A favorite quote of mine is Sheldon Kopp's "I only get to keep that which I am prepared to give up. In Western terms, Virtue is its own reward. There is no hope of redemption in doing Good in order to be saved. Only by doing Good for its own sake, without seeking reward, can we attain Salvation." Vivekananda is right that we get caught by expectation. The challenge is to give or do because that is what I want to give or do, not to get something in return, which, of course, is manipulation. Vivekananda is incorrect in suggesting that every person who is unselfish gets cheated, gets hurt. It could happen, of course -- there's never a guarantee of outcome. But the outcome is not the thing to focus on -- if the giving is pure, is without expectation, the satisfaction/joy is in the giving -- anything more is bonus.
On Feb 24, 2012 David Doane wrote :