neither hope for return nor expectation of reward. There is no possibility of self-
interested motivation in that conduct, for it is only for the benefit of other beings,
in this life and the next. It is the nature of beings in samsara on the other hand to
be self-interested and to act “altruistically” only out of that self-interest.
Once when I was in Hong Kong my patron took me to a famous restaurant for
dinner. The manners of the staff in the restaurant were exemplary in courtesy
from the moment we entered, on through the meal, and up to our departure. I was
very impressed by their manners, and when we were leaving, I said as much to a
monk who was in front of me. The monk waved toward the cash register and
smilingly told me that every expression and gesture of courtesy had a price.
Thinking that even such a beautiful enterprise was run on a system of quid pro
quo and of expectation of reward, I was suddenly disgusted by the situation.
In the last century, I believe, families were more harmonious than they are
today; there was more sharing and more courtesy among family members, and
everyone had greater trust in karmic cause and effect. These days people are not
so polite and benevolent, and their relationships are more self-centered in regard
to the care of children, cooperation between friends, respect of children for their
parents, and love between couples. “What is in it for me?” is what we think before
we do anything for anybody. Our relationships thereby become simply exercises in
diplomacy, which is good neither for ourselves nor others, because self-motivated
love for friends, parents, children, and so forth, is not a firm and stable love.
Generally, all phenomena are impermanent, and, furthermore, in this twenty-first
century, every day things change drastically. If I am a person who believes in
rebirth and wishes to have happiness in mind and body in this life, it is necessary
for me to be benevolent. If I do not believe in rebirth, over the course of time it is
impossible that my emotional afflictions—desire, hatred, and pride—will not
increase. Due to this I begin to hate others and to create more suffering for
everyone, myself included. If only we could all care for each other without self-
interest, everything would be perfect!
3.18 OTHERS ARE SERVED BEST BY AN UNSELFISH MIND
If we have the pure intention of the compassionate luminous mind to benefit
others, now or in the long run, without self-interest, it is of great benefit in this life
and the next, and in this life we will be happy. As Ju Mipham says in his
Traditional Shastra,
A steward who is grossly selfish,
Even if he becomes a leader
Eventually falls, like water over a high cliff.Even if selfish persons are appointed to a high position, due to their selfishness,
they will fall so low that they will be treated as less than a human being. But again
in the Traditional Shastra,