01/18/2023, Sozan Michael McCord, dharma talk at City Center. Living life like we have infinite social capital, like a generous benefactor to all those around us, allows a great freedom of spirit. When we realize that promoting and worrying about the self is a small minded path that leads to suffering, we start to see our interconnectedness - that none of us win until we all win. The precept of "not praising self at the expense of others", goes to the heart of the bodhisattva vow - to be invested in the lives of others and taking great care with how we speak, act and promote ourselves and others. And ultimately, the life choices that it leads us to make. A reputation is a result, not a goal, in life. The goal is to live for the benefit of all beings and through the honesty of that lens, learning how to live a fearless life with generosity of spirit for others.