Selflessness vs. Selfishness

From "I" sense to I sense From a Parisamvada by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra.

- Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra

Let us think a little about what is called altruism, i.e. selflessness. This is a quality that is very much missing. We are more for ourselves. We keep on collecting, gathering, and are reluctant to part. The result is that this attitude of holding on really hurts us because we get limited. The things that are around us appear as the only things. There are many more things that we are not able to relate to. It is a well-known fact that creativity diminishes when selfishness increases.

A prominent professor from Harvard worked practically his whole life trying to establish this fact through scientific studies. Even in a practical way, altruism is available to the person who is able to come out of that limitation. One feels free and relaxed and is able to contribute more. When we restrict ourselves, we are not able to open up, we are not able to function at our best.