Greatness?

[jilola]

Don't you mean the former is the better of the two?

Good and bad are not separate. Both exists as results of the other.
And that is the result of good and bad ultimately being the same thing. The difference is the result of an action's manifestation on the physical.
Ok, that's not really a good reply, I'm having a bit of a hard time with words these days.

Good to have you back Timeless!!

2cents & L&L
jouni

[timeless]

Hi Jouni,

The former is definitely the one I would want to strive for since it is enriching all round.  

Merely wanted to point out that the latter (wanting to be seen as great) can occasionally cause the right things to be done for the wrong reasons.  Making right and wrong a very confusing issue.  

All the best,
timeless

[Nick]

timeless,

Thank you for the thought provoking post, and welcome back.
I agree, greatness is not always what it seems. Especially if one looks into the underlying motivation in some showy act, the discovery can reveal selfish motives.

What impresses me most is the little things that good people do to try and help others. These people go about day to day with an unselfish and giving attitude, and with no expectation of any reward or recognition. That is real greatness.

All the best,

[Lysear]

Nick, I love that too. When you see someone drop their shopping and a person will just walk over and help pick it up. No selfishness, no gain, no need. Just pure kindness.

[timeless]

Nick,

Very well put.  Another thought, maybe if we all did more little (usually unnoticed or unseen) acts we wouldn't even need the big showy ones.  

Thanks,
timeless

[SiVA]

Lysear,

Yes, but you also have the people who want to help for the sake of being recognized as someone helpful. They say to themselves:

"Hey look at me, I'm a nice person, see?? Right?? right??"

Or, you have the people who do it because it makes themselves feel happy or warm inside. Surely this is not a bad thing, but their motive is still self-directed.

The ego works in subtle and mysterious ways sometimes.

Is there really selfless acts of kindness? Or is it just the ego in disguise?

Just some thoughts...

[jilola]

No act that has thought behind it can be selfless.
But there are the rare occasions when one does something without a thought almost as a reflex or an instinctively. It's those moments of action that are selfless as there is no reasoning behind it. It is the Zen doing without doing, ie. one does something that needs to be done and then puts it behind.
Any thinking almost certainly bring ego and self-gratificaiton into play however unconsciously.

2cents & L&L
jouni

[goingslow]

I think its fine if a person does something because it makes them feel good.  Deep down most people do acts of kindness because it makes them feel good.  You could say this is selfish, but the fact it makes them feel good says something in itself.  There are many many people out there that get that "good" feeling from making others feel bad or exerting power.  

To me it depends on what they state their motives are.  I've heard of people who do something very kind tell the person "let me do this.. It makes me feel good".  They're not pretending they're doing it because they're selfish. They're being very straight forward and saying in a way "im doing it for that feeling I get".  The very fact they get that feeling from doing good to me is the important fact.

Now if they say "im doing this because im a pure person and Im always thinking of only others".  I'd question their motives more.  Thats more of a "look at how good I am".

Many hide their actual motives because it embarasses them to get praise.  Even if they did a great act they'll sincerely want people to stop calling them a hero and they'll repeat "its my job".  Some really mean that.  Or some will say "I gave money because its a tax write off" when maybe that wasn't the main reason.  

My point is I think its not the act itself which determines if its selfless, and I dont think it needs to be selfless.  What matters more is the recognition they seek afterwards or the recognition they try to deflect.

[Jonas K strand]

there must be a way to know the best to do but i havent found it yet. i have this picture in my brain of being used and use, just follow what youre controling. probably just some feeling inspiered of the castaneda-books. i went crazy when i read them but i just love them anyway! somebody read them?

/jonas

[timeless]

I watched the movie recently.  I walked away with the following thought. (I left out the movie title since this may give away some of the plot.)

Some people are living to bring greatness to this world.  Others are living to be seen as great in this world.  

At first glance the two may appear similar. However, the former enrich themselves and then enrich all those around them.  The latter enrich themselves and give to enrich themselves further.  

Interesting concept because with this in mind an selfish, evil person might do good in this world.  Unfortunately it is usually to serve self and manipulate others -- lots of money and/or ego but one big vacuum inside.  

So greatness is not always what it seems.

Regards,
timeless