Self-interest and altruism are not antagonistic. If there is no self-interest, there can be no altruism, and if there is no altruism, there cannot be self-interest. The existence of such opposing views is common among ordinary people.
One reason for its existence is that this term comes from Buddhism in ancient India. This means that these four sentences are the crystallization of the wisdom of ancient Indians. It is a methodology deep in the thinking of ancient Indians. Obtained through gradual evolution, dialectics, conversation, and empirical evidence. If you want to fully understand and quote this sentence, you must really dig deep into the academic background and academic footing of this vocabulary. To put it simply, this is other people’s stuff, and the Chinese use their own people’s ideas to apply other people’s stuff casually. This is not advisable. So, I often say, Chinese. Buddhism is a process of being secularized, gradually becoming theoretical and oral. But they forget that Buddhism comes from the practitioners' realization of liberation.
So what is the relationship between self-interest and altruism? I won’t deduce it from deep-level teachings.
To give a brief overview, the highest teaching of Buddhism is Nirvana. What is Nirvana? It means returning to silence, returning to nothingness, and returning to the reality of the universe. Like the wind dispersing, the fire is extinguished. A truth found in silence. That is the ideological realm of Zen Buddhism in China. Between heaven and earth, silence is everywhere, and truth is integrated into all things, waiting for you to achieve transcendence and enlightenment at this moment. So if you want to ask, what is the body? Then my answer is three words, combination. You have to ask what causes everyone’s thinking and will? It is also very simple, with six entrances to the complex.
So, what is self-interest and altruism? Seeing through one’s body. There is no difference between yourself and others. There is no intrinsic difference. However, when practicing morality, you must guard your heart. The first thing to guard your heart is to understand where your heart is and what is the relationship between your heart and heaven and earth? Why did he land in my body? What does my body have to do with this world? What is the relationship between my body and mind and everything in the world and even the universe? Perhaps it is a kind of transparency that comes from the ultimate fundamental, but our ability to observe and predict the universe is hindered by our different obstacles. So we have different visions, patterns, ideological limitations, and understandings. Our view of space and time makes no sense here, just like the infinite distortion of space and time in a black hole. In this way, the concept of personal experience came out. In today's terms, it is the combination of a person's world view, values, outlook on life, spiritual phenomena, and material phenomena. To put it simply, there is no inner difference, but the inner state must be distinguished.
Zen Buddhism emphasizes harmony, and self-interest and altruism also emphasize harmony. Harmony means breaking one’s body view.
Therefore, altruism is essentially a selfless worldview. Whether it is self-interest or altruism, the fundamental purpose is to better serve the public.
Next, I will simply use a few paragraphs to introduce the theme, the selfless worldview.
Altruism is the projection of energy based on one’s own right knowledge and views. It’s not difficult, it’s just that some people are big and some are small. That's all.
Altruism comes from authenticity. What is worth questioning is not how I am altruistic, but how far my nature is from being altruistic
A correct self-energy field will achieve an altruistic effect. This kind of altruism and other external altruism are essentially altruistic, they are the same but in different forms. This is what I mean when I say that altruism is a difference in worldview.
It is altruistic to be able to save people, and it is altruistic to be able to bring her out of her mood with a smile. Same thing. Start from the heart and don’t stick to formalities. Tell yourself every day that I will move the whole world with my big actions and even small expressions. No matter how big or small, I will do what I want. I think it is the sincerity of my dedication. Then I can radiate altruistic energy from my heart through my whole body.
A selfless worldview. It is the harmonious integration of self-interest and altruism. I improve myself through self-interest, and while improving myself, I am more powerful than before to benefit others. This cycle goes on and on, constantly improving oneself to a higher level of altruism. That is loving kindness. So why must self-interest and altruism be harmonious? Why does altruism become a kind of personality spirit? Because it comes from the will of nature. If not voluntarily. Your altruism is just a formality. It's just that this form is good form. It cannot be called a good spirit. When you are self-interested, your spiritual level will not rise to a higher level. You will feel dissatisfied with this form of altruism. Why should I pay? See, that's the difference. That’s why I emphasize the altruistic worldview. Genuine altruism and a person's worldview are fundamentally inseparable. Such an unwilling worldview, hypocrisy, cloaked in disguise, and stripped of altruistic forms, what is its own worldview and its own spirit if it is not an abominable and non-virtuous nature? The world does not force you to be altruistic, but whether your own spirituality leads you to higher places.