Daily Meditation: Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Disinterestedness - a higher degree of interest

Disinterestedness is not the most widespread of virtues where humans are concerned. Even when they give something away or give generous speeches, there is nearly always a hidden motive. Of course, no gesture, feeling or thought can truly be absolutely disinterested. Even love of God is motivated by self-interest. Those who love God know they will gain light, freedom and eternal life, so their love contains an element of self-interest. But in changing its objective, this interest has moved to another level, for light, freedom and eternal life are divine acquisitions. So this is the direction we must go in: we must conquer the lower interest, which tends only to satisfy the instincts and desires, and find a higher interest: the need to grow, to become nobler, more godlike. But this too has an element of self-interest – whatever we do, we act in our own interest.