Quote Originally Posted by jackforest
To achieve selflessness is just about as impossible as living in this world under your own terms. Society has us fucking hogtied to obey a certain code of social conduct. As for selfessness, imagine the last selfless deed you have done. I know I can't. I consider myself to be a pretty giving person but, even if its a good feeling derived from a good deed, your benifiting.

thanks for the reply, I wasn't sure if anyone would
This is true. Living in the world on your own terms is still a kind of lie in itself, and really does no good for anything. And yes, selflessness is something reached after years and years of practice. It is hard not to feed the ego with all sorts of things that are appealing to you. You are right, it is practically impossible unless you want to make the sacrafice. I wasn't sure if you meant living in the world under your own terms in a sense of, doing what you want. Or just kind of creating a mindset that will get you through life with little confusion and mental pain.

After reading two books on busshism and zen, and also the teachings of budda, Its hard to turn away from. I now realize im kind of stuck in a world of illusion and the only way to break free would be to sacrafice everything I know, and have. and then continue a practice of zazen for 20 or 30 years

You may have benefited from the deed afterwards, but during it...the deed stood alone.