What is Meant by The Higher Self

[aceofcups]

What does the term "The Higher Self" mean to you? Have the same meaning as "Soul" to you?
The same as the "Spirit" within? Is it the same as "God" to you? Is this Higher Self a guide? A higher part of one's Individual Self?

[jash]

Namaste ace

For me, the higher self is God, and God and the awareness beyond body and mind are the same. God is the awareness out of which all things flow, and we are eddies and waves in the ocean of consciousness.

What's important is that we have the freedom to make of ourselves, and of our world what we will. We have the freedom to take joy in every moment, and knowing that we have this freedom is the source of joy. Everyone has the resources within them for absolute joy and happiness, as well as the ability to love all beings. This is what the higher self does, accepting everything as it is. To the extent that we can access this higher self, we will accept the world with joy and accept other people with love and compassion.

[cyberangel]

Hi Ace,

A very good question and one I think you will get many varied and valid answers. Your question is ‘personal’ to each individual and can only be perceived by them, but each version can and may echo with other’s perceptions. So here is my description of the ‘Higher Self’...

I see my ‘higher self’ as a way of ‘communication and understanding’ between the mind and the soul. For me... my ‘higher self’ is not my soul nor is it my mind it is merely a ‘bridge’ between the two.

Love and Light

[markings]

For me the higher self is that part which is totally positive and full of commendable attributes such as nobility, goodwill towards self and others, compassion, kindness, patience, the things we consider to be virtue.
The higher self is not something separate but aspects of us which we may not give attention to due to other factors such as outside pressures or personal history.

[Ishtahota]

When we were born there was part of us that was split off and put in this body. What was left over is what we call the higher self. At this point in our evolution the human body can not handle the totality of who we really are. Our bodies would blow like a 1amp fuse on a 100amp circuit. There are people like that today who have pushed their spiritual growth with the use of plants or drugs. Awakening the Kundalini (snake power) before we have done a certain amount of personal clearing work can also harm us beyond the point of repair for this lifetime.

Once we are born in this world with our small piece of our soul in the body we under go another split before we can mature. This other split happens when we enter into duality consciousness. A split consciousness which has helped to evolve our split brain. Before this split we could both send and receive signals to the higher self and the universe. After this split the higher self and the universe receives from us, but our connection for getting information and even feeling connected is for the most part cut off.

[holistichealer]

My perception of Higher Self is a lot like Istahota's.

Using an iceberg as an analogy, the Higher Self is the unseen 90% of the iceberg and the present personality is the 10% we are conscious of. I don't mean that 90% / 10% literally. I mean it as an indication that what's behind our identities is much more than what we're aware of.

The High Self stays "home" and retains the knowledge and awareness of all of our experiences. Sometimes, it "breaks through", for lack of a better way to say it, and conveys an awareness in no uncertain terms, of where we are, in relation to where we need to be. It's a feeling of "knowing". And in an instant, it's gone, but the impression remains.

This is my perception of it.

[markings]

holsistichealer, so the higher self is really Freud's subconscious? With the difference that his subconscious always breaks through, almost without exception.

If this part we are dealing with is unseen and subconscious why do we call it 'higher' and not 'lower'? Why is it exclusively good, as higher implies, and not, at least partially, bad? How do we know in a verifiable manner?

[holistichealer]

Markings:

The "subconscious" isn't "all knowing" in the way that transcends all lifetimes and all levels of existence (Physical / Emotional / Intellectual / Spiritual).

So, "No.", it's not the same thing as the subconscious.

"Superconscious" would be a more accurate term. "Permanent personality" is another, as opposed to "present personality" that we identify as in day- to- day existence as a rule.

"Good" and "Bad" are value judgments that we, as people use to categorize experiences. Ultimately, there is no such thing- only "contrast". In other words, it's difficult, if not impossible for us to have a clear concept of a thing, without something to compare it to. And that's what this particular existence is all about.

But to attribute "Good" and "Bad" to the Higher Self is a limited way to see it.

I don't know how you can verify this for yourself. In my case, I remember 3 of my past lifetimes pretty clearly, as well as the afterlife of one of them. And in the one before the afterlife, in which I was a Mayan or Aztec priest, I did a lot of very bad things related to abuse of power and abuse of the trust people placed upon us. "Blood sacrifice" in our culture didn't mean to voluntarily shed some blood. It meant that those in power decided you were to be sacrificed supposedly to the "gods", to maintain the order of things. And we sacrificed people routinely, against their will.

In my memory of the afterlife between that life and the next, the self- judgment I experienced as a result of seeing the effects of what we did to those people (and I don't mean only the ones we sacrificed- but the ones we also controlled as a result of, among other things, the threat of sacrifice, at being chosen because "the gods said so", to control the weather, etc.), was horrendous. At the same time, I know that I have been on the other side of that situation myself. (I was finally killed by brother priests.)

And yet- I am here in the physical again. This time, with lessons instilled due to the accumulated experience of and lessons of past actions.

Were our actions, "bad"? Absolutely. But on a soul level, they served a purpose. I have met people in this life who remember me from that one. I have done healing work on some of them. One openly described the time I sacrificed her and forgave me for it. They know that "that was then / this is now".

It is only in fully understanding a concept that you can reject or accept it. And the only way in the grand scheme of things to fully understand is to "live it". The concept for me- the lesson that lifetime- was all about the abuse of power- something I absolutely reject now and forever- knowing first- hand what it really is like. The lesson for others at that time may have been to rise up and challenge the status quo.

The physical is transitory and not really "home" to us. We come here over and over, to learn, because here, there is "contrast".

I know this because I remember.

[samy03]

Higher self can be misinterpreted in individualistic opinions & the place of his/her own satisfactory levels.

It can be anything for anyone. For someone Higher self means :

- Living in a big big house alongwith number of servants and people around there.

- Feeling of being greedy all the time, is a place of higher self for somebody else.

- Not listening to others & strongly emphasizing your own points to follow; will also a place of higher self in life for someone.

- Getting the dream cum true girl friend/boy friend in there life, is also one among the significance of higher self to somebody.

- Being reserved/egoistic is btw one among the highest level of higher self in this materialistic type of world we are living in right now. And this is the most common attribute of defining higher self by individuals in there own manner.


And many many other things/activities like the above, which actually makes you feel someone special; are called as the higher self in the mind of human beings in this materialistic nature of lifestyle we all are living in.



But, but when it comes to the real picture of Spirituality. Then the whole story changed from the Conscious sense to the Sub-conscious awakening of the spirit in person.


So, higher self is when the spirit experiences the soul purity & its nature of love. At that point of time, the transformation that takes place on that particular individuals life, is basically being called as the realization of something exceptional which is out of this earthly environment. And which cannot be seen/sense/experience from this conscious physical body in which we all lives in.

Its not like that the things will stopped/or will change there own way of workings in the life. But, the way of seeing & reacting of the things from that individual will be completely reversed from a frustrated person to a loving person in the society.

And these are few among those directions that makes a individual know & experience his/her real meaning of coming to this earth in the form of spirit.

They are some techniques/means that builds a normal living person changed to "Awakening of the Higher Self" in his/her internal features.

Amen.

God Bless Everyone.

[markings]

I would associate your list of characteristics with self(-ish) individualism, a psychological self, but never with a Higher self.

[simm]

I will share my perspective of what the higher self can be defined to be. Please do notice however since the higher self is of a realm that is greater or before the physical existence our definitions and reality construct doesn't apply to it. But i'll explain it as well I can.

The higher self is another aspect of our Self which is part of our experience in physical reality. The human self is what experiences the reality while the higher self takes care of the physical experience and sees to that everything that is sought by the Soul to experience is experienced. They are two sides of the same coin and both has their function. Our Soul is greater than even the higher self as the Soul contains both the higher self and physical self. We are the Soul that decided to have an physical experience and for the experience to be possible you have to have both parts; physical and higher self.

What is then the relationship between the higher self and physical self? The physical self decides how the reality is experienced. It decides in a sense what reality is true for itself through the taste of the diversity the reality has to offer. The higher self is the part that sees to that what the physical self says is true is supported. Higher self also provides the diversity experience and sees to that the physical self's choice is challenged so that it might decide to change its mind. The Soul often choose a theme of what it is to experience before coming into physical manifestation and this theme will be provided to the physical self through the higher mind so that the experience the Soul wish to have is fulfilled. Now, the physical self can decide to not follow the vibration or energy of the higher self which is the case for many on Earth today. This adds another dimension of diversity since you can actually choose to experience something else then what really is true for you. 

Higher self never give up on the physical self however. It is unconditional loving and will never give up on us. Just as God or our true Self the Soul never give up. 

[sparklekaz]

Throughout the ages, Ancient Wisdom has taught the existence of something that transcends everything we know, and yet is an integral part of our very being. It has been referred to with many titles: Guardian Angel, Inner Genius, Higher Self.

If our own brain is beyond our understanding, how much more mysterious and incredible is this strange being we call the "Higher Self". What can it be? What "self" can possibly be higher than the one you are already familiar with? If this "self" is truly higher than what we are normally aware of, how can it be truly called "self"?

I believe that the Higher Self is that part of you that connects you directly to the spiritual realms. It is eternal, infinitely wise and transcends your everyday consciousness. It is in touch with the Divine because it is part of it. Attaining knowledge of the Higher Self, and its depths of inner wisdom, is the goal of the Spiritual Quest in all its many guises throughout the world, and throughout history.

Thus, you are not simply the total of your conscious and subconscious. There is a part of you that transcends both. It exceeds anything you know with your present awareness. It is beyond anything you can possibly know through normal rational thought. You are connected to the Divine, and this is where it manifests. The higher self has also been referred to as being our 'spiritual intelligence'.

In the Indian philosophy of Samkhya, the term for this higher consciousness, which pervades the entire universe, is Purusa. It is believed to be free of the limitations of space and time, and is also uncaused by anything external to itself. It is free of both pleasure and pain. It is above thought.

Why Access The Higher Self At All? In truth, the Higher Self IS you - all that you are meant to be. The only reason we even talk about it as if it were an entity from elsewhere is because we have been trained from birth not to fully express the magnificent divinity within us and be all that we are fully capable of being. That is what the Higher Self really is; the best you that you are capable of being.

The problem we all face is that we identify ourselves with the small "I". This is the ego consciousness that we have gradually developed throughout our life. However, this is not really all that you are. Your ego, your conscious mind, is only a small part of your total being. It is shaped by childhood, by what you were told as you were growing up, by the knocks and bruises of life, as well as the pleasures and joys. In part, it is formed from the life experiences that you have had up to this point. However, it is also partly created from your subconscious, and your connection to the Collective Unconscious.

However, despite the shifting circumstances of existence, most people recognize, at least fleetingly, the existence of a changeless eternal part of their nature. In these moments, they have made contact with their essential eternal being; who they really are. The Higher Self is more truly you than you ever have been allowed to be. It lets more of those moments of true recognition into your life. Eventually, you are enabled to live your entire life from a point of full awareness of your changeless divinity.

Love and light
Kaz

[cyberangel]

Very well expressed and written Karen. Well done

Love and Light

[alvinw333]

The human self is the lower self and the Higher Self is Soul a true spiritual path, on seeking God to go home to it will always bere about the Higher Self, Soul which does remember all its past lives, anyway we call Soul the higher self. Some people call there Soul, spirit which is miss leading. To me spirit is the Holy Spirit the indians call it big Spirit, then some people call there Soul, my Spirit kinda letting you know ther Soul, anyway where you herd of the Higher Self take care in how they related it to understand where there coming from

[zuimon]

I relate to my higher self as my Indwelling Spirit of God, or the God within. The papers in The Urantia Book concerning ones Indwelling Spirit are well worth the read.

These are some of the points they cover.

Our Indwelling Spirit comes to us from God, it being an actual spirit fragment of God, coming when our mind is fully formed around six to seven years old.

It's role within our higher mind is to try and adjust our thoughts toward God, becoming at-one with God and as perfect as God is.

It never interferes with our free will, it is always subject to it.

It is pre-personal, so it doesn't have a personality of its own, yet seeks fusion with us (with our soul) thereby gaining our personality. And when that happens, that part of God's spirit is always with you. Up until fusion with your soul, the Indwelling spirit can come and go.

When you look to God within, we're looking to communicate with this spirit fragment of God, also called the Thought Adjuster, and it can readily speak to you in your mind, so you hear that small still inner voice.

It is that part of us that creates higher spiritual values and concepts in our mind, those which should we choose to follow its leadings, will lead us deeper into the realisation of self - our soul, and God - who and what God is.  

I find it is quite easy to speak with, which is really also speaking to God. However some people tend to confuse their communication with it, calling it other things, and calling other things such as spirits, it.

P.S, I would also call ones Indwelling Spirit of God - The God Light!

[alvinw333]

In my spiritual path, is the r religion of Light and Sound of God, which is the Holy Spirit. It says in our belief that God can only speak to us through the Holy Spirit, the light and sound. But in our termenolgy the Higher self is our Soul and the lower self is the human body. The Holy Spirit to us guids us and maybe gives us thoughts, but doesent talk to us verbely. But if we work off anouff karma or inner ears will open up and we are able to hear the inner Master the Mahanta, which is the Holy Spirit talk to us with our permission. So the God Light to us is ECK or Holy Spirit

[jonor]

Mar 1, 2013 14:14:40 GMT markings said:

For me the higher self is that part which is totally positive and full of commendable attributes such as nobility, goodwill towards self and others, compassion, kindness, patience, the things we consider to be virtue.
The higher self is not something separate but aspects of us which we may not give attention to due to other factors such as outside pressures or personal history.

Greetings. This is my experience also

[alvinw333]

The human body is made of matter, the negative force (Satan) has control of matter, space and time. Soul was created beyond matter, space and time. The two are so far from each other being positive and negative is why they call Soul the Higher Self