Will you ever be free from selfishness?

Question

Because it is crystal clear to me that you have invented this idea of selflessness to protect yourself from the actual -- your selfishness. In any case, whether you believe in selflessness or not, you remain at all times selfish. Your so-called selflessness exists only in the future, tomorrow. And when tomorrow comes, it is put off until the next day, or perhaps next life.
Look at it this way; it is like the horizon. Actually, there is no horizon. The more you move towards the horizon, the more it moves away. It is only the limitations of the eyes that creates the horizon. But there is no such thing as the horizon. Likewise, there is no such thing as selflessness at all. Man has tortured himself for generations with this idea of selflessness, and it has only afforded a living for those who sell the idea of selflessness for a living, like the priests and moralists.
I am not condemning anyone else, just pointing out the absurdity of what we are doing.

Answer 1

Oh, yeah, teachers and guru tell us to get rid of the ego, still ego is the foundation of all enlightenment.
My personal belief is, god created human to experience the ego and self. God, the selfless one, cannot experience anything!!! (God will never understand horizon since god is... omnipresent, right??) We, on the other hand, are so so blessed with this ego experience... we can experience limitless god in the selflessness, yet we can experience the limits of the world in the selfishness. Isn't it great???!!! (((((hug)))))

Answer 2

Selflessness means having surrendered one's self, devoid of self. Without a self, having merged in the All, nobody would be able to witness 'my' selflessness, because I, AS A SEPERATE ENTITY, do not exist anymore.

Lack or absence of selfishness is another matter. Though this is in fact the dictionary's definition of 'selflessness', I am sure you can make the distinction. This can take the form of altruism, compassion, generosity, concern about the welfare of others - these qualities are present or absent to one degree or another in all.

I am with you, therefore, when you say that all are selfish. Only, some strive towards becoming totally unselfish, which they will become only when they have become selfless - but then they have nothing to do with material existence any more. And that is why there are no 'selfless people' around. There cannot be.

Answer 3

Selfishness is a part of nature, and we in turn are a part of nature. Selfishness is what has kept all living organisms alive today. It is a nothing more than an act of self-preservation.
"Game Theory" is one of the best "explanation" if you will, of selfishness.
For example, you are in a swimming competition, with only one real competitor that you are up against. Game theory would show that there are four outcomes in this match. 1. You both swim this race fairly, without drugs. 2. He takes drugs and you don't (lose). 3. You take drugs and he does not (win) 4. You both take drugs.
In this scenario, Game theory states that your best chances are to take drugs, since you must assume your opponent will do whatever it takes to win, like you.
In nature, if I'm a hyena and you saw a dead carcass on the ground and another hyena was around, you would assume that if you don't eat this meal, you will not survive in this world, if you do, the other hyena would not survive. Better you than me, right?

I am in total agreement with you. It is in our nature and all living things, to be selfish.

Answer 4

The only way to actually become selfish is to offer all of ones activities to God (Also known as Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, Vishnu, Rama, Etc.) And always chant and glorify His Names, Forms, Qualities and Pass times. And serve His pure devotees. In this way one will gradually become purified of selfishness. We cant be fanatical in this understanding. Self realization means realizing ones eternal pure relationship with God. That is actual selflessness. I accept the understanding of the Authorities on this topic. They say it is and I accept it as so. Otherwise I will go on speculating on what I think is selfish and what I think is this and that. No If I want to actually be selfless then I have to take shelter of a bonafide spiritual Master who knows the Absolute Truth. Otherwise I will be self absorbed in my own concoctions of so called truth.

Answer 5

Every act (cause) has a result (effect)
The result motivates the doer.
The doer always is the recipient of the result
It can be material or non-material gain
Material in terms of cash or kind
Non-material in terms of, say, a deep inner satisfaction
Since no act can be without a resultant impact
Every act is a selfish act there can be no selfless act.

Answer 6

What we need is a working definition. Selfishness - Lets say its thinking of yourself before any other person. You are saying that it is impossible to do otherwise. Well let me put it this way, it is in fact possible, but those who do so (in the sense of our definition) are the most miserable people alive.

We each have something valuable to us. And sometimes, when we are selfish for something truly valuable, the world will not hold it against us. Someone I was chatting with once opined that giving in to kidnap for ransom demands is a very selfish act because the end result is that it endangers the rest of the society. But wouldn't it be very selfish for society to demand that you give up what is more valuable to you?

So in my book, there is nothing wrong with selfishness. Its bad rep is not because of what it is essentially, but because some people, to satisfy their greed, resort to force to satisfy it.

Answer 7

The pleasure principle always applies, their is no such thing as a selfless act.
I think the closes thing that comes to that is "first responders", and those who rescue other that are in danger.
However that is autonomic, and is done without thought.

Answer 8

Having met more than a few selfless people in my life, I would like to state that your statement is utter, unadulterated hogwash.

Selfless acts occur every day, performed by people who have no expectation of reward and no desire for thanks.

You need to get out into the world a bit.

Answer 9

Never. I believe all my motives are based on selfishness. In order to cope, I've devalued materialism in my life. If some stranger on the street asks for a cigarette, but I only have one left, I would still give it to him. Why? Because I value the sense of well-being that comes from helping a stranger more than the cigarette itself.

Answer 10

Nope! Always was a slave to selfishness and I always will be. The way to handle it is to beat back at it and work hard to give, rather than take. But it will always be there in the recesses of my heart. It will always pop up and into my daily life in teeny tiny manners but still, it is always there.