36. Pretense and denial of self.
Every transaction which comes before a man or woman is significant. Often a man is called upon to show himself or prove himself, or answer something audibly which determines who he is or will become. Each time we pretend to be other than who we are, there is an injury felt coming from two concerns: one being the simple consequence of going against ourselves, whilst the other involving the changing of our future circumstance because of what we have said or done to imply something different. What a man presents himself to be, he will be on track to eventually become. This can be good and useful; it can also be contrary as well, and tension causing in the very least.
The individual who seeks 'to do no harm' is immediately caught within an impossible dilemma here. There are many episodes in which truthfulness would, for others, present difficulties. We can be reminded however that beyond the spoken word and beneath the covering action there is already a spiritual reality which is undeniable. People, on inner levels, know that reality. The people we may set about to deceive (albeit with good intentions) know that reality. There is a differing pain caused therefore when we negate ourselves believing others to be our chief consideration when they are in fact feeling the pain of the discrepancy, the pain of yourself, and the pain of the existing reality as it contrasts their will with that of your own.
Withholding information is a matter of personal right and privacy. This is not a negation of self, but an endorsement of self. It is also a responsible courtesy, as it is preferable to wait for another to ask of you anything, rather than just offer it up unprompted. Karmicly you are responsible to another if you introduce them to a thought and they have not formally asked for that thought. Personal opinions are not always welcomed for obvious reasons, but also we need consider that even the loftiest and purest of concept can be delivered ill-timed and turn sour for the receiver.
If however, one is asked audibly to declare a truth about oneself there is a responsibility to reply as truthfully as is possible. It is not for us either to decide for another how they are to react, learn or utilize the information at hand. Equally it is not theirs to ask you to be other than who you are (unless of course we are speaking about a murderous intent!).
Fearfulness of declaring one's true nature and desire is within each and every incarnate who has previously come to great harm in the past because of such declaration. Most of us have been put to death (often painfully) because of an 'I am' type statement. It may have been relatively unalterable or even unpretensable! But there, settled in amongst our deepest of recollections (and intense they are, because the ways in which we have departed this Earth, hold one of the strongest forms of impression for us) we now carry this apprehension on into our lives, being fearful of the consequences of many small things which might 'give ourselves away'.
