Who is our True Self? Or a better way to ask that question is: What is our True Self?
Why what?…because the True Self is not an individual identity. The True Self is the piece inside of each of us that is connected and interconnected to the True Self in everybody else, all sentient beings, and to the energy of existence or the breath of life. The True Self has many other names: Spirit, God, Higher Self, Inner Wisdom, Consciousness, Being, Soul, and Heart to name a few. A different term may resonate more easily with each us individually, but they are all different ways our minds have tried to conceptualize the very abstract concept of a Continuum of Being, the True Self.
In order to discover, understand, and live by the True Self, we must continually practice to be aware of our own individual selves, the ego, and continually strive to not let the ego drive our lives. We must question everything as we seek the Truth, but keep in mind that Truth is not something that can be possessed. It is not an object, but a way of Being. Being spiritual, being our True Selves, is about how we live our lives, not about what we have, including our egos. Anything that we wish to possess, will not bring us Truth and Joy. We must practice and strive to be aware so that we can be true to ourselves and in turn true to all others. Through awareness we can live by our True Self, our Being.
The meaning of man’s life…is not measured by what he has, but by what he is.
– Stephen Batchelor, former Buddhist monk and lecturer
The Truth is what gets uncovered and unhidden when we strip away the ego’s veils of illusion. As each veil comes down, we will slowly begin to see more and more clearly as our True Self shines through more and more brightly.
This νοειν is what is ‘true’ in the purest and most primordial sense; that is to say, it merely discovers, and does so in such a way that it can never cover up.
– Martin Heidegger
As we practice awareness, seek to understand our True Self, and live in Truth we begin to allow and create the space to listen to our inner voice which comes from our hearts. This inner voice is our True Self emerging and awakening. As we learn to listen to our hearts and trust its message, our egos will challenge us. Part of this process of self-awareness is learning to differentiate what is truly in our hearts/our True Self, and what is the desire of the ego. Desire comes not from the heart. The Heart/Soul/True Self can only love; it cannot desire. The True Self is Love.
Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams…who looks inside, awakens.
– Carl Jung
God came to my house and asked for charity. And I fell on my knees and cried, “Beloved what may I give?”
“Just love,” He said. “Just love.”
– Saint Francis of Assisi
Through the Peacock's Eyes 
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Reblogged this on the art of life and commented:
Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams…who looks inside, awakens. -Carl Jung
Nice basic praxis for unfolding the Self. Question: who is true in you?
Love/Truth/God/Energy/Vibration is all that is true in each of us.
Excellent, thank you for sharing this
Yes, understood… isn’t everything provisional until real understanding ensues? Words are words, pointers, signals, promptings towards the truth and convey a message of love in communication. Nothing wrong with dualism: it is life. Much appreciated and all best. AM
We are not egos, we are Spirit (the Self, Atman). The ego is no existing thing or entity (other than a phantom, or an apparent usurper); it is a mere belief, though deeply entrenched, a psychological construct, apparently necessary for transactions in life. But it is Intelligence (the Self, Consciousness) – not the mind or ego – what moves us, which is ‘us’ – and ‘we’ are It. And mind is not even a reflection of the Self in the mind, but the Self Itself appearing AS mind.
Thus, “The True Self is the piece inside of each of us that is connected and interconnected to the True Self in everybody else” is dualistic, at most a provisional understanding.
Exactly. Yes, we are Spirit, Self, Atman, Consciousness, or whatever name one chooses to give it, as I mentioned in the post. The True Self is not dualistic; the mind/ego sees this realm is a realm of duality. Once we set aside the ego, we all, as one, can live by the True Self. The True Self is what we all are.
My goal is to provide insights to help people at all levels of self-awareness and growth…to encourage self-reflection, to be thought-provoking, etc., not merely tell others what to think or do. I hope to spark others to find the answers within. Hence, some posts may seem provisional.