virtuous life.
One needs to "BE a Self" before one can be unselfish. :-)
Taking care of self has to be a priority.
Destroying selfishness in oneself is a life long process; who can endure all the work it will take? God knows that we are all perfect.
On an airplane before take off, the steward states that if oxygen is needed for whatever reason to put the mask on your own face first. Only then put the mask on the child. Take care of self first.
By the way, I don't think I want to destroy all the selfishness.
wink....wink!
2006-09-28 15:41:58 · answer #3 · answered by ThomasR 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By realising actions have consquences & U have 2 face up 2 UR own personal selfishness, B4 U can defeat it.
Some R selfish with their time.
Selfish with money.
Selfish with attitude.
Every1 has a private selfish trait.
Mine it's Time.
I'm awful but I'm getting there.
2006-09-28 12:55:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Selfishness is due to the material infection of the pure soul or self, therefore the first step in the process of destroying selfishness is to understand the difference between matter and spirit, the nature of the materialist is self serving and the nature of the self realised soul is loving service to the transcendant supreme soul or God.
There are twenty six qualities of a self realised soul, that manifest naturally, they are as follows:-
1) He/She is very kind to everyone. (2) He/She does not make anyone his enemy. (3) He/She is truthful. (4) He/She is equal to everyone. (5) No one can find any fault in him/her. (6) He/She is magnanimous. (7) He/She is mild. (8) He/She is always clean. (9) He/She is without possessions. (10) He/She works for everyone's benefit. (11) He/She is very peaceful. (12) He/She is always surrendered to God. (13) He/She has no material desires. (14) He/She is very meek. (15) He/She is steady. (16) He/She controls his/her senses. (17) He/She does not eat more than required. (18) He/She is not influenced by the Lord's illusory material energy. (19) He/She offers respect to everyone. (20) He/She does not desire any respect for him/herself. (21) He/She is very grave. (22) He/She is merciful. (23) He/She is friendly. (24) He/She is poetic. (25) He/She is expert. (26) He/She is silent.
Therefore the means to destroy selfishness is by sincere spiritual practise within the individual's chosen process of spiritual development.
To discuss further:-Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari (sda@backtohome.com)
Edit:-Quote gmonkai
" But they are taking them no deeper than the mind- with it's cluttered rationalizations ... and echoes of scriptures they took no deeper than "mental" consideration "
This is a statement reflective of the person making it, rather then those he attempts to describe.
2006-09-28 17:21:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Selfishness comes from thinking that I am the owner of this body and this family and all that I have in my possession.
Selflessness comes from thinking that God is the owner of this body and this family and all that i have in my possession.
On Gross Material platform Selfishness are two types.
"Concentrated selfishness centers around the personal body—this is generally seen amongst the lower animals. Extended selfishness is manifested in human society and centers around the family, society, community, nation and world with a view to gross bodily comfort.
Above the gross materialists are the mental speculators who hover aloft in the mental spheres, and their occupational duties involve making poetry and philosophy or propagating some ism with the same aim of selfishness limited to the body and the mind.
But above the body and mind is the dormant spirit soul whose absence from the body makes the whole range of bodily and mental selfishness completely null and void." (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.8 purport)
Thus Knowledge of Soul promotes Selflessness. But just knowing that we are the Soul is not that useful. One has to engage in the activity of the Soul. The activity of Soul is to serve God.
2006-09-28 14:34:27 · answer #6 · answered by Parsu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By being selfless and giving to others instead of taking. He who has shall be given more so you start the process by making a conscious effort and karma does the rest.
2006-09-28 12:57:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
By seeking that which is not self *and* which has the power to overcome sin.
Selfishness cannot be eradicated by a self. It must be eradicated by God.
Any power to overcome human nature must be (a) powerful and (b) non-human, but divine.
2006-09-28 12:53:15 · answer #8 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By robbing someone of any sense of self, until they think of themselves as the meaningless servant of another, with no thoughts or desires of their own. So religion, basically.
2006-09-28 12:52:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
by considering others before yourself, but not to the point where you're ignoring yourlself. You have to take care of yourself so that you can better take care of others.
2006-09-28 12:54:02 · answer #10 · answered by GLSigma3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋