From: "Jal Kae" 
Newsgroups: alt.paranormal.channeling
Organization: CyberGate, Inc.
Original Date: 15 May 1997 11:46:06 -0400
The True-Self Shell Game
What does the term "true self" mean? For most, it means one's essence.
Currently, there exist at least eight models describing the true self.
These models are The Individual Soul, The Body, Humanity +, An Illusion,
God, A Projection, One Soul, and Dohno. Models that describe the true self
are useful. They offer a framework to help you become a better person in
some way. A disadvantage is that they can trick you into thinking that
you're "special." Most define the "false self" - the nemesis of the true
self - as either the ego or the physical body. 
Models are *pictures* of reality. However, something happens when you
believe in them. They become real - to you. (Believing that your picture
is real and that all others are false is normal. This quirk is a natural
but peculiar function of the human mind.) Although no models are
flawless, True Believers will try to convince you otherwise about theirs. 
People usually label "false doctrines" (beliefs other than their own) as
anything from "superstition" to "works of the devil." Ironically, one day
you may "wake up" and "see the Truth." Your old model, the one that you've
relied on, suddenly looks like antiquated false doctrine. 
What other advantages and disadvantages do these models offer? Are there
consequences for disbelief? What follows are brief sketches of these
systems. 
1. THE INDIVIDUAL SOUL
In many Eastern and Western religions, one's supreme identity is the
*soul*. 
Most Western religions believe that God watches the individual's behavior.
After you die, He either eternally rewards or punishes you. If you follow
your religion's moral codes, you (as soul) go to Heaven.
Most Eastern religions believe that you (as soul) must become perfect,
balance all of its karma, and become detached from everything. You must
continue to reincarnate until you complete these tasks and become
enlightened. 
Advantages and Disadvantages:
Religions can coerce individual souls to behave morally. After all, who
wants to burn in hell forever or to reincarnate repeatedly into miserable
lives? Religions can produce strong, stable community ties. They provide
answers to humanity's key questions, fulfilling a human psychological
need. (Who am I? What am I doing here? Can I go now?) 
When you believe in a soul, you assume trans-Herculean tasks. For example,
it's not actually possible to balance your karma. Also, the idea of the
individual soul conveniently reflects the fears and desires of the ego. 
2. THE BODY
This is the atheistic model. The true self is the human body. This system
aligns itself with Earth's natural rhythms: Things die, new ones are born.
It's a natural process, like the seasons, and apparently works without God
or a soul. When you die, your true self dies.
If you are a disbeliever, some believers say that you will discover the
(atheistic) truth, but too late. 
Advantages and Disadvantages:
By believing "this is it," you take responsibility for your actions. The
devil didn't make you do it. It frees you from the tyrannies of unbalanced
moral commands. ("God says to kill the infidel.") The possibility of
suffering in future lives or going to hell doesn't stress you. 
A disadvantage is that you can't live a miraculous life. Also, in a time
of need, you have no higher force with whom to find comfort. Although
atheists see those who rely on God to be weak, others see this relation-
ship as a blessing.
3. HUMANITY +
At the first level of this model, your true self is the human race. You
are a cell in the Body Human. Like a living hologram, you embody the
potential of all human thought, emotion, fear, suffering, joy, hope, and
aspiration. The idea that you are separate from the rest of humanity is
the false self. As Human, you accept the physical divisions of gender and
sub-race and the man-made divisions of nationality and creed. You are
able, however, to transcend the polarized qualities inherent in them.
You are the drive to survive and preserve the species, to reproduce, and
to take root in as many places possible. 
This model is expandable. At the second level, you are Earth's *Human
Project*. (The *Human Project* is one of Earth's many.) Go up another
level and you become a part of Sol's *Planetary Project*. Go up a step
further, and you're part of the Milky Way's *Galactic Project*. You can
take this all the way to the All-That-Is's *Creation of Everything
Project*. 
Advantages and Disadvantages:
This model allows you to accept your existential condition and grow from
there. Also, it builds compassion. You treat others with respect. You do
this not because you're afraid of hell or bad karma and not because your
trying to collect good karma or even to please God. The reason is, you
want to do it. 
Problems develop when you identify with the *Creation of Everything
Project* before psychologically coming to terms with your Humanity. This
makes you "top heavy" and out of balance. 
4. AN ILLUSION
In the world of science, one of the Next Big Things is neuroscience. The
technicians and theoreticians in this field are tackling the question of
self using the tools of science. They assume the individual self is an
hallucination. There is no true or false self. Somehow, neurons firing
away in the brain create this illusion. "You" are a relationship of
electrical impulses. You just *think* that you are someone! Once the brain
dies, the illusion ceases.
Neuroscience is in its infancy, and most of its views are highly
speculative. 
If you are a disbeliever, some believers may view you as superstitious,
afraid to face reality. 
Advantages and Disadvantages:
One advantage of this belief is that you realize that *everyone* is
transparent. Everyone is no one. Reality loosens up, at least in your
mind. Science may prove the Hindu doctrine that the self is a part of Maya
(illusion). 
Disadvantages include that you can't live a miraculous life. Believing
that individuals are electrical impulses can inhibit the growth of
compassion, a much needed human sentiment. 
5. GOD
You can interpret this model in two ways. One is that the believer is "God
in person." The false self doesn't exist. The other is that the true self
is God. In this, the false self exists. 
Disbelievers won't realize their divine potential.
Advantages:
Believing that the false self is God promotes confidence. You must take
responsibility for your actions. 
Believing that the true self is God promotes unity consciousness. 
Disadvantages:
A few disadvantages exist with the "God in Person" model. You have vast
ego-inflating potential. It also can shatter your confidence when you
discover that you aren't omnipotent. Additionally, you leave little room
for the universe to surprise you; as God, you should know everything. As
an individual God, you might not live a miraculous life!
A disadvantage of the true self being God is that the individual "I" can
subtly lurk in your unconscious. This promotes separation. 
6. A PROJECTION
Is it possible that the true self is an other-dimensional being,
projecting its consciousness into the human body? 
You've heard about channeling; maybe you even channel. Channeling happens
when an other-dimensional entity projects its consciousness into a human
body. A walk-in happens the same way. When you channel, though, the false
self doesn't leave the body. It takes a rear seat to the visiting entity.
During a walk-in event, the visiting consciousness takes over the body
completely. (In the old days, when a malevolent entity would take over a
body, they'd call it a *possession*.) 
The Projection model says that some time between conception and birth the
other-dimensional consciousness enters the body. It remains throughout the
life of the individual. Evolution happens as the visiting consciousness
projects its higher-dimensional energy fields and insights into the human
host. When the body dies, the other-dimensional consciousness withdraws
from the body. It awakens from its human dream. 
The projecting consciousness can be any entity who can project its mind
into forms. Planetary consciousnesses are famous for this. Most of
humanity is a projection of Earth's consciousness. Stellar entities can do
this as well (producing "star" people). S eventh-dimensional entities
explore and collect experience in this way. One of these beings can
project its consciousness into millions of life forms simultaneously
throughout the universe.
Metaphysically, this model correlates to the Superstring theory of
science. Superstring is an extremely small (and theoretical) particle
posited by physics. These strings wriggle in tenth-dimensional hyperspace,
generating all the matter and energy in the universe, including timespace.
According to Projection theory, Superstrings are conscious entities. 
If you disbelieve this model, then you are exploring other identity
probabilities. 
 
Advantages and Disadvantages:
As a multidimensional being, you approach life as an experiment. It's easy
to explore new aspects of reality. Possibly, you can transcend third-
dimensional fear-based programs through the force of Will of the
projecting entity.
A disadvantage of this model is that you may become spaced out -
ungrounded. Imagined other-dimensional dramas may appear logical,
side-tracking you into fearful realities. 
7. ONE SOUL
This model is similar to the True Self Is God model, except that it the
latter believes in the individual "I." 
God (the Holy Spirit, or the One Soul) breathes life into everything and
is the reality behind all forms. This model states you don't have an
individual soul. Instead, you are a *projection of the One Soul*. When you
die, you wake up - you remember - that you are the Creator. All false
selves are the dream of the Dreamer Creator. 
The universe creates the illusion of individuality by using
multidimensional filters. For instance, astrological lenses, race, gender,
kingdoms, and other dimensions all create the appearance of "other." 
Disbelievers of this model experience the results of their identity. 
Advantages and Disadvantages:
The One Soul model has the same advantages of The Body model. In this
model, though, you believe in God and can live a miraculous life. It
promotes unity consciousness. 
A disadvantage is that you lose the thrill of having a "soul mission." 
8. DOHNO
The Dohno model states you *don't know* who you are. You're "open to
suggestions." This model has two planes of understanding: Higher and
Lower.
You're flying in the Lower Dohno Plane when you're confused about your
identity - and desperate.
Cruising at 33,000 feet in the Upper Dohno Plane, you might have a clue. 
You are, however, certain of your uncertainty. You've dropped struggle
during the Quest to find Yourself. ("Struggle" is different from
"effort.") You realize that the question of self is riddled with paradox. 
This mystical, earthen-now being (self) is a thread in the Joker's costume
we call the universe. *We* are the Mystery - unfathomable, non-linear,
stuck-in-the-muds. 
Advantages and Disadvantages:
Advantages include that you can't judge others. Also, it's easy to walk
through new doorways. 
A disadvantage in the Lower Dohno Plane is that you suffer from not
knowing. In the Upper, your image may suffer: You don't commit yourself
passionately enough to such an important issue. 
What happens if you are a disbeliever? Dohno.
Conclusion
Everyone, even the most unconscious, has a belief about who or what they
are. The impact of this belief affects your life greatly, because your
identity carries with it a complete cosmology. When you choose an
identity, you accept the inherent duality that each offers: the saved vs. 
the damned, the enlightened vs. the unconscious, the knowing vs. the
superstitious.
(Note: Some IROOT:NOTians shamelessly pluck gems from various systems and
- to the disdain of their detractors - wear them unabashedly in a
glittering Third Eye tiara. However, in all modesty, IROOT:NOTians only
show off their Cosmic Head Openers in public during solemn, official
events, like going to the post office.)
Unless you live in a cave (and don't have a cell phone), someone, some
day, will tell you how wrong you are about your identity. If this
criticism doesn't phase you, then you are in a liberated position of
consciousness. This attitude reflects humility an d tolerance. 
What is another result of defining yourself? You'll think that everyone
(including disbelievers) is subject to the consequences of *your* belief
system. Regardless, we bring our humanness into whatever identity we have
chosen. 
As Light, we are one.
Evin
Starbuilders
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-- 
As Light, we are one.              "We do our best, Spirit does the rest."
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