What is a Higher Self?

[Richard]

References to a so-called 'higher self' abound in metaphysical-type writimgs. Is it merely a metaphor for our more spiritual aspirations? I just can't seem to get my head around it, or possibly I'm one of the unfortunate few who just don't have one of them higher self thingies.

 

[moderndayruth]

References to a so-called 'higher self' abound in metaphysical-type writimgs. Is it merely a metaphor for our more spiritual aspirations? I just can't seem to get my head around it, or possibly I'm one of the unfortunate few who just don't have one of them higher self thingies.

I think it became a figure of speech and basically means you at your best; or as you say,' a metaphor for our more spiritual aspirations ' or, more precisely the end result of the process, something like that.
Maybe in the beginning the term had something to do with "multiple souls" and after-life states, but even if it was the case, i think that meaning got lost with time.
Great question, thanks for starting the thread on it!

 

[greatdane]

Good question, LRichard

In my post, it was just listed as Accessing the Higher Self because that was the name of the site . But I see it as taking ourselves to our best form, to always learning, getting in tune with our most spiritual self, HOWEVER we define it.

GD

 

[BodhiSeed]

References to a so-called 'higher self' abound in metaphysical-type writimgs. Is it merely a metaphor for our more spiritual aspirations? I just can't seem to get my head around it, or possibly I'm one of the unfortunate few who just don't have one of them higher self thingies.

I think the idea might have originated in Hinduism. They refer to the Self (with a capital to differentiate it from self/ego) as the conscious divine core in every person. Everyone has this divine core, and it is the same in everyone. It can be discovered through meditation. Eknath Easwaran writes in his translation of the Bhagavad Gita: "In this state the individual realizes that he is not a physical creature but the Atman, the Self, and thus not separate from God. He sees the world not as pieces but whole, and he sees that whole as a manifestation of God."

 

[WolfyJames]

Well, looks like the page on Wikipedia on this matter has shrunk to a single paragrah, how sad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_self

http://www.floweroflife.org/higherself01.htm

http://healing.about.com/od/higherself/a/whohigherself.htm

http://www.mystic-mouse.co.uk/Wisdom_Texts/Mystic_Visions/Higher Self.htm

I believe we connect with our higher self when we read because that part of ourself is omnicient and knows everrything.

 

[moderndayruth]

I think the idea might have originated in Hinduism.

Could be from Kabbalah too, where you have:

Nefesh, the lowest level of consciousness, awareness of the physical body and the physical world, the world of Asiyah - the world of Action.

Ruach is the next level of soul -its primary manifestation is in the emotions.
(The world corresponding to ruach is the world of Yetzirah, world of Formation. )

Neshamah has to do with the intellect and manifestation of Divine energy in the world of Beriah; in the soul its the primary activity is understanding.
(Beriah is world of Creation. )


The next aspect of the soul is Chayah (living one), manifestation in the world of Atzilut, Word of Emanation.

Yechidah represents the quintessential point of the soul, rooted in the Or Ein Sof.

(But that would be 'Highest Self' not 'Higher' than... )

Hmm, great topic indeed!

 

[Carla]

Eckhart Tolle teaches that even at our most unaware, we still know there is something more within us, such as when we say things like, 'I can't live with myself anymore.' Are you two people? Not really, but we sense there's something more there...

I think the Higher Self is the bit of Universal Consciousness within. The aspect of self that is able to observe self. In Buddhist philosophy, it's the part of you that is able to step aside from the reaction of the moment and label it, 'Oh. I'm feeling anger now.' And can then observe the anger without making up stories about it or getting involved with it. I believe that's the Higher Self.

 

[BodhiSeed]

Could be from Kabbalah too

I just love to see similarities between religions/philosophies. I wonder if Jesus was speaking of the same thing when he stated that the kingdom of heaven was "within."
It's like everyone has different keys that open the same door...

 

[214red]

in my point of view when i connect to my higher self i am connecting to the rest of 'me' thats in spirit, i believe only a fraction of ourselves are here in a phsyical life each time, they hold knowledge about all our lives and ou r experiences

 

[Ashtaroot]

Imagine a big cloud, and one drop of moisture is you now. All the other drops are a different combinations of you, but still you different times, realities, lives etc ... All happening in the NOW. It is like connecting to the mothership of what is " YOU".

The mothership "YOU" is very very big can not be contained in one body.