www.templeofthought.org

Thinking more about that I see it is more like human naturally wants to help others. Using all his skills to do that brings much satisfaction.

Something like the feeling when you know you're doing the right thing by the right way. Feeling it is, as most of the time we can't logically prove it is such.

btw Yoga is cool IMHO if you don't take it too seriously. (Actually these guys want to live forever so they don't need to rebirth.)

I don't think it's in human nature to help others. People help others because they get something in return, whether it's gonna be recognition, money, a feeling of worthiness, etc. people are helping people because they are getting something back. That's the truth.

See, society got you thinking - you should do the right thing, we should help each other, we should be ethical and moral, it's a good thing. Yeah, good for who? Well, the society, those telling you to help others. Who is telling you you should help the poor - the poor. So, every time you think you are a truly altruistic person and you are doing the "right" thing and helping someone out, think of what you are getting in return. You will catch yourself being driven by that. As long as you think you are getting something in return, you are motivated to help. That something can be just the idea that you are a "good person" doing the right thing.

Vickalchev, let me disagree with you and support Avalon. It is in human nature to help others! What makes us human beings is compassion inherited in us. While studying English literature at the University I read parts of the Protestants' Theory of Economic Efficiency which recognises the good person in their economic efficiency which is the profit you can accumulate during your life. Later this idea was adopted by life insurance companies when trying to evaluate the price of human being's life. I think this theory and way of thinking is totally wrong. This is absolutely different form all that which is being taught by religion as let's say Christianity and Buddhism. You cannot estimate the value of such categories as good, help, compassion. I don't believe eiher that we can estimate the value of human being's life as it is priceless, people's lives are equally priceless. So my point is that, when we are speaking of such things as moral and ethics, we should not consider it in terms of economics and economic efficiency. You should not expect anything in return when you do something good or help others. For instance, you help an old lady to pass the street - will you ask her for a favour or to pay you after that? The only thing you will receive in return is appreciation. And that is just great by itself! I am more apt to follow the ideas of the European continental humanists who affirm dignity and worth of all people, appreciation of each human being, compassion and support of each other.

Hallo,

I can't really distinguish good from the reward so actually both positions are sides of the same coin. Simplistically doing something for yourself is making you feel good by using it. Making something for the others is good for you because even if you don't recognize that, it reflects to you somehow (imagine living between smiling vs angry people).
The same way one always need to balance between doing good to himself and to others, because being unfair always reflects back. As well helping yourself is important as mentioned above.

Another story is recognizing good and predicting what would be good. Unfortunately we have so weak understanding of what we are and how would we feel good, that so many bad things we do.

to feel good everyone has to travel and to meet new people...

menina wrote:to feel good everyone has to travel and to meet new people...

Absolutely