When we behave externally and internally as if we are enlightened, and start to become that persona, we are, in fact, not enlightened, we just have a different story, but we are still ruled by the ego. We are still not our true self, we are now this ‘enlightened’ story.
If we have to act out a role, behave according to a conditioned and societal role, then we are associated with the mind and thus a contradiction to an enlightened soul.
Being truly our soul and essence within and in the exterior world is a challenge, however, we will not achieve it by telling ourselves and the world that we are so zen.
Peace within comes when we can simply just be and do not need to act, show, tell or announce it to ourselves and the world.
Philip Dodson 