These are good questions and points Mark. My response is non-attachment. Also the heart of Jesus and Buddha’s teaching is non-attachment. It is just this simple and it allows one to fall into the true self where there is no need to accomplish anything.
Buddha has 3 gems: buddha, dhamma, and sangha. Sangha is ignored nowadays or not considered as important as the other 2. Gandhi and others have indicated that service is a path, so it is possible to 'self-clean by involving yourself in others.'
On May 20, 2014 Mark C. Williams wrote :
What would the Buddha say? The four noble truths, the eight fold path, the 5 or 8 precepts, all of these are for a single person to understand and practice. You can't self-clean by involving yourself in others. Many of the reflections here from others just get me more confused. It's rather simple, though like AA, it's hard to practice: stay in your business. Yes, it's simple and what? Do you really know more than the Buddha or Jesus? Do you have a better way?