Discovering our authentic self - Bhagavad Gita ch3:6

The ways of the world are mysterious. Who can tell truth from fiction at this point in history? The battle for the dominant narrative continues in the minds of humanity more so than ever before, or so it seems from our fleeting moment in time.

Our pride in concepts like Truth has slowly being eroded as we see truth becoming less and less important amongst the powers that be steering society forward one year at a time.

Nevertheless truth is still a noble concept for it inspires in us the quality of of authenticity.

Being genuine is the one possible way to maintain yourself at your best for the long stretch. Of course, we all wear different masks at different times of the day in our lives, according to our social duties.

We play many roles for many people throughout the course of our daily activities, depending on who we interact with.

Still, the original person is always there throughout these changes of mask or persona. Sometimes in the course of our lives it may happen that we wear a mask for so long that we begin to identify with it and it becomes hard to detach from it when the time might be necessary.

Fortunately the real self generally will have the inevitable tendency to shine through. In striving to be authentic, we can explore the journey of discovery of our real self once all the masks have been set aside. At that time a sense of liberation may be possible. Discovering our true identity is exhilarating if you want it to be.

Bhagavad Gita ch3:6

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥ ६ ॥

TEXT 6
karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya
ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā
mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate

SYNONYMS
karma-indriyāṇi—the five working sense organs; saṁyamya—controlling; yaḥ—anyone who; āste—remains; manasā—by mind; smaran—thinking; indriya-arthān—sense objects; vimūḍha—foolish; ātmā—soul; mithyā-ācāraḥ—pretender; saḥ—he; ucyate—is called.

TRANSLATION
One who restrains the senses and organs of action, but whose mind dwells on sense objects, certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.

PURPORT
There are many pretenders who refuse to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness but make a show of meditation, while actually dwelling within the mind upon sense enjoyment. Such pretenders may also speak on dry philosophy in order to bluff sophisticated followers, but according to this verse these are the greatest cheaters. For sense enjoyment one can act in any capacity of the social order, but if one follows the rules and regulations of his particular status, he can make gradual progress in purifying his existence. But he who makes a show of being a yogī, while actually searching for the objects of sense gratification, must be called the greatest cheater, even though he sometimes speaks of philosophy. His knowledge has no value because the effects of such a sinful man's knowledge are taken away by the illusory energy of the Lord. Such a pretender's mind is always impure, and therefore his show of yogic meditation has no value whatsoever.

Ref: Bhagavad Gita As It Is, translation and commentary by Swami A. C. Bhaktivedanta, original MacMillan 1972 edition.

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