Motive or Results?

[Fireside_Hindu]

Namaste all,

I have a philosophical question that's been bouncing around in my head lately. I want to know others' views on this as it pertains to Hinduism. I will start with an example,

A greedy, corrupt politician decides to raise funds to build a new hospital for a state that is important for his campaign. He succeeds and many thousands reap the benefits of this new hospital. These people may have otherwise died or suffered greatly without it. However, the politician couldn't give a hoot about those people, their families or whether or not they live or die. He did it for the good press - to seem good, to get him the votes.

So my question is, in terms of accumulating good or bad karma, what matters: Motive or Results?

I have my own thoughts on this, but I wanted to hear from others to gain fresh perspective.

Thank you all in advance for your replies!

Shanti

 

[Vinayaka]

A greedy, corrupt politician

That's the kicker for me. There is no bad of good karma, but, this very fact, regardless of outcome, will earn him some karmic demerits. Lots of coincidental 'good' stuff may happen because of adharmic actions of an individual. That's why temples and some charities will turn away 'bad money'. So, for me personally, It's in the intent. Good question, though.

 

[Onkara]

Hi Fireside Hindu
I would say it is about "motive" as we cannot control the results. So in your example, the motive of the politician to bring himself good press can be seen as distinct from the actual result of brining a better life for others. They can appear to be linked of course: to the point where we start to link selfishness with success.

 

[Jainarayan]

Well, from the perspective of the Bhagavad Gita chapter 17:

18. The austerity that is performed with much show and ostentation, and having in view recognition, praise and adoration as a pious man by others, is said to be of the nature of Rajas. It is unstable and leads to no permanent good.

19. The austerity performed through the practice of self-torture under the influence of perverse theories or done for the destruction of another, is spoken of as Tamasa by nature.

20. That gift which is made out of a sheer sense of duty, without expectation of any kind of return, at the proper time and place, to a fit recipient, is said to be of the nature of Sattva.

21. The gift which is given in consideration of some gift in return, or with some fruit to be reaped in future, or in a grudging mood - that is considered to be of the nature of Rajas.

 

[Maya3]

The most auspicious is to do work with no goal in mind at all for oneself. Do it for the work alone. Selfless service.

Maya

 

[Ekanta]

21. The gift which is given in consideration of some gift in return, or with some fruit to be reaped in future, or in a grudging mood - that is considered to be of the nature of Rajas.

I'd go with this. Its a good karma as any other, but its not spiritual in nature (sattvic), hence it doesnt thread the sattvic path which in the end leads to immortality. Rather the result will be some pleasure which will fade away.
Compare to people worshipping gods to go to heaven... they also do it out of greed but they do get the benefit.
"A greedy, corrupt politician", ok, but it doesnt matter if he/she is greedy/corrupt, the action is sill good. The focus is this particular action, and the motive is rajastic as I see it.

Edited: the "A greedy, corrupt politician" might of course also have stock pile of bad karma from previous deeds...

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Thank you to everyone for your responses!

This question was posed in a philosophy class back when I was in highschool and I found myself among the minority who thought that motive mattered more than results. I wasn't Hindu then, but there was something about results mattering more that bothered me.

Those who thought results were all that mattered kept saying things like, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'' Or something similar.

Shanti

 

[Jainarayan]

Those who thought results were all that mattered kept saying things like, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'' Or something similar.

Shanti

I still say it. The ends don't always justify the means or motivation, imo.