The importance of altruism in teaching and personal well-being, and how it promotes kindness and happiness
By Muntashir Kifayat Hussain
Selflessness is a core component of any process, where a person dedicates his time, energy, and compassion to the people around him in order to put the needs of others ahead of his own.
The realisation of selflessness leads to enlightenment, affection, and stability of mind. The philosophy of selflessness should lead to altruism—the idea that one should act for the benefit of others, sometimes at a cost to oneself. These virtues strengthen social bonds, kindness, affection, and empathy.
A selfless person focuses on others’ well-being before his own. It fosters sensitivity towards the pain of others.
A teacher is the embodiment of this selflessness. Teachers prioritise their students. They work long hours for the benefit of their students. They are giving, giving, and giving of their knowledge and time, helping others to build a better future without expecting anything in return. These qualities of teachers are well documented, but a big question mark arises when the same parameters of selflessness are measured with respect to their colleagues and subordinates. It can often be seen that a teacher in a school is sometimes bruised by the venomous cuts of chaos related to health issues or domestic problems. Can the teacher share his agonies with his colleagues? The answer, in most cases, is a big no. This is because we don’t have selfless people around us in the majority of cases.
On one occasion, a teacher friend of mine started narrating his troubles inflicted on him by his fate. The teacher expected sympathy and consolation from others. His heart was crushed by laughter and jokes in return.
The other day, I suffered an anxiety attack and thought I would be alright once I reached my school, where I work. It was quite the opposite of what I thought. My problem worsened as one of my colleagues taunted me and said, “Go home, recover, and then return.” To some, it seems to be a simple sentence, but to those like me who suffer from unexplained depression, it takes weeks to recover. A selfless mindset encourages teachers to help each other, work together, and break down silos. A selfless teacher focuses on others and creates a selfless culture. Personal problems are put into perspective. This reduces stress and anxiety. Selfless behaviour reduces stress when we work amid selfless people; neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are released, which are associated with the feeling of happiness.
Allama Iqbal (RA) rightly says:
Darde Dil Kai Wastai Paida Kiya Insaan Ko,
Warna Itaat Kai Liye Kuch Kam Na Tha Karobyan.
Men have been created to help each other. God has infinite angels to offer prayers.
Selflessness fosters kindness. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) emphasised kindness, stating that “every act of kindness is charity” and that “Allah is kind, and He loves kindness in all matters.” He also says, “Whoever has the quality of kindness has been given his share of goodness. Whoever is deprived of the quality of kindness has been deprived of his share of goodness.” The Prophet said he could not help someone who had kindness removed from their heart by Allah.
One should never belittle the agony and anxiety faced by others. Kahlil Gibran has beautifully explained this in Tears and Laughter, and I quote:
Upon the bank of the Nile and even tide, a hyena met a crocodile, and they stopped and greeted one another.
The hyena spoke and said, “How’s the day with you, sir?” And the crocodile answered, saying, “It goes badly with me. Sometimes in my pain and sorrow, I weep, and then the creatures always say they are but crocodile tears. And this wounds beyond all telling.”
Then the hyena said, “You speak of your pain and sorrow, but think of me also, for a moment. I gaze at the beauty of the world, its wonders and miracles, and out of sheer joy, I laugh even as the day laughs. And then the people of the jungle say, ‘It is but the laughter of the hyena.'”
Life is uncertain – sometimes cruel, sometimes kind – but always too short for envy or anger. Selfless colleagues infuse life into a dead system. Sincerity is like a seed planted in the ground; it will manifest. In every human being is that limitless reservoir of selflessness, which can overcome any problem in the world. It fosters true and lasting happiness. A child is selfless by nature and acts as a shrapnel of fragrance. Do good to others and be caring in nature to make this world a beautiful place to live in.
The writer is a teacher at BHS Narabal
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