2007-10-26 05:36:17 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Depends on what "selfishness" we're discussing. Each kind has a remedy of it's own.
You see, selfishness is perceived as how we react to anything that we "run into" in any given moment. We see a car, we either are neutral about it, grow attachments and craving for it, or aversions to it. (Just one example of many) Everything revolves around the incorrectly perceived "self", but that perception of self is "jarred" by just about anything, so for example, if you have trouble "giving" things, the Buddha said to one of his students, first practice giving something from one of your hands to the other hand, then work up from there.
Buddhism isn't about immediate results, it's about patience, compassion and altruism... even for yourself.
_()_
2007-10-26 05:45:11 · answer #1 · answered by vinslave 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can't speak for anybody else, especially the Buddha, but in my little opinion...
Its not so important to "work on" CONQUERING your desires.
What IS important is to replace the time that you spent indulging yourself with an activity that is beneficial to you/others. Any activity.
In other words, make decisions that put you in a good set of healthy circumstances, then good things will follow. The time that you spend doing something healthy and productive takes away from the time that you would be spending indulging in selfishness.
I did not learn this from the Buddha. Its a combination of what I once heard Charles Barkley say in an interview, and how scoring works in a tennis match (add in, deuce, and break point), seriously.
Doesn't matter anyway, everything has Buddha nature, even Barkley, tennis scoring, and your life.
PS-I say all this, but I'm definitely not always so good at practicing either. Human, I guess.
2007-10-26 23:59:25 · answer #2 · answered by Teaim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Practice
2007-10-26 12:40:41 · answer #3 · answered by LillyB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Greed,hatred and delusion are the three main roots of evil.Selfish desire comes under delusion.Delusion is caused by wrong views.To overcome wrong views ,one must know The Four Noble Truths,understand it and having understood it ;only then can one overcome all delusions.
Sukhihotu to all.
2007-10-27 13:23:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anger eating demon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To paraphrase:
Don't worry about that. The desire to lose desires is still a desire. It comes with Right Perception, nothing else.
2007-10-26 12:41:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Meditation?
2007-10-26 12:39:05 · answer #6 · answered by Convictionist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being aware of this is a pretty good start I think.
Just be patient and keep trying. Eventually it will become easier.
2007-10-26 12:43:24 · answer #7 · answered by JD 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
" He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye."
Brightest Blessings
2007-10-26 12:41:41 · answer #8 · answered by Celestian Vega 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
spend a lot of time building a piece of art, then throw it into the river.
2007-10-26 12:42:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil?
2007-10-26 12:40:42 · answer #10 · answered by Birdy is my real name 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋