21 levels of Self-Deception: THIRD EDITION by Tom Wallace - HTML preview

T W E N T Y - O N E L E V E L S

(Taken from After Buddhism by Stephen Batchelor.)

The revealing of the self is always going to be a worthwhile endeavour, even if it is regarded as a total fiction! (Even those who deny that there is an ‘authentic self’ are often encouraging us to change!)

But caution is required here. The unveiling described above is about trying to be honest with ourselves. But is it reasonable to say that this process is revealing the ‘authentic self’? And is it reasonable to equate the authentic self with soul?

The oneness of ultimate reality has led some to suggest that there really is no self. It is suggested that the notion of an individual self is just an illusion, therefore there’s no reason to worry or to investigate the inner workings of the mind or emotions. Within the economy of human affairs however, the self is undeniable. So, whilst realising that the self might ultimately be a delusion, a certain amount of effort seems justified in exploring our own inner space. It could also be said that whilst the self might be an illusion, consciousness is not. The wonder of being is known as much within ourselves as by looking outward to nature. Knowing ourselves is also the beginning of compassion. It is a mistake to think that we can love nature and other human beings without first loving and accepting ourselves.

The idea of masks, or different personas, leads inevitably to the notion that there is a ‘real’ or ‘authentic’ self — the person as they would be if

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