Tag: Altruism

BuddhismPhilosophy

On Selfish and Selfless Readings of Buddhist Scripture

In Indian religions and philosophy, mokαΉ£a – the escape from the cycle of death and rebirth (saαΉƒsāra) and, thereby, the liberation from suffering (dukkha) – is (typically) the ultimate goal of (one’s/my/your) life. Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other schools of thought disagree about various details – Buddhists prefer the term nirvāṇa instead of mokαΉ£a, for example – but all accept a version of the doctrine that right (non-) action leads to good karma, which leads to better rebirth, and ultimately to mokαΉ£a. That ultimate goal is a selfish goal, however – the ultimate aim of my right (non-) action (regardless...