I think this is an interesting and important topic, especially on a forum dedicated to occultism. Many groups, occult groups included, put such an emphasis on selflessness, ego control, etc. I've often see the difference between RHP and LHP seen as solely based on whether one is doing selfless acts or selfish ones, I find it rather amusing and naive
A major problem I see is that people seem to believe that selfless is good and selfish is bad. Numerous groups have an end goal of selflessness or ego death. I love Thelema, by definition in the Book of the Law I am a Thelemite, but I never understood why crossing the Abyss required ego death. I have read Crowley, there is ego whether explicitly stated or not. Personally, I think this stems from religions such as Christianity or Western interpretations of Eastern ideals. If ego death / selflessness is the goal then you have people striving for an impossible end while becoming more dependent on things outside their Self.
I think it needs to be viewed another way. There is not selfishness vs selfishness be rather degrees of selfishness. Psychological / ethical altruism are nice in theory and all that, but I believe the simple fact is we are all 100% selfish. I have tried to think of a logical selfish act, I cannot. Look at it this way; selflessness would require a complete lack of Self interest. A truly selfless person would die from dehydration, as drinking water requires self-care. This example carries over the whole human experience. Why do we do "good" things? Well, we (self) believe they are right, our (self) system of belief has decided they are good, they make us (self) feel good / proud / your word here, etc.
Even in the case of self sacrifice, a teacher jumping in from of her students to save them from a gun me; she (self) cares (selfish) for her kids and protects them.
Thoughts?