Selfishness and Self-Giving
Monday October 25 2004 09:30 IST
By Karmayogi
The opposite of
selfishness is unselfishness or selflessness. Self-giving is of a higher order.
Life exists in the grades of survival, growth, development and evolution. An
agriculture society changing into an industrial society is evolution. A famine
stricken population avoiding extinction by its brave struggle is survival. A
middle class family that faces a slide down into a lower class fighting back
successfully is also survival.
An empty house of a
middle class family acquiring all consumer durables is growth. A self-employed
person having moved into that position from salaried employment is development.
Till 1950 the majority of the population struggled to survive. But all selfish
people who are capable SURVIVED. I would consider every such person a patriot
in the sense he prevents a family from slipping into poverty. I salute him and
disregard his selfishness.
It does not mean I advocate selfishness. In a poor country like ours where 30 crores
are below the poverty line, anyone who raises one family above that line does a
cardinal patriotic service.
Among those, there are people who extend their personal selfishness into the
selfishness of their family. It is a first positive step towards a great ideal.
As a rule, unselfish people will accomplish more than selfish persons.
The exception to this rule is a substantial portion. They are those who are
unselfish without the capacity to accomplish. Often they end up as dismal
failures. It is not because of their unselfishness, but because of their
incapacity.
Selflessness is more positive than unselfishness. But Self-giving is the ideal.
Parents who raise their children are mostly unselfish. A good many love to
practise self-giving to their children. Giving one's all to the OTHER
person because he is a Self, is Self-Giving. Such parents will not find their
children falling a victim to social evils such as drinks or drugs.
In their minds, the thought of whether their children would take care of them
in old age will not arise. Also, they will not financially need such a support.
Mental Peace, which is the desideratum of many, will be theirs by virtue of the
self-giving.
This is a general rule, not confined to family. Selfishness is capable. It can
even raise a nation to great prosperity, but Self-giving will make an
individual, family or a nation spiritually rich, economically strong, and
socially great.