i want some quality responses to this question

[Jason]

heres my question:

when you do something good, but its partially out of either: fear for bad karma, or desire for good karma- did you still do a good thing?

allow me to explain further:

lets use a cliche example of walking an old lady across the street

lets assume you did this good deed just to increase your good karma- maybe in hopes of getting that promotion you want.
or to decrease your bad karma- maybe you did it cus your mom is sick and you wanna do some good so hopefully it comes back round for you and she gets better
did you still do a good deed? either way the old bird gets across the street regardless of your ulterior motives. but are you still doing GOOD?

i wonder about this often

i try to do good things just because they are the right and good thing to do. but i think just like anyone else sometimes i do good things because i feel like they will haunt me if i dont do them

does anyone else ever wonder about this?

what are your thoughts?

are you really doing good if youre expecting a cut of the good in return? or does it have to be purely out of good heart to truly be a good deed?

[NOBLE]

I think everything that can be considered good can also be perceived as the opposite if we look at it from a different angle. For example, giving money to homeless person can be considered a kind act, but some people will think a lot of the times you are actually making things worse for that able-bodied homeless person who otherwise can get a job and are being an enabler in supporting their unproductive lifestyle (i.e funding their crack addiction etc.). Nothing is absolutely good or evil...things are only 'relatively' good and evil...relative primarily to which perspective we choose to take on the matter.
With that being said, I understand your question to be one about motive and intention. As in..can we truly do good deeds when our motives are personal (gaining good karma, luck etc)? We can judge people doing things for personal benefit, but in my view, the same thing applies. Some of the most altruistic acts can also be viewed as the most selfish, and there is nothing that's absolutely selfish or altruistic.

I don't really believe in karma. Say, if i was helping the old lady across the street, i would do it straight from the heart, since i don't expect any good thing to happen to me in return.

[Jason]

yeah i see what you mean
i always feel selfish and guilty when i do something good and feel like im doing partially for myself
but i guess its better than not doing it at all

[Obey]

I do things from gut. Don't believe in karma really, if I feel like it's something that should be done, I'll do it. Not because I feel it's good, the rush of helping people is nice too.

[Jason]

does it not occur to you sometimes that youre doing it partially for yourself?
or is that just something i think about?

[NOBLE]

I honestly don't think there is such a thing as a totally selfless act. The more people think they are doing things purely for others, the more self-righteous they are. Even the adage "do unto others as you would like others to do unto you" isn't without a degree of self consideration.
As individuals, we are our own first reference to reality. Our kindness to others stem from our own self consideration. We think things like "if I was that poor old lady, I would probably want someone to help me across the street. let me just help her out." If someone says there absolutely no type of self consideration, they're lying to themselves. Our benevolence towards others stem from our benevolence toward ourselves. You can't truly love someone without loving yourself. Neither can you be truly "good" toward someone else without at least being "good" toward your own principles.

Originally Posted by Jason

does it not occur to you sometimes that youre doing it partially for yourself?
or is that just something i think about?

Yah, I understand what you mean. I helped my teacher get his room situated, thinking he would give me some bonus points in the class lol. I felt a little guilty because i helped him mainly for myself, not for good sakes, but i keep in mind that i didn't have to help him at all.

[ILLoKWENT]

Doing a good deed is purely based on a persons personal perception..of what constitutes 'good'.. i enjoy helping others which makes me happy. So its self serving..so the deed is considered good..to me.people do things in order to fulfill any number of things needs or wants..whether it be emotional monetary or religious..but deeds are always done for some sort of selfish gain..

Originally Posted by ILLoKWENT

Doing a good deed is purely based on a persons personal perception..of what constitutes 'good'.. i enjoy helping others which makes me happy. So its self serving..so the deed is considered good..to me.

Yah, whats considered a good deed in someone's perspective might be common courtesy for another.