Selflessness and Altruism

person

I had an experience in one of my TTRPG games recently that got me thinking a bit about a distinction that helps define the virtue of non self. I'll use some definitions that are maybe my own, its the idea behind them rather than any precise dictionary definition. I'm thinking of selflessness as doing something without thinking of yourself and altruism as you doing good for someone else.

So in my game there was a sort of test to determine the character's quality. In the test my internal experience was pragmatic, it was about the best solution for the most people, myself included. It wasn't about doing good, or being a good person. I wasn't being sacrificial, I took risks that put my character in danger, but it was benefiting me, I just included everyone else in the benefit. Anyway, this was just pretend, I didn't have any real skin in the game, I'm not trying to humble brag, I doubt I would have acted the same IRL. The point is in my mind I was acting pragmatically but in the eyes of the person giving the test I seem to have come across as virtuous.

Which got me to thinking, what is the internal experience of selflessness? Is it an attempt to be good to others, or is the internal experience one of doing good without regard to self and other? You see suffering or a problem and regardless of whether its yours or someone else's you act to remedy it.

FleaMarket

Like responding to a forum post.. I think one can respond as it relates to the text or they can respond as they relate to the person. Probably a mixture of both as they're not mutually exclusive and can overlap. Maybe the internal experience also changes as a result of that mixture?

Shoshin1

@person said:

Which got me to thinking, what is the internal experience of selflessness? Is it an attempt to be good to others, or is the internal experience one of doing good without regard to self and other? You see suffering or a problem and regardless of whether its yours or someone else's you act to remedy it.

I help others when I'm in a position to do so/as the situations arise....I just do it without giving too much thought on the whys and what fors..In a sense it's like being on autopilot ...and the only thoughts passing through the mind are how can I be of assistance...However there seems to be a feel good feeling after the act, but this is not the goal. it's just a by-product of the experience

I'm not sure what the internal experience of selflessness is for me .... I just do it before the (often emotionally charged) self ( the selfish side) tries to talk me out of it...

At times I find I'm not in a position to help and there's an acceptance in the self that this is the case...