The Myth of Selfish vs. Selfless

Discovering the middle path between martyrdom and ego-centrism.

Are you feeling whiplashed by the cultural messages around you? On one side, there's endless talk about self-care, wellness, and "putting yourself first" - which can feel indulgent when the world seems to be falling apart. On the other side, there's intense pressure to show up, take action, and help "save the world" from climate change, social injustice, and political upheaval. Do you find yourself challenged to undertake meaningful self-care practices and/or exhausting yourself trying to fix everything until you have nothing left to give?

There's a third way that transcends this false choice entirely. We can learn to recognize that genuine self-care and authentic care for others arise from the same source - and that neither is sustainable without the other.
From the Buddhist perspective, the very notion of a separate "self" to care for is part of the illusion that creates suffering. Yet this doesn't mean becoming a doormat or losing our boundaries. Instead, we can discover what it looks like to care wisely - neither falling into martyr patterns nor narcissistic self-absorption.

Integral Theory helps us understand how this apparent paradox resolves at higher levels of development, where the artificial divide between "me" and "you" begins to dissolve into a more mature understanding of interconnectedness.

Join our group of seekers who are exploring how to marry timeless wisdom with the knowledge and insights of the 21st century. We'll examine this ancient dilemma through both traditional Buddhadharma and contemporary Integral perspectives. Along with the talk, we will also incorporate a short meditation practice and some discussion time.

Teacher/Facilitator This session will be led by Christopher Lawley, who has been practicing and training in the universalist Namgyal lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism for close to 2 decades. Christopher is also steeped in Integral Theory and uses it to inform how he works with individuals and groups.

Dāna - Pay from the Heart
Everyone is welcome to participate regardless of financial circumstances. Please join us and offer whatever your situation allows. There will be a bowl at the door.
Learn more about dāna (the Pali word for generosity) here.