For most of us, of course, motivation is rarely a pure thing. But from a Zen perspective, there is a difference between purity and clarity. If one has purity, then everything is simple- like white paper.
But most of us have mixed, complex motives when we set out to do something.
If, at the root of our various complex motives, there is a sense of clear direction about the essential reason we are pursuing something, then our direction and motive are clear, even if not simple. That is an important point in Zen practice: our sense of direction should always be clear.
Even if the motive is not always completely pure and simple, the direction should be determined by the question, Why do I do this?
-Zen Master Wu Kwang “Elegant Failure”