Altruism

Altruism is generally thought to be the belief in or practice of selfless concern for the well-being of others. Psychologists call an altruistic act prosocial behavior: behavior that benefits another regardless of the underlying motive, or the real or perceived benefits for the giver. All altruistic acts are prosocial, though all prosocial acts are not necessarily altruistic.

From our perspective, altruism is not only acts of kindness that are free of any sense of personal advantage, but altruism must also be free from any attachment or consideration of outcome. Understanding pure altruism is not just a mission for a Bodhisattva, but a practice of serving others whenever and wherever there is a possibility to serve. Service to other sentient beings with the simple motivation to liberate all from suffering is true altruism. Becoming free from suffering oneself with no expectations of what might be accomplished or attained for one’s own benefit, is also true altruism. True altruism with a sense of commitment and some sense of responsibility will generate bodhicitta. Bodhi means "awakening" or "enlightenment". Citta from the Sanskrit root cit, means "that which is conscious" (i.e., mind or consciousness). Bodhicitta may therefore be translated as "awakening consciousness" or "mind of enlightenment". At the heart of all true altruism is the promotion of the welfare of all sentient beings and Bodhicitta is the attribute most aligned with the nature of true altruism.

Ultimate altruism brings wisdom to all altruistic acts. However, wisdom alone is not a means of predicting and therefore protecting all outcomes. The wisdom we refer to is actually a deep understanding of all suffering with great compassion and insight into the nature of suffering. This wisdom cultivates loving kindness and illuminates the great capacity to be of service to others.

Responsibility and commitment to the great compassion arise in the midst of deeply understanding the nature of suffering. This underwrites an altruistic act. With responsibility and commitment, you are released from attachment to outcomes associated with your selfless acts. True altruism has no need for evaluation. It doesn’t matter what you do, but matters more how purely you do it. Allowing yourself to focus on boddhicitta, all your acts become altruistic. There need not be a strategy or even a clear intention declared. In truth, a strategy or intention to be altruistic can get in the way.

So the practice simply is the practice of awakened consciousness, One Life Awareness, or the realization of bodhicitta. Without a genuine realization of bodhicitta, even a basic intellectual understanding of Bodhicitta can be a foundation for altruism. Appreciate the preciousness of your human existence and the existence of all sentient life. Cultivate true altruism. Keep it all very simple. Be of service, be who you are, and love what is.