Monday, July 4, 2011

The Highest Purpose

When something is done for nothing it's done with the highest purpose in mind.

22 comments:

  1. thats good when one is an apprentice...thats just my opinion

    ReplyDelete
  2. As per my humble understanding, Lao Zi would have said something like this, "When something good is done but being perceived as if nothing has been done, it is done according to Tao".

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's true and it explains the time I spend writing and blogging.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, I love this one. Expect no return is a great philosophy. Thoughts like this give birth to thoughts that are genuine:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think having this in the forefront of your mind when blogging, is when you can really enjoy blogging. You can really tell when people are writing for themselves and just for the love of it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think it depends on what you mean by for nothing. If you mean for nothing in return then I totally agree. But I think the highest purpose is to make life better for those around you. This done in complete selflessness is the highest goal.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Doing something for the sheer joy of it is the best way to feed yourself, even if it's just a small crumb to others.

    ReplyDelete
  8. To devote the mind to one's work and not be fettered with expectations of returns...that's how I read this one. I agree with you here :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. There is a statement in the Talmud along the lines that burying a corpse is the highest act of charity because the corpse cannot say thank you. That is a kind of kindness that is done for nothing - not even thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like this aphorism a lot. It reminds me that I have achieved things I never even aspired to achieve at all. The best art work I have produced is not my commissioned work. The best pieces are all spontaneous pieces created when I was "in the flow".

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is almost tangible in its importance, Marty. I love it.

    ReplyDelete
  12. We do things for others not because of the rewards, because the reward of feeling better doing good comes naturally. Miss u, Marty!

    ReplyDelete
  13. It is very true. This is what our Religious book,Bhagwat Gita, says

    ReplyDelete
  14. Not sure the people living in most communist ruled countries would agree. But then if you put it on a spiritual level I do see how one can reach a high level of consciousness and pure love to practice altruism andvolontary service.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like the dual meaning: the zen of nothingness is everything and the giving with no expectation is its own reward.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I agree. When you have expectations about a particular result, I think that shines through. Doing something for the sheer love of it is the best way. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I agree with Timethief on this one. That is when I have done my best work.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is definitely true. It seems that it's very difficult to succeed creatively with anything unless it's being done (at some level) specifically and only for the sake of itself.

    I really like your blog. I wasn't sure where would be the best place to tell you (let me know if this isn't it), but I've made a post in my blog dedicated to you, because in the past I also used to regularly come up with aphorisms but I was never sure what to do with them. You've found the perfect way to share yours.

    Here's a link to the post: http://pipbeardstories.blogspot.com/2011/07/some-of-my-aphorisms.html

    ReplyDelete
  19. Grateful Marty for your continued flow "with the highest purpose in mind"

    ReplyDelete
  20. To do something without expectation of reward is the greatest freedom and the greatest creativity. Well said.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Our true self emerges when we do things without expecting anything... when the mind is not present to its full extent, then our highest self arises...Thanks for your aphorisms..they're great!

    ReplyDelete