Even religious practices can have mixed motivation as is clear in many of the sayings of Jesus that address the human tendency to look for congratulations for our good behavior and generous religious observances such as fasting or giving alms. Obviously these are good deeds and we shouldn't stop doing them, but we shouldn't do them for the motive of obtaining approval and esteem.

Thomas Keating in Divine Therapy & Addiction

 

To Practice This Thought:
Choose an act of kindness today that you can do invisibly, without receiving credit. Pick up and throw away litter without telling anyone, for instance, or send a gift certificate anonymously to someone you know who would not suspect that you were the source of this gift.

 

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