Theosophical Correspondence.

Translation from German by Robert Hutwohl^[1]

Is it advisable to do good for selfish reasons?

          Question: — Is it advisable to do good with a selfish intention?

          Answer: — When it is taught that one should not do good with a selfish intention, this is not to be understood as saying that one should not do good at all for fear that a selfish intention may be behind it. If one does good, even if not entirely unselfishly, it will become a habit for him to do good, and this will help him to overcome his selfishness.

Is it true that Buddhism rejects prayer?

          Question: — Is it true that Buddhism rejects prayer?

          Answer: — Whether this is true or false depends on what one means by “prayer.” If one thinks that prayer consists in begging or whining to some unknown, external god or a being created in one’s imagination for favors, then such prayer and begging is a useless waste of energy, which arises from superstition. This includes certain church prayers which have the purpose of drawing God’s attention to all the wishes which one asks him to fulfill, and which often comprise a whole list. But if one means “giving” instead of “taking” by “prayer,” that is, a surrender to the divine, in other words: a contemplation of the sanctuary within the heart, which is at the same time the highest elevation of the soul, then this prayer is the exercise of the highest power that man possesses and through the possession of which he is distinguished from animals. Taken in this sense, prayer without ceasing is recommended by Gautama Buddha and all wise men.

Note

^[1] Hartmann, F. (1907). “Theosophical Correspondence. Is it advisable to do good for selfish reasons? Is it true that Buddhism rejects prayer? Hutwohl, R., (trans.), Theosophischer Wegweiser 8, no, 7 (April), 221-223 [Translation from German by Robert Hutwohl, ©2025]