The guy serving me in Dunkin Donuts this morning (I had porridge) told me I sounded like Bear Grylls.  Even if I do sound like him – and I don’t – that would be where any resemblance ends.  Even if I spent all my time in nature and tried to live off roots and fly droppings, it would still be nothing more than a sham.

A sham is trying to say this is that.  We sometimes do this to ourselves – when we believe the delusion, when we’re blind to this is this and that is that.

This is the part of our pilgrimage when we check we’re not shamming ourselves, trying to be someone we are not.

When we experience integrity – real connection to our world, others, and our true Self, we can’t sham.*

(*I have to do neck exercises with some arthritis at the top of my spine and I can use these as an outward expression of my inquiring of things to ensure they are not sham.  I have to pull my chin into my chest, which reminds me to be humble; then I have to pull my head down to each shoulder in turn, which tells me I need to deal with my stiff-neckedness; then I have to swivel my head to look over each shoulder, and I remember I always need to see more;  and finally, whilst my hands are by my side I have to alternately invert the palms to face away and lift my arms at a right-angle and swivel my head to face each one, which reminds me it’s all about serving others.  Got anything you can use as a habit to avoid shamming?)