You know you are being selfish when you are self-centred, self assertive, judgemental and condemning. That is the proverbial tendency of one who sees a speck of dust in his brother’s eye while he has a block of wood in his own; when you, be it, by actions, thoughts and implications assume a self-elected position of all righteousness where all are wrong and you are the only right one.
When you deceitfully avoid responsibility with the ‘I am not my-brother’s keeper’ attitude, you are being selfish. This is because it is the love for your brother/sister and the lover for your neighbour which is the state of high selflessness.
One individual or a group of individuals wanting to pip the other to a price promotes egos and superiority syndrome.
One writer once observed the peculiar dissimilarities between human and fruit trees:
The trees never practise austerity when bearing their fruits; never holding back their produce for whatever reason other than due to the effects of environmental variations.
However, had the trees behaved like humans, they would selfishly apply the one-man, one-fruit policy , sanctioning other individuals from their rations and even going ahead to increase the prices of their produce, tinkering with the laws of demand and supply.
Animals, both of the wild and tamed nature know that sex is only for procreation; hence they only partake of it on season. On the other hand, humans have not only discovered that sex can also be for recreation, but have gone ahead to declare open season.
I don’t care what they say about a ‘little competition’ being ‘healthy’ – it is all an act of selfishness.
They have even taken their selfishness a notch higher and institutionalized sex in the form of marriage and other so-called love affairs. Now the idea is to lust but within the confines of an institution.
Competitions of whatsoever kind and for what ever station of life also promote selfishness. One individual or a group of individuals wanting to pip the other to a price promotes egos and superiority syndrome. I don’t care what they say about a ‘little competition’ being ‘healthy’ – it is all an act of selfishness.
There is nothing wrong with lifting a brother or sister up-achieving through co-operation and reciprocity, hence synergy. It is possible that one can be his or her best even without coveting a position ahead of the other. In the word of competition they say, “Each one for him/herself, and the devil takes the hindmost.”
You are also being selfish when you do not want to let go of any earthly possession. Some people, even when it is for the purposes of progress, never let go.
If only we could learn from monkeys; these blessed primates (despite that we have let it suffice to relegate them to the lowest station in the hierarchy of intelligence) know that for it to move to the next branch it must let go of the one that it is hanging onto.
The faster it lets go of the branches the more simultaneous becomes its manoeuvres.
Greed has twins; each named ‘Give Me’!
Of course, this is in direct contrast from the baboons. These primates, often elevated closer to its human brother than the monkey, have this selfish way of testing a fruit tree of wasps and snakes; it throws its baby at the tree and when it clambers off in a frightened huff after a sting or two, the parent then learns of the wisdom to shy away.
If the tree happens to be free of any threat as would be exhibited by the young one greedily munching away at the fruits, the parent then heeds the call with the offspring then receiving a thorough hiding from the parents.
Through that you increase life, turning a better you into a better other and a better universe, hence.
The best cure for selfishness is practising consideration instead of condemnation; which promotes acts of unconditional love. Focus on increasing your higher self and from whichever high ground you get to stand stretch your hand and lift up a brother or sister who has been lower.
Through that you increase life, turning a better you into a better other and a better universe, hence.
Thought for the week:
Greed has twins; each named ‘Give Me’! (Proverbs 30:15)
