Goodness for Goodness's sake

Teacher: "What is goodness in people?"

Student 1: "When someone gives money to someone else in need, or helps them in times of trouble, we call their actions 'good deed'. It is supposed to reflect 'goodness' in the person."


Teacher: "But is it really always so?"

Student 2:"I reckon it should be. Isn't it always so, Teacher?"

Teacher: "Ok! Lets take an example and study it. Can you tell me of an actual 'good deed' as you describe it and let's see if it indeed reflects goodness in the person who did it. Can any of you tell me of a well known recent good deed in the news?"

Student 2: "I saw this interview in TV with a stranger who helped a local person. He was a tradesman who supports a family with two children going to school and an old parent who is ill. This stranger who needed some work done, gave him a job to do and paid him well above the market rate. That way he was able to afford some medicines for his old parent. The family thanked this stranger."

Teacher: "It seems like he did a good deed. What else did you see? Did the stranger say why he helped this man's family?"

Student 2: "Yes, He was very humble. He did not claim any credit for his actions.  He said it was expected of him by his faith and his religion that asks its followers to help others. He also said that where he came from, people were mostly well off and they helped those less fortunate. That is how they lived apparently."

Teacher: "I see! How did it make you feel to hear him say that?"

Student 2: "I wished we were like that too. I wished we were all mostly well off so that we could help the less fortunate. I wished we did not have to have someone come from far away, to help the poorer among us."

Teacher: "Did he talk a lot about his faith and the place he came from?"

Student 2: "Why, yes! He did. He told us many words from his language and his faith. He described life in his hometown well. Made me want to go and see that place. I felt bad that we were not like that man and his people."

Student 1: "Now was that man good or not? Was is it not Goodness in him?"

Teacher: "Well, I think he did do a deed that was good as it helped the tradesman and his family. As for Goodness, it does not appear to be the only reason behind this man's actions. In fact, that may not be a reason at all! "

Students 1 and 2, with surprised expressions: "What?!! Could you explain, Teacher?"

Teacher, calmly: "Sure!"

Teacher continues: "Why should one be good or kind to others? There could be good and not so good reasons. The best and only good reason to be 'Good' is for its own sake - for Goodness's sake. Any other reason is less than best or even bad."

Students 1: "How can one tell the difference between good reasons and bad reasons for being good?"

Teacher: "Good question! That is the key! How can we tell? Let us look at it carefully.
If we are good just for the sake of being good and the feeling it gives us, the only reward, it is the best form of giving. While recognition and appreciation for that might come about by someone accidentally coming to know about it, that will not be sought. It will not be the reason why we want to be good or help others. A person who does such good deeds, if they are done in private, will not feel the need to talk about it or publicise it. They will not feel a need to pass on the credit to their brand of religion or faith or their society or culture. Goodness or kindness is an individual act and if there is no other feeling or motive than satisfaction at being good, there will be no effort made to seek anything else. 
While the tradesman should be just as grateful to this man as to anyone who did this act out of only goodness, ALL of us should watch carefully to see if the samaritan expects something in return that is not good."

Student 2: "So, what should we understand from this story? Should we not help others like this man did? Should we not try to help our own people in need? Should we not try to become like them?"

Teacher, smiling: "Good questions, but one at a time please! 

Yes, we should help each other like this man did. 

We should also work to become more self-reliant and be in a position to help our own people more.That is how we should channel our feelings - those of feeling bad about ourselves' when you hear such stories.

However, we should be careful not to turn against each other because of these feelings. 

To resent ourselves and our roots is the negative way and will lead us to even more misery.

Just transplanting ourselves somewhere 'better' is not the answer. I hope we do not only try to escape our home and our responsibilities to improve ourselves. 

 If we go somewhere, let us take something valuable to contribute and give them, in return for their hospitality and acceptance of us! Let them hear of a story of how someone from here helped them, but in a slightly different way. 

Remember, there are still people in that man's hometown who could legitimately use help from a stranger from here. It will always be so. We humans can always learn and accept help from others.

Let us be good for only Goodness's sake, nothing else. 

Let us not try to be falsely humble and credit our religion or social system for our acts. Let us be good not because our brand of religion says so - there is nothing unique about it. ALL religions, faiths and social systems have the same common set of ideals. They all suggest that is the best way to live - by helping others. 

Let it be our conscious, individual choice and let us not seek any other rewards other than the quiet self-satisfaction of being good. That way, we WILL make our religion, our society and our culture truly proud, without having to crow about it!"



Copyright  (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2015


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