There is something that is not talked about enough on the journey to enlightenment.There are two selves in every person. They are the True Self and the False Self. The True Self is your essence, while the False Self is your personality formed to protect yourself from the world.
When you study your emotional reactions and rote behaviors, it is then that you see that you are always running scared. You are not taught this in any school. It is up to you to study yourself.
The results of this self-study are always the same. You uncover your hidden emotions and useless attempts to keep people from judging you.
We are mechanical human beings, puppets in an everlasting show.
Jesus talks about this a great deal and points to what needs to happen. He said that we need to be born again. Today we would say that he was talking about essence versus personality.
The Buddha also talks about it, as do countless sages.
I am now going to tell you how to verify that you are split right down the middle. First vow that you will witness your behavior when you are with other people. This will show you what a coward you are. No judgement, just observation.
You are cowardly because you already SEE that other people are just like you. Fake smiles, fake words, fake life.
The one who sees this IS the True Self!
So how do you feel about other people? I will tell you how you feel about them. You judge them.
The judge in you is the False Self; that is until you can judge righteous judgement. That comes a lot later.
The Book of John in the New Testament is where you can go to feel true comfort and encouragement. “In my Father’s House are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you.”
The place can be prepared and is prepared, every time you study yourself and how you play false in order to protect yourself.
Write down what strikes you in John. Ask yourself if you are currently true to yourself or if you’re just playing a role, hiding out from the Truth. You know the answer to that.
Vicki Woodyard
Truth and wisdom abounds in this essay, Vicki. Suggesting the Book of John for comfort and encouragement is “right on!” I’ll be restarting that sometime today with your added suggestion of writing down what particularly seems to be talking to me. Not in the long ago past, I would read (nearly every night) consecutively from The New Testament. Often it was extremely revealing of just what a sleeper and sinner my false self is. My heart would then say softly within, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” That was both humbling and comforting. Peace and love to you!
You were, in effect, saying the Jesus Prayer, which I often say, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Wow. This is Vicki with the gloves off and the brass knuckles on. Thank you for this message; it immediately got me thinking of the interactions I had with people just this morning. This is a post to come back to, often.
I have been analyzing (and I can’t help but see the word “anal” in it 🙂 I like a tough teaching; Sunday School doesn’t work for me. At some point we all want to just be let alone!