The World and Us: Self, Other, and No-self
Sundays, September 7, 14, 21, October 5
10am – 12pm MDT
Online
A note from Henry
Who are you, really?
In this course, we’ll explore the nature of the self and the liberating concept of “non-dual” awareness. But unlike what you may have heard, the goal isn’t to “get rid” of the self. Instead, we’ll learn to welcome it with compassion, because paradoxically, that’s how you see through it.
What if the “self” isn’t something to get rid of, but something to welcome with kindness and understanding? In this course, we’ll raise profound questions about the nature of consciousness, self, and non-dual experience. Rather than trying to “erase” the self, we’ll learn to see it as another element of experience.
The unexamined sense of self
Day to day, we perceive ourselves to be separate from the world around us. There’s a ‘me’ in here, and another, separate world ‘out there’. This ‘me’ is the center, the filter, and the owner of all experience.
And this sense of self is the ultimate source of much of our anxieties. Feelings of regret, of shame, of inadequacy – they can all stem from an unexamined sense of self.
Seeing through the self is fundamentally freeing
But there’s another perspective. A perspective from which the self is just another experience arising in awareness. An experience that can come and go, and that we can learn to welcome and even love. When we see through the self, we see that we are the world: boundless, open, and intimately part of all things. This shift can be beautiful, loving, and fundamentally freeing.
These moments of awakening are not predictable. But we can lay the groundwork that makes them more likely. The groundwork acts as a fertilizer for our minds and a healing balm for our hearts.
What you’ll learn from Henry
On this course, Henry will offer:
- Methods for recognizing and working with negative thoughts and emotions that stem from the sense of self
- A series of methods for investigating the sense of self through direct perception
- Training on how to step back and recognize an ever-present, always-available awareness that holds all experience
- Guidance with ancient Zen koans that can help to illuminate your true nature
- Teaching on how you can use the very sense of self as a gateway to a deeper truth about who you really are
We’ll dive into teachings from early Buddhism, Mahayana, and Zen, each offering unique perspectives on non-duality. From concepts of “emptiness” to “world as mind” and “consciousness as fundamental,” this course offers both a philosophical foundation and a practical path. In our second session, we’re lucky enough to be joined by one of our favorite guest teachers, Michael W. Taft. An experienced meditation teacher and author, Michael’s teaching will help us deeply immerse in the themes and methods of the course.
The World and Us
- 4 Sunday Sessions 10am – 12pm MDT on September 7, 14, 21, October 5
- Live Q&A time with Henry to help develop your skills
- Lifetime access to the session recordings
- Subscribe to The Way app to enjoy a 20% discount on all live events. Book through the app’s Events page to claim your discounted price. Click here from your mobile phone to go the Events page. For any questions, email info@thewayapp.com.
Recordings
Each session will be recorded. If you can’t attend live, and it will be made available the following day.
Questions?
If you have any questions about The World and Us, please contact our program manager Jeremy. We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to having you join us!
Scholarships
We warmly welcome you to contact us if a scholarship would allow you to attend this course. Please contact our program manager Jeremy for details about how to apply.
Here’s what students have said about Henry’s teaching:
What I love about Henry is his foundational approach to building a sustainable practice that is emotionally supportive and feels empowering.
I’ve practiced meditation with a number of teachers through my life over decades, but somehow Henry is getting through to me in a profound way. There is so much loving kindness in his voice and instructions.
I can’t say enough about Henry’s gentle, encouraging, compassionate, oft-humorous and always insightful support.
To enrich your journey in The World and Us, we’ve curated key sessions from The Way to support your learning experience. These sessions offer deeper insights into the course’s central themes, providing powerful context and practical guidance. Recommended sessions from The Way:
- Retreat 14, session 6 – All-embracing awareness
- Retreat 15, session 4 – Loving the sensation of self
- Retreat 15, session 5 – Releasing self
- Retreat 17, session 6 – Whose experience?
- Retreat 27, session 2 – The gateless gate
These sessions are optional but highly beneficial. Whether you review them in advance or revisit them along the way, they will deepen your understanding and provide additional support throughout the course. No prerequisites are required—just an openness to explore!
About your teachers
Henry Shukman
Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage
Henry is a poet, author, meditation teacher and co-founder of the single-path meditation app The Way. His most recent books are Original Love: The Four Inns on the Path of Awakening (HarperOne) and the Zen memoir One Blade of Grass. He has taught at Google, the New York Times, Harvard Business School and Medical School, and the Institute of American Indian Arts. He has written several award-winning and bestselling books of fiction and poetry. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Guardian, Times and Sunday Times. He has an M.A. from Cambridge and an MLitt from St Andrews.
Michael W. Taft
Guest teacher
For our Septembr 14 session, Michael W. Taft will join us as a guest teacher. Michael is a meditation teacher, author, founder and host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, and the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek . From Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has been meditating for over thirty five years and has extensive experience in both Buddhist and Hindu Tantric practice.
