People are Extremely Selfish

[SQAAD]

Every day I see more clearly that Leo’s ideas about selfishness, ego, and survival are accurate. It’s hard for me to accept this, because I’m not like most people, and I tend to assume others think and act like I do.

But I’ve realized that someone who is drawn to Leo’s teachings already works on a different level than the average person. This isn’t about being morally better — it’s just an observation.

How many people in real life are anything like Eckhart Tolle or Leo? Probably none. I know I haven’t met anyone like that.

Living on my own for the past 13–14 months, in very harsh conditions, I’ve seen how petty, selfish, scared, and confused people can be.

Here are the things I’ve confirmed for myself about the common, low-consciousness human:

They act almost mechanically in most areas of life, except in the few things they’ve mastered.

They come up with excuses to avoid doing the right thing, even when the right thing is obvious from looking at the whole situation.

They are exremely selfish and focused only on what brings them pleasure or avoids pain.

They only pay attention to two things: what benefits them and what threatens their comfort.

They are fear-driven and not very loving. They always need a reason to care about someone. If there is no reason, they don’t bother.

 

 

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by SQAAD

[Leo Gura]

Just don't overlook that you're also that way.

I am too.

Edited 6 hours ago by Leo Gura

[SQAAD]

@Leo Gura

16 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

Just don't overlook that you're also that way.

I am too.

Yes. It's true..

But there are significant differences.. I just don't understand certain despicable behaviors. And i get resentful at certain people.

 

 

[TheBG]

 

2 minutes ago, SQAAD said:

@Leo Gura

Yes. It's true..

But there are significant differences.. I just don't understand certain despicable behaviors. And i get resentful at certain people.

 

 

There is an interview online for just about every kind of person you may resent. If you want to understand certain things, it can be done, but only if you are willing.

Have an open, unjudgmental conversation with the people you have access to who do the things you mention, as long as it's safe to do so. Talk to them in a way that lets them feel heard, and you will get to hear more about how they work without them lashing out. 

[Leo Gura]

14 minutes ago, SQAAD said:

And i get resentful at certain people.

And that is selfishness.

[SQAAD]

@Leo Gura

11 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

And that is selfishness.

Why is it selfishness?

[SQAAD]

@TheBG

21 minutes ago, TheBG said:

 

There is an interview online for just about every kind of person you may resent. If you want to understand certain things, it can be done, but only if you are willing.

Have an open, unjudgmental conversation with the people you have access to who do the things you mention, as long as it's safe to do so. Talk to them in a way that lets them feel heard, and you will get to hear more about how they work without them lashing out. 

Interesting. 

[Leo Gura]

4 minutes ago, SQAAD said:

@Leo Gura

Why is it selfishness?

All negative emotional reactions are selfishness.

Why else would you have them?

[Keef]

@Leo Gura If i feel annoyed at someone is that selfishness?

[Leo Gura]

Just now, Keef said:

@Leo Gura If i feel annoyed at someone is that selfishness?

Of course.

Contemplate why you feel anything negative ever. What is the purpose?

[Keef]

@Leo Gura for example today at the gym there was a guy who smelled really bad and i got really annoyed

[bazera]

What's the goal here? I see the value in understanding my selfishness, accepting it more and more, and becoming more conscious of the gross and subtle ways that I behave selfishly, but I'm not sure how to transcend that.

It comes down to transcending survival, but is that really possible?

I guess the goal is to be more acutely aware of ones selfishness, and the consequences it has on life in general, and on other people, and collateral damage. 

@Leo Gura What do you think? Do you try to transcend selfishness altogether? Is that something you see as even possible while physically alive?

[Leo Gura]

1 minute ago, bazera said:

Do you try to transcend selfishness altogether?

No. You try to make it conscious.

[Something Funny]

@Leo Guraand positive emotions are not selfishness because they occur naturally (or at least can sometimes), not because the ego is upset at something?

[Leo Gura]

10 minutes ago, Something Funny said:

and positive emotions are not selfishness

They mostly are.

Mostly.

Edited 4 hours ago by Leo Gura

[bazera]

@Leo Gura How would you define selfishness? In your experience, how do you distinguish what's selfish and what's not in your actions / behaviours / emotions / etc?

[Mellowmarsh]

Where there’s a SELF there’s ishness. 

The state of being the look alike mirror image of the imageless. 

 

[Leo Gura]

10 minutes ago, bazera said:

@Leo Gura How would you define selfishness? In your experience, how do you distinguish what's selfish and what's not in your actions / behaviours / emotions / etc?

Contemplate that for yourself.

That will be more valuable to you than me telling you.

[AerisVahnEphelia]

we are completely "determined", which means everyone selfishness is limited by what God wants anyway.

so contemplating selfishness might happen or not, but it doesn't matter, whatever you'll find will does not change a thing at the absolute level.

and at the relative one, your findings won't change a thing either.

Of course the dreamers want to keep saying nooo I've control, and maybe later I'll write a manifesto on self determination.

Edited 4 hours ago by AerisVahnEphelia

[bazera]

@Leo Gura

Quote

Contemplate that for yourself.

That will be more valuable to you than me telling you.

Yeah I've been pondering that for some time, but I have one difficulty. I haven't experienced non-egoic, non-selfish pure consciousness yet, I just have my life experience so far as a reference, and I don't have much contrast between selfish and non-selfish perception. Everything is basically selfish from my POV, more or less. 

I even see my own agenda when I do "non-selfish" activity like helping others for example. 

I guess non-selfish would be something that I do that's not in relation to "me" and myself. But all I know is "me", so yeah, it's a tricky one.

I'll keep pondering.