STUDENT:

Speaking from a relative level, which is where all of us are, what is compassionate behavior and what is not? If someone performs an action of charity or goodness, but has ulterior motives ─ not harmful but selfish ─ and another person performs a similar action out of altruism, is the compassion different and is different merit accrued? From the point of view of the recipient of the action, it is the same, but in one case the person gets a big tax exemption and his name in the press, and the other person does so anonymously and with no strings attached. Is there a difference?

SHIH-FU:

If someone does something good, then there is merit involved, and the person is being, to a greater or lesser degree, compassionate. The question is, how compassionate is the person really? It depends on what the motive or intention is behind the action. If a person is acting altruistically, then that is more compassionate than a person who is merely looking for a tax break. But they both receive merit because they both performed virtuous deeds. The general rule is, the more selfish the mind, the less the compassion, and therefore, the less the merit accrued.

STUDENT:

But everything we think, say and do stems from selfish mind. It's impossible for ordinary people to do things devoid of a self. I suppose I could do something good automatically, without thinking about the consequences of my actions, but later, in hindsight, I might give myself a pat on the back. Does that change the merit of my action?