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Right Intention
I got the idea for this thread after reading the "Idiot Compassion" thread. The general consensus seemed to be that compassion for self-interested or greedy ends was something to be avoided. In other words, you have to have Right Intention when being compassionate.
But does Intention really matter? If I openly give to charity, or hold doors for people, or walk old ladies across the street ONLY to impress people, is that really a bad thing? The end result is the same, isn't it? The money still goes to charity, the door is still open, and the old lady is safely on the other side and none the wiser that I was kind for selfish reasons.
Here's a personal example. Last summer, i had the opportunity to volunteer and paint a house as charity for no pay. I wasn't particularly interested in being charitable that day (I would have rather have stayed home to recuperate from the rough week), but I went so that my boss would think better of me. Others went in the hopes of winning a raffle for a huge TV at the end of the day. When I think about it, the company as a whole decided to do the charity to garner business in the media and put out a positive image of itself. Maybe there were a few people who truly wanted to do the job for altruistic reasons.
But at the end of the day, it didn't make any difference. Intention was irrelevant.
Thoughts?
But does Intention really matter? If I openly give to charity, or hold doors for people, or walk old ladies across the street ONLY to impress people, is that really a bad thing? The end result is the same, isn't it? The money still goes to charity, the door is still open, and the old lady is safely on the other side and none the wiser that I was kind for selfish reasons.
Here's a personal example. Last summer, i had the opportunity to volunteer and paint a house as charity for no pay. I wasn't particularly interested in being charitable that day (I would have rather have stayed home to recuperate from the rough week), but I went so that my boss would think better of me. Others went in the hopes of winning a raffle for a huge TV at the end of the day. When I think about it, the company as a whole decided to do the charity to garner business in the media and put out a positive image of itself. Maybe there were a few people who truly wanted to do the job for altruistic reasons.
But at the end of the day, it didn't make any difference. Intention was irrelevant.
Thoughts?
0
Comments
Is the result the same for you, though? What happens when people aren't impressed, don't give you the reaction you were hoping for? Dukkha?
If you fail to get the reaction you want, would you help the old lady cross the street the next time?
Buddhist practice is about internal peace and through that, compassion and loving-kindness develop naturally and so you help the old lady cross the street for that reason alone, regardless of the reaction you get, this time and the next.
hehehehehehwWAHAHAha
gulp
though the parent should still generate bodhicitta
that's how i see it.
so your intention was not charity but something else
think back and try to see how you felt during the work, what was in your mind while doing the work
it is for sure you were not in a happy mood all the time even though you might tried to show others that you were
were not you wishing the work finish as soon as possible for you to go back home to do whatever you like
in short, during that day were you happy or not happy
you can check now whether you are happy about your involvement in 'that charity work'
level of satisfaction/ happiness depend on to the extent that our hearts possitively involve in 'charity work'
you can decide whether IT DID or DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE
Jelly-filled compassion - nice image!
Palzang
Palzang
It depends on the circumstances.
My whole point is that I think you can be compassionate and do good things even with slightly less-than-noble intentions. Self-interest namely.
The Buddha makes a distinction between compassion (karuna) and generosity (dana), and what you're talking about sounds more like generosity to me. The Buddha advised that a gift should be given "wherever the mind feels confidence" (SN 3.24), and that to get the most out of a gift, one should make a "donation endowed with six factors" (AN 6.37). In addition, I suggest listening to this talk by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Palzang