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Post by Leon on Nov 8, 2013 14:45:58 GMT
Are their any benefits to being selfish? Do you have to sometimes think about yourself first above the needs of others, or should you always put the needs of others before your own needs? It can be a dilemma, but is there a place for selfishness in spirituality, or should we maybe use another word for thinking of ourselves first?
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Post by gruntal on Nov 9, 2013 5:12:52 GMT
One of the best books I ever read was LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE by Robert Ringer. He did not actually advocate being selfish - he merely noted if you were going to take care of yourself you should do it without any apologizing. Assuming you deserved to be treated that way in the first place.
But as to rather being selfish was the best way to go: at one level you are not required to do everything just because you have the right. That is rationalizing your thievery. But at another level you have the responsibility to make trades and everyone can benefit from that and that is not selfish in a cheating sort of way. It is being a productive part of the Cosmos.
I think even in spirituality there is a trade off; a price to be paid; placing a value on yourself and what you want to accomplish is not denying anything for the others. Be as selfish as you want! Only then can you accumulate something to share or give.
If people didn't have a selfish desire to see a world in harmony for themselves I don't see how they could ever make any effort to make it so for the others too!
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Post by christdavid on Nov 9, 2013 14:27:39 GMT
While we seem to be in a body and separate the concept of "selfishness" seems real. Everyone will protect their treasure. The question is; What do you treasure?
Things that seem to occur in space-time are referred to as acts. Acts are actions there are subject to values and beliefs. Because "beliefs" are involved vision is lost to you and all that stems from these acts occur only in time and not eternity. That is not to say that what happens in time is not experienced or is not tragic. It simply means it does not matter, and will pass.
Selfishness is illusion. The ego or perceived self "believes" that by denying his brother he actually gains something. This only seems to be true in the physical realm. The realm of dust.
Christ David
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