The False Self Part 3
May 11, 2025
The False Self Part 3
The title “false self” has terrible connotations. It smacks of being a fraud and fake, both of which are untrustworthy and despicable. After all, the world would come to a grinding halt if deceit took over. If everything and everyone were false, there would be no true friendship or love. There would be no trust or certainty. Also, our entire religious structure, code of ethics, and economy would be thrown into chaos. No one would trust a vendor or the product they purchased.
However, when we look closer, we see that the false self may be the only person we can be under certain circumstances. Yes, there are times when we must be less-than-authentic. And our lack of authenticity can be part of our false self.
In Matthew 7:6, Jesus states, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." This passage has many interpretations; however, the obvious message is to keep your wisdom from being misunderstood and misused by certain others who can rip us apart with it.
This passage can be linked with the false self because when we do not express our true self, we hide from those around us; we are not giving our “pearls.” If I withhold my insights, opinions, wisdom, and hopes from you, I am not my authentic self. Whether my withholding is justified, I am hiding behind a masque.
In other words, Christ tells us not to always be transparent because there are some times that if we tell all, we may be torn apart.
So, when we look at it that way, our false self is not only our impostor, it can also be an appropriate device to protect the sacred within us. How would our lives go if we had no option but to “spill the beans” to everyone and anyone we met? We would have no sacred privacy or guarded secrets. If we were open books to everyone all the time, we could not save people from knowing what could harm or hurt them. But because of the benign aspects of the false self, we can save people from undue harm and ourselves from harmful effects.
So, when we speak about the ego’s being our false self, it may be wise to accept the fact that we all use it for very good purposes at times. After all, it was a technique we innocently developed as soul children: we simply pretended then, and now we do it again. Now, we know that there are times we can “pretend” in order to deceive, but there are other times that we “pretend” for the sake of love.
Spiritual practice: List various instances in which you refuse to cast your pearls before swine.
Self-inquiry: Why don’t you feel disingenuous when you keep something to yourself?
Dear God,
I pray for the strength to “pretend” when the greater good is served. Amen
