Tao Thay Shang Men - English

From : Li Xuan Ning

Question:
Very often I hear people says that good deed (Gong De) should be done without expecting someting in return , without a thought that we are actually doing it. But in life it is very hard to do it exactly like that. Does it mean that if we are not able to do it as defined , we do not need to do good deed ?

Answer:
Well, it is right that all actions that give benefits to others, ease their burdens and difficulties, or any actions that could help people are what we call Gong De (good deed). However, in real life there are many people who do “kindness” with other purposes behind; e.g.: fame, own benefit, etc. If kindness or help are done this way, that is not Gong De.

Nonetheless, when you are about to do “good deed”, and at the same time your mind are thinking that you “want” to do good deeds or “are” doing good deeds. That is normal. We actually need time to make it into our habits so that if there is “opportunity” to do “good deed”, it would flow automatically. And there would not be a single thought that “we are doing good deeds”.

That is the state which we want to achieve. However, in achieving that level, we need time and process. So the key is to keep doing good deeds, although your minds still have the “want” or still expecting something in return. One day changes will take place slowly, even without you notice. And you would be able to do it “naturally”.