A Correction & An Apology

[Phil]

Two or three times the term self deception or self-deception has been used, when what was intended was the term deception. 

Sorry about that. 

[Orb]

I appreciate the honesty 🙏

[Phil]

The hyphen in ‘self-love’ denotes while self & love are two different words, the actually is one & the same. Self is love; love is self. 

Self-deception is a colossal misnomer. Self is not deception, self is infinite.  Absolute-infinite-innocence. 

Infinite can not know finite, such as, deception. 

The notion that self can, is the notion that self isn’t infinite, and is the deception. 

Apparently. 

[Orb]

23 minutes ago, Phil said:

The hyphen in ‘self-love’ denotes while self & love are two different words, the actually is one & the same. Self is love; love is self. 

Self-deception is a colossal misnomer. Self is not deception, self is infinite.  Absolute-infinite-innocence. 

Infinite can not know finite, such as, deception. 

The notion that self can, is the notion that self isn’t infinite, and is the deception. 

Apparently. 

I think when people say self-deception they just mean not being honest with themselves.

[Phil]

@Orb

Sure but that’s a thought (in direct experience). What isn’t in direct experience is a self to be honest with (or not). 

Likewise deception is a thought and is not in direct experience, and is not a thing infinite is doing. Deception requires a deceiver and a deceived, and that is the deception of ‘self-deception’. Self does not require love, and love does not require self (self-love). 

[Phil]

Knowing & understanding aren’t actual, ‘they’re’ no more than the believing of thoughts, which are apparent. 

This is sometimes apparently projected as “self-deception”. 

Yet self is not deceptive. That would be the illusion of / as “separate self”, the knower or understander, that self is deceptive. 

‘That’ is the deception.

Not self. 

Innocence is absolute. 

Infinite can not know finite. 

[Phil]

The reality of self-deception.

https://chatgpt.com/share/1502f631-93a3-4bd4-86a2-bb627cf20f93

 

Input in bold: Hello!

 

GPT4 in italics: Hello! How can I assist you today?

 

Like to get to the very bottom of this term, self-deception.

 

Self-deception refers to the process of misleading oneself to accept false beliefs or interpretations of reality. It involves holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously, where one part of the mind is aware of the truth while the other part denies it. This can occur through various mechanisms, such as denial, rationalization, or repression, allowing individuals to avoid uncomfortable truths or maintain a positive self-image.

 

For one to mislead oneself, requires two selves, yes?

 

Not true. The term "self-deception" doesn't imply two distinct selves but rather different aspects or functions of the same self. It's about the mind's ability to hold conflicting beliefs or thoughts simultaneously, often to protect oneself from uncomfortable truths.

 

”A process of misleading oneself” implies one which is misleading and a second which is mislead.

 

True. The phrase "a process of misleading oneself" does imply a dynamic where one part of the mind misleads another part. However, this doesn't necessitate the existence of two separate selves but rather different aspects or functions within a single self.

 

Self-deception could imply the separate self of thought is deceiving or being deceived. Yet, the separate self of thought is not a self, but is of course, thoughts.

 

Therein, the term self-deception could also imply Self is deceptive, and is deceiving itself. This would imply the true nature of Self is, deceptive, when in fact the true nature of Self is pure innocence.

 

As the separate self is in fact thoughts, the reality & actuality of the term self-deception is that it’s inherently misleading, as there is no separate self which could mislead or be mislead, neither is there (infinite) Self which is deceptive whatsoever.

 

More so, the actuality of believing there is self-deception, is that of the believing of thoughts, and the overlooking Self is in fact believing in, self-deception.

 

Your perspective highlights an important distinction between thoughts and the true nature of Self. In nondual understanding, the concept of a separate self is an illusion created by thoughts. Therefore, what is often referred to as self-deception is actually the mind's activity of believing and identifying with thoughts, rather than recognizing the true nature of Self.

The term "self-deception" is inherently misleading because it suggests a duality where none exists. Instead, it is more accurate to say that the mind can become entangled in thoughts that obscure the recognition of the true, innocent nature of Self. This process is not about one self deceiving another, but about the misidentification with thoughts that veil the reality of Self.

 

With brevity please, as “understanding” is a thought, and the believing of is akin to the believing of, self-deception.

 

True. Believing in self-deception is akin to believing in the illusion of a separate self, which is merely a thought.

 

Therein, saying “you are experiencing self-deception” is first the believing of thoughts & overlooking of believing thoughts, and then the projection of the discord of the overlooking, onto an “other”, which of course there isn’t, and therein the projection of self-deception is an experience on behalf of the illusory separate self of thought, and is not on behalf of Self, nor “other”, whatsoever.

 

True. Saying "you are experiencing self-deception" involves believing in thoughts and projecting this discord onto an "other," which is an illusion. This projection is not on behalf of the true Self but rather the illusory separate self of thought.