Please define Higher Self or Source.

[Tony]

Could anyone please define what Higher Self or Source means?

I know this is not easy as it is beyond words.
But it would be interesting to see if we are all
on the same page or not...or something near enough.

What qualities does it have?
Is it internal or external or both or neither?
Does it exist or is it none existent or both or neither?
How does the lower self relate to it?

When did you first hear of these expressions?
This is not meant as the beginning of an argument,
it is just to make things a little clearer.

It may be time to pull things together, so we can focus better.

Tony

[jorr lundstrom]

Beats me. When I was young I used to play chess and was pretty good at it.

Until I one day suddenly realized I was only playing with myself. Since then

no more chess. LOL

[WhiteFeather]

I n t u i t i o n

[Jenci]

It's easier to say what it is NOT:-

It is not my mind or my body.

It is not my thoughts, feelings and emotions.

It is not memories of the past or thoughts of the future.

It is not my beliefs, ideas, concepts, social conditioning.

It is not any sense of self I have as being a mother, daughter, sister, unrelated, friend, enemy.

It is not my wants, desires and fears.

It's not my likes or dislikes.

It is not anyone else's idea of what it is or where it is to be found.

It is not some kind of altered state to be in.

It is not a right or a wrong, a good or evil or a light or a dark.

It is not anything which changes or comes and goes.

It is a not a higher dimension or vibration or anything which can be perceived.



It is nothing.
It is what is left when all the above are discarded.
It can't be described in words. It can't even be experienced.
It just is.


It's the unborn, the undying, the unchanging in which everything arises.
It remains unaffected by all that arises within it.


Jeanette

[Ultima Thule]

If your higher self could be considered a more evolved version of you, basically it could be you in a "future" incarnation. As you are changing all the time in all the possible incarnations and timelines, the changes vertebrate in all directions, effecting your higher self and making the connection a living, morphing, evolving thing. With that idea, I have resonated to some extent and have entertained the idea of me being a higher self for an earlier incarnation of myself.

Come to think of it, I guess it would mean in music terms me vibrating at a certain frequency, say 442hz and the higher self representing the accompanying upper harmonic frequencies?

UT

[Jenci]

If your higher self could be considered a more evolved version of you, basically it could be you in a "future" incarnation. As you are changing all the time in all the possible incarnations and timelines, the changes vertebrate in all directions, effecting your higher self and making the connection a living, morphing, evolving thing. With that idea, I have resonated to some extent and have entertained the idea of me being a higher self for an earlier incarnation of myself.

Come to think of it, I guess it would mean in music terms me vibrating at a certain frequency, say 442hz and the higher self representing the accompanying upper harmonic frequencies?

UT

Hi Ut,

How about entertaining the idea that your higher self is here, NOW, in this incarnation?

Our minds like to organise, categorise and put things in time.
Past lives, future lives.
Evolving, growing, changing.

Minds can only exist like this - this is why they do this.
Your higher self is beyond the mind.
It is already here right Now, present in this moment.

The mind doesn't exist in the NOW, so takes you out of this moment and puts it somewhere in time,.......which consequently leads you directly away from the higher self.

You are already it and you don't need to wait until some point in the future, in a next life or at a higher vibration, to realise it. :)
Jeanette

[grapevine]

It's the part that I hear giving people fantastic advice that I really need to take myself (as in "now where did that little nugget come from?"). It's also a "knowing", a feeling of being "observed". It is everything. I am nothing and yet I know I am loved unreservedly and accepted totally, deeply flawed though I may be.

[TraineeHuman]

My experience is that the Higher Self is continuously happy. Although it’s not naïve, it‘s very good at seeing the good in everything and everyone.

When I meditate I usually go into being one with it. It lives in a state of profoundly strong joy and deep peace.

I’m not continuously in touch with it fully, even though I often constantly experience that it’s there. I doubt that anyone is continuously in touch, and in communication, in a full sense, all the time. But I can get strongly in touch with it almost any day, e.g. usually any time I meditate.

One way it communicates to my stream of consciousness is through dreams. If I’ve made an important decision that’s not in my best interests, my Higher Self will warn me through one or more unpleasant dreams. The last time I had an unpleasant dream was two months ago, but only for three nights, after which I reversed a certain decision. Before that it was close to a year since a “warning” dream. But I remember around four years ago about one dream in two or three was of this kind, and that continued for over six months, till I finally got various things in my life right again.

[Eagle]

how do you define(box) something that is everything and energy at the same time, we are a part of it and it is a part of everything, dont get into defining it like religion has for the past 13,000 years

[Laura Elina]

Well, I had to put it in the simplest of terms to myself to understand even a little bit of what it could be...

I think of "source/god-mind" as the "service provider"/"the big company", I actually think of it as a mobile phone company/operator, you know like... Sprint, T-Mobile etc... (lol, I know... I guess this is an awful way of explaining it to myself),

I am a customer of the service provider and my "higher self" is the customer service representative between myself and the service provider. The mediator in a way.

And you know how tricky it is to get in touch with the big company itself, when/if the service has a glitch in it... (Or if you wanna tell them how wonderful the service has been for a few days, lol). And getting a hold of the representative (Tricky to get a hold of your higher self, I feel), who will tell the company how you feel about it, and the representative negotiates the terms of the service in your behalf, tells them what it is what you want, if you have the wits and patience to explain it to the representative what it is that you want... Sometimes you get a bill in the mail and you're shocked.. As in, this is not what I agreed to and... There you are again, picking up the phone and hoping to reach "your representative".

Did that make any sense at all? I can't give you an esoteric explanation of it in any "real" terms. But there is my guess, I hope someone has the answer :)

[Eagle]

Well, I had to put it in the simplest of terms to myself to understand even a little bit of what it could be...

I think of "source/god-mind" as the "service provider"/"the big company", I actually think of it as a mobile phone company/operator, you know like... Sprint, T-Mobile etc... (lol, I know... I guess this is an awful way of explaining it to myself),

I am the customer of the service provider and my "higher self" is the customer service representative between myself and the service provider. The mediator in a way.

And you know how tricky it is to get in touch with the big company itself, when/if the service has a glitch in it... (Or if you wanna tell them how wonderful the service has been for a few days, lol). And getting a hold of the representative (Tricky to get a hold of your higher self, I feel), who will tell the company how you feel about it, and the representative negotiates the terms of the service in your behalf, tells them what it is what you want, if you have the wits and patience to explain it to the representative what it is that you want... Sometimes you get a bill in the mail and you're shocked.. As in, this is not what I agreed to and... There you are again, picking up the phone and hoping to reach "your representative".

Did that make any sense at all? I can't give you an esoteric explanation of it in any "real" terms. But there is my guess, I hope someone has the answer :)

Good job I dont like those additional charges, and dont get me started on the surveys. LOL

[aranuk]

The Higher Self is a part of you which is connected to the Higher planes of existence of time and space. We are never out of touch with IT ever. IT remains when the physical body is destroyed into the elements it is made of. The HS is our continuity into infinity. IT has no gender. This is our essential being full stop. My Higher Self has a name and I call it ARANUK.

Stan

[Ultima Thule]

If your higher self could be considered a more evolved version of you, basically it could be you in a "future" incarnation. As you are changing all the time in all the possible incarnations and timelines, the changes vertebrate in all directions, effecting your higher self and making the connection a living, morphing, evolving thing. With that idea, I have resonated to some extent and have entertained the idea of me being a higher self for an earlier incarnation of myself.

Come to think of it, I guess it would mean in music terms me vibrating at a certain frequency, say 442hz and the higher self representing the accompanying upper harmonic frequencies?

UT
Hi Ut,

How about entertaining the idea that your higher self is here, NOW, in this incarnation?

Jeanette

That´s kind of exactly what I was saying ;) By that analogy higher self would be here right now, but also in other times and places, thus giving possible insight beyond this time and place. Past and the future are all now, a part of me is just temporarily locked in this time in space and therefore from my temporary "interface" it looks like there is past and future :nerd:

That was just an idea I´ve had, so no means to not-agree with you Jeanette! Just thought to re-iterate that I kind of agree with you on that!

UT

[markpierre]

`
Everything BUT the self identified "I".

[gooty64]

I will be watching this thread to learn...

I feel that I am a spark of my higher self which is part of source. It's ALL connected not really separate.
I had an experience in April this year where a glowing beam of light from above infused "something" into my palm causing it to swell twice the size temporarily. A had a scar for a few weeks so i know it really happened. I relayed this info to an older wiser and friend and he said, "it's your higher self trying to tell you something". That feels true to me but, I couldn't prove it-lol.
* I would also say higher self-source isn't "nothing" but, it is definitely "no thing".

[Sebastion]

I would politely and humbly disagree with parts of your statements, Jenci. It most definitely CAN be experienced but one must get beyond mind. If one cannot perceive, how can anything be experienced? If one cannot perceive, enlightenment could not be realized.

To answer your question(s) Tony as best I can, higher self is a reference to Soul itself in my personal definition. Source is the "politically correct" term (as I understand it) referencing god. The term "god" means different things to many people and lord knows we can't be offending people hence the word "source".

[Jenci]

When I first had awakening I went into a state of bliss for a few months. Everything felt wonderful, I was happy and could only see in the good in everything. I thought this was the Source/higher self.

But this changed and I went into a state of hell emotionally for many more months. Fortunately, something far more knowing than "me" knew that this period of emotional turmoil was absolutely necessary. If I had "my" way, I would avoided this, thinking this could not have been the source/higher self.

What I later came to realise was that both these states of happiness or sadness were changeable states, both by-products of my awakening but not the awakening itself.

Now, I am no longer happy or sad.
If people ask me how I am I generally just nod my head and say I am fine because that is how I communicate sociably but if I was to answer the question truthfully, then I would have no response.

I can remember what it was like to be happy and I remember what it was like to be sad but these reference points are no longer here in my experience. It's just "I am"

Jeanette

[dourpil]

Could anyone please define what Higher Self or Source means?


Hi and thank you for this interesting topic!
I would say the Higher Self is a version of "me" that has already come to the end of the path "I" am walking. From "there", it guides and helps me find what is best for me. It is the part of me that is all-knowing and all-loving, that has not forgotten its nature.


I know this is not easy as it is beyond words.
But it would be interesting to see if we are all
on the same page or not...or something near enough.

Very interesting indeed :)


What qualities does it have?

Any quality you could think of, it has it


Is it internal or external or both or neither?

I'd say both; it depends on where our awareness is. And we know awareness likes to move often. In our current POV, we consider it external but it surely is coming from the interior.


Does it exist or is it none existent or both or neither?

I'm not sure.. Do I exist? Am I nonexistent? The answer is the same for Higher Self and what I consider as "me"


How does the lower self relate to it?

Tough one, I'm not sure how to interprete the question.. I will skip this one if you permit me :)


When did you first hear of these expressions?

About 2-4 years ago

[Lisab]

For most of my life, up until the last few years, I seem to have been thrown into some pretty sticky and even potentialy life threatening, sticky situations. Just as I couldn't take anymore or just as I'm about to throw in the towel, Ive been removed from that situation but always at the last minute it seems. I used to call it my guardian angel but I guess it's my Higher Self.
I also get bad dreams when things arn't right in my world. Warnings.

[Little Ishta]

Mmmmm... my definition of Higher Self is a teacher/guide who tries to give guidance to your Lower Self. As for Source, its all that is around, its everything, the alpha and the omega.

I first heard these expressions a very long time ago... well long to me... lol I believe I was around 11 yrs old or maybe even 13 yrs old. It was one of the two.

[Jenci]

I would politely and humbly disagree with parts of your statements, Jenci. It most definitely CAN be experienced but one must get beyond mind. If one cannot perceive, how can anything be experienced? If one cannot perceive, enlightenment could not be realized.



Hi Sebastion,

Disagreements are welcome here :) You picked up on an important statement that I made.

Yes, I thought it could be experienced too. But then some deeper realisation starts to unfold.(Words are inadequate here to describe)

To experience, we have to have an experience and one who experiences.
There is something being perceived and there's a perceiver.

Is this duality or is this non-duality?

I would say that in this process towards enlightenment (non-dual realisation) we definitely can perceive and experience our source/higher self. But this is not the totality of it - in other words, keep going.

This is a question Mooji asks which is pointing towards realising the totality of it.



Can you the perceiver be seen? If I only had one question, I would ask you this, and I will keep asking you this.
It is so potent a question that you could forget everything else you have ever heard or studied, and it would lead you Home.


Jeanette

[Jenci]

If your higher self could be considered a more evolved version of you, basically it could be you in a "future" incarnation. As you are changing all the time in all the possible incarnations and timelines, the changes vertebrate in all directions, effecting your higher self and making the connection a living, morphing, evolving thing. With that idea, I have resonated to some extent and have entertained the idea of me being a higher self for an earlier incarnation of myself.

Come to think of it, I guess it would mean in music terms me vibrating at a certain frequency, say 442hz and the higher self representing the accompanying upper harmonic frequencies?

UT
Hi Ut,

How about entertaining the idea that your higher self is here, NOW, in this incarnation?

Jeanette

That´s kind of exactly what I was saying ;) By that analogy higher self would be here right now, but also in other times and places, thus giving possible insight beyond this time and place. Past and the future are all now, a part of me is just temporarily locked in this time in space and therefore from my temporary "interface" it looks like there is past and future :nerd:

That was just an idea I´ve had, so no means to not-agree with you Jeanette! Just thought to re-iterate that I kind of agree with you on that!

UT

Talking about that which cannot be talked about, it can all get so complicated, LOL, I agree with you ;)

[spiritguide]

It is the dichotomy of being awake on two planes of existence simultaneously, spiritual and material. Unconditional love is the transformer and ego is the barrior. Ego exist on the material level and love exist on both. Each sentient being in the omniverse is affected as in the ALL.

:peace:

[Sebastion]

Semantics begin to fail at this point as being non-duality or duality never enters the equation and becomes a moot point. One simply "knows".

[greybeard]

Eckhart Tolle said "It is the nature of experience(s) to come and go."
Anything that comes and goes is not it.
Truth is permanent and undeniable.
Enlightenment is not personal--- there is no self left to experience it.
What is left is Self. (Higher)
Self is consciousness and could be said to be one consciousness shared by all.
Enlightenment is a State not an experience.

Many pages on the subject from quite a few contributors here.

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?860-Enlightenment-The-Ego-what-is-it-How-to-transcend-it.&p=7764&viewfull=1#post7764

Truth is not debatable because the moment it is spoken of it becomes a concept.

Opinion is a different animal all together--- it has its place and is useful in duality.
Unnecessary in unity consciousness.
Higher Self is awareness.
Awareness does not need subject and object.
Essence and context is wordlessly directly known.

Hope this is helpful

Chris

[modwiz]

When I am clear and operating from my center, I am that higher self. It is a few steps back and/or up from the first stance. Don Juan and other 'types' call it second attention. There is a Higher Self, outside of time and natively multidimensional. I do not recommend moving anywhere near this state while operating heavy machinery. Staying emotionally unperturbed or clear is the best way I know of to operate from the higher self. I do not speak of being emotionless at all, just clear of the disempowering states based on twisted relationship with Self.

[Unified Serenity]

I do not recommend moving anywhere near this state while operating heavy machinery.

snickers, oh how true!

[music]

Blissful tranquillity in the purity of the now

The moment by moment creator of personal reality moving through successive points in space/time

Infinite lotus growing from the navel of creation that we call the big bang

[greybeard]

I would politely and humbly disagree with parts of your statements, Jenci. It most definitely CAN be experienced but one must get beyond mind. If one cannot perceive, how can anything be experienced? If one cannot perceive, enlightenment could not be realized.
.

Hi Sebastion
Perception is flawed as its dependent on a personal view point and is therefore different for all.
When the state called enlightenment occurs-- the so called normal state is replaced.
There is no one left to perceive something separate, Perceiving implies a this perceiving a that.
Instead there is awareness which just knows.
Nothing is separate---- One without a second-- is one description.

Regards Chris

[markpierre]

I would politely and humbly disagree with parts of your statements, Jenci. It most definitely CAN be experienced but one must get beyond mind. If one cannot perceive, how can anything be experienced? If one cannot perceive, enlightenment could not be realized.

To answer your question(s) Tony as best I can, higher self is a reference to Soul itself in my personal definition. Source is the "politically correct" term (as I understand it) referencing god. The term "god" means different things to many people and lord knows we can't be offending people hence the word "source".

Sorry to butt in, but I need to blah blah a little. The only thing that has to be gotten 'beyond', is self. 'Me". But not as in overcome or destroyed or transcended. More like 'get over yourself'. You can transcend for as long as you don't get hungry or have to use the toilet.
Some people can do that for a long time. Good going to them.

But THIS is the package that's being transformed, and we made it all up for that purpose. This is the thing that's being 'lit up'.
It includes the stories, all the cellular memory, all the tendencies and handicaps. It excludes nothing because getting to the truth of all of it, is - it's - purpose.
And truth eventually sets you free.
I mean the truth beneath the truth beneath that truth.
It's only a process because we don't like a lot of that truth.
Baby steps.
But that's where the 'higher self' does it's thing. It's you. In your right mind.

You ARE mind. You don't need perception to be aware and participating fully. And you won't.

The self identity needs perception because that's what it's made up from. You think there is a you that's distinct. So the experience of SELF is unnoticed behind all those distinctions you have to be continually making in order to be 'you'.
That's where some sort of discipline is useful, or sometimes necessary.
But only the fantasy self could make a distinction that there is something that needs to be overcome. Distractions like that need to be overcome, but that's what's occurring.

Enlightenment isn't 'realized' in perception. It overrides perception. It defies perception. Perception requires judgements. It's function is to make comparisons. 'That's indigo', and 'that's purple'. Huh?
If you can say 'Now I'm enlightened', then you're not. You're busy judging it. You actually go in and out of it all the time.

It's a mystery because you can't know what it is until it occurs. But it's not mysterious.
It only seems complex in the same sense that most people learn to talk, but very few really learn to listen. But you can and do listen when it's something you want to hear.
And that's how the process works you.
It's an issue of what do you want most? That's what's evolving in you.
There is something to desire to in every level of consciousness and that's also what drives these quests. In us the longing for wholeness. Call it enlightenment or resurrection or ascension or whatever, but it's not an 'attainment'. If you put some grain in a jar of water, after a while
it begins to ferment.

Hummm. Hope that helps.

[TraineeHuman]

Is your Higher Self in any way here, in the 3D world?

I say yes, it certainly is, based on my own experience. Everything I have written in this thread and in Dawn’s thread regarding my Higher Self has been 100% from the viewpoint of how I have experienced it. Yes, I’m afraid this 3D world is a world of experience, and duality.

So, is your Higher Self in any way here, or is it altogether somewhere else?

The highest spirituality is practical. Not theoretical. At least, that's been my experience.

[Star1111]

It's the part that I hear giving people fantastic advice that I really need to take myself (as in "now where did that little nugget come from?"). It's also a "knowing", a feeling of being "observed". It is everything. I am nothing and yet I know I am loved unreservedly and accepted totally, deeply flawed though I may be.

Firstly, I've got to say that I absolutely LOVE you W1ndmill you are a peaceful and wonderful soul !

For me Higher Self means the 'Real me' the purest part of me, detached as its own entitiy but ME nonetheless. The Soul if you like [edit] part of the Soul group I should say.
Source for me means The Divine, the centre of ALL, EVERYTHING, NOTHING.

Much LOVE to you all

[edit] this came to me in a flash, I was given this.
SO exciting !!!

[Sebastion]

As one can now see a few posts on this thread, there are many ways to say the same thing! I am reminded of a phrase I read once which stated that while in the Void, its silence expresses a million words, yet a million words expresses nothing but silence.

The only thing I wish to add to this thread is that the journey to the Heart of One is an alone process, meaning unique to you. Your complete understanding of it, is unique to you. The experiences you have or undergo will be yours and yours alone for your own unique understanding. That has been my path and experience and I have loved every minute of it.

[Tony]

Glancing through the threads, it seems that everyone has their own version,
and this has a rightness about it. We are all individuals, on a spiritual journey or discovery.
No one can make this journey for us, we walk it alone.
So it is right that we call it and describe it the way that benefits us.

So there is no point in saying “It's like this,” “No it's like that!”

It is as it is for us. Refining will take place as we go deeper. It's good to use one's own words.
There can sometimes be an inner conflict between what is learnt and what is experienced.
In my chosen tradition it is called Emptiness, but what I feel is an Ordinariness.

My hope is that others will read your comments, and this may waken something in them.
This awakening has many levels, it has a thread of 'isness' running through them!



Thank you.

[Tarka the Duck]

I am really enjoying this thread! I think a lot of that is because it feels as if people are really searching out words to try and refine and then explain what they feel inwardly - using ordinary words, and without resorting to cut and paste!

It's so inspiring to read the different explanations, and peep through a keyhole to get a glimpse of the journeys people are following.

It seems so important to trust in our own current explanation of what our higher self is. This will no doubt change and refine (hopefully!) as we continue of our individual journeys. No one is more right than anyone else: there is no need for correction or argument, which is so liberating!

Alittle story about trusting yourself: when my father-in-law was a young boy, he took an exam in practical woodwork. He followed the instructions to make an object...and then looked around the classroom and saw that his object was different from everyone else's. So he broke it to pieces, and as he didn't have time to re-make it, he failed the exam.
And so did everyone else...he had been right all along.

So, to have a go at explaining the inexplicable...

It is where we can watch experiences arise from the empty essence of our being.
Natural and spontaneous.
Nothing to achieve, nothing to accept or reject.
All potentiality.
Clear, lucid.
Open and unobstructed.
Nothing whatsoever but everything arising from it.

Kathie

[shijo]

a spontaneous outpouring of joy and relief.Knowing that whatever state im in i can create something of value,higher self to me means Buddha nature which exists in all our psychological states, even the hellish ones,winter always turns to spring and the sufferings of birth and death are nirvana.

[Jenci]

Alittle story about trusting yourself: when my father-in-law was a young boy, he took an exam in practical woodwork. He followed the instructions to make an object...and then looked around the classroom and saw that his object was different from everyone else's. So he broke it to pieces, and as he didn't have time to re-make it, he failed the exam.
And so did everyone else...he had been right all along.

Kathie



That's a great story, Kathie
It might also fit well in the sheeple thread:)
Jeanette

[daci]

Wow, how enjoyable thread to read! Thank you!

It is so mind blowing to consider that the real ME, my higher self is multidimensional, (is there a limit of dimensions?), eternal, infinite, essential part of 'All-That-Is', limitless, always open to more, better, higher, deeper, etc…

Truly inspiring and humbling…

[Tony]

Just a View
(I just put this on the Sheeple thread but it fits here as well!)

Empty Essence (or whatever you want to call it) is a dry, experiential, non-state.
It is merely pure perception.
I use the term Ordinary, as it has no adornments or modifications.
For me, this is the view of meditation.
I suppose 'Ordinary' could be seen as zero, or total simplicity. It has always been as it is ...but we tend not to remember!
We just need to become more familiar with it.....after all it is our natural being.

The primordial purity is absolute truth: it is our essence.
Its nature is consciousness: this is the relative truth.
The unity of these two truths is compassion.
Compassion – in its many forms - arises to meet the needs of sentient beings. In Sanskrit, it is known as Nirmanakaya.

If we have Clarity but no understanding of Emptiness, everything will appear as real.
If we have an understanding of Emptiness, but lack Clarity, we may find ourselves in a spaced-out state.

We may have different outlooks: mine changes all the time!
But my inlook doesn't...

Is this too far away from what some of you may call “higher self” or “source”?
Or is there something that is in harmony with what you may feel?

Tony

[Jeffrey]

Could anyone please define what Higher Self or Source means?

I know this is not easy as it is beyond words.
But it would be interesting to see if we are all
on the same page or not...or something near enough.

What qualities does it have?
Is it internal or external or both or neither?
Does it exist or is it none existent or both or neither?
How does the lower self relate to it?

When did you first hear of these expressions?
This is not meant as the beginning of an argument,
it is just to make things a little clearer.

It may be time to pull things together, so we can focus better.

Tony

I've touched on this before. It is something I love to think about! Here goes...

First, I'd like to point out a few things to put the context of this thread in perspective. For myself too, of course.

Lao Tzu said it best...


He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.

..and..


The "Tao" is too great to be described by the name "Tao".
If it could be named so simply, it would not be the eternal Tao.

Heaven and Earth began from the nameless (Tao),
but the multitudes of things around us were created by names.

We desire to understand the world by giving names to the things we see,
but these things are only the effects of something subtle.

When we see beyond the desire to use names,
we can sense the nameless cause of these effects.

The cause and the effects are aspects of the same, one thing.
They are both mysterious and profound.

Replace "Tao" with Source or what have you.

With that being said, I'll take a crack at describing some things. :o

To quote myself from another thread (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?36915-Go-o-d-and--d-evil-The-Revolution-of-the-Human-Spirit):


God represents a principle—unconditional Love. This principle does not take sides, it is not biased, and it has no outliers. Every thought, action, word, and intention takes place within God. Life and death exist within God. Everything that is and everything that is not came forth from this Source. Let that soak in for a minute. God is within all things and all things are within God.

The word God carries with it a myriad of conflicting connotations. They are all as correct as they are seemingly unalike... God is infinite. Infinity cannot be bound in a book or contained in an idea. All characterizations of God are correct. They must be for if one is wrong then infinity becomes limited and this is an obvious conundrum.

Also from a previous writing and keeping with this theme..


What is the principle of God with nothing to hold it up against? We are the inevitable symptom of God's infinite condition. It couldn't be any other way. This universe of material and question is the mechanism by which the Intelligent Infinity may observe itself through a finite perspective. How important! What a purpose! This would mean that creation is the agency for God to fulfill Himself.

Here's more on my take concerning the individualized aspect of spirit and it's relationship to God/Source:


We are seeking union with the Source. God is seeking fulfillment through mans ignorance. Not that He needs to seek anything because He is Infinite, but that's just it. God needs no motive for creation; it's a byproduct of His Being-ness. The concept of the Absolute Existence-Knowledge-Bliss has to have something outside of itself to justify it, but nothing can be outside of it because it is Infinite in every way. Our being is nothing more than a seed of divinity planted by God destined to blossom into individuality. This inherent manifestation provides the illusion of isolation. It all remains Self-contained. This is what gives the Lord His identity. Creation is God's mirror. Man is God's means of observance. Our awareness is an intrinsic cog in the machinery of a conscious Universe. This idea would suggest that our soul purpose here in this world is to witness God, to behold Him in all things, and practice a constant recollectedness of His presence. God must have a means to experience the finite and limited without nullifying His infinite nature. We are the apparatus for this Divine stipulation.

Agog only when the Mind of God is in a state of slumber
can he manifest the ignorance to satiate the wonder.

I feel as if we are transitioning from a dream state to a lucid dream. Step by sweet step we will wake up to our True Self.

In taking this mission and by signing the contract of ignorance, it was known that we would eventually 'cycle' back; making our way through higher vibrations that would eventually resonate with the Source.



Very cool thread. Also, I use God to mean Source, and I say He/His/Him. No, I don't think "God" is a man or woman—this is a game of clever wording. I recognize that Source transcends gender... and description for that matter.

Thanks,

Vivek

[another bob]

Source is simply that Energy of which everything in the universe is a modification (when combined with a bag of chips).

:yo:

[Star Tsar]

I ALWAYS have trouble meditating would love to learn as I have a stressful life but can never silence my mind.....

[Tarka the Duck]

Hello KWB! And welcome...
If you are interested in meditation, have a look in Groups - there is a Meditation group where you can ask questions, etc.
It's really about general mutual support.

Look forward to seeing you there;)

Kathie

[Jenci]

Higher self/Source experiences itself in the human form, each experience a unique taste of itself.

As the human experiencing this life separate from higher self/source there is a need to be a part of, to be in agreement and to be in union with others.

This is just our true nature leading us home and when we get back home, we realise that all of our difference tastes are the same essence.
Jeanette

[Jenci]

I ALWAYS have trouble meditating would love to learn as I have a stressful life but can never silence my mind.....

Hi KWB,

I have never been able to silence my mind either but it is not necessary to be able to meditate.

I explain a little bit more about this here. It may be of use to you.
http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?36077-What-is-Meditation&p=385076#post385076
Jeanette

[RedeZra]

in my view Higher self is soul spiritual mind while Source is God Almighty mind

then we have carnal mind

which is nuisance to soul and God

[aranuk]

Krishnamurti explained in one of his books. Observe the thoughts, visions and chit chat going through your brain. Do NOT try to stop it Only witness it without doing anything at all. Just allow the distractions to come and go but observe. Very soon I can assure you, you will have an empty mind. Hope that helps you.

Stan

[grapevine]

It's the part that I hear giving people fantastic advice that I really need to take myself (as in "now where did that little nugget come from?"). It's also a "knowing", a feeling of being "observed". It is everything. I am nothing and yet I know I am loved unreservedly and accepted totally, deeply flawed though I may be.

Firstly, I've got to say that I absolutely LOVE you W1ndmill you are a peaceful and wonderful soul !

For me Higher Self means the 'Real me' the purest part of me, detached as its own entitiy but ME nonetheless. The Soul if you like [edit] part of the Soul group I should say.
Source for me means The Divine, the centre of ALL, EVERYTHING, NOTHING.

Much LOVE to you all

[edit] this came to me in a flash, I was given this.
SO exciting !!!

Thank you Star1111 - and I absolutely love you too ..... :) xxx

[ROMANWKT]

Oblivious to ones higher self the ego, as many live only by ego, remove ego, you are left with higher self/source, sustain ego, then dealing with the gateway the subconscious. higher self beyond subconscious.

Regards to all
roman

[Tony]

How's this for a manifestation of spontaneous joy?! Enjoy!

zBEbYXa6Cik

'night 'night! see you tomorrow...

Tony

[TraineeHuman]

I would say that what everyone else seems to be mostly talking about is Source rather than their Higher Self. Source to me is extraordinary because what it is really is, in my understanding, is the multiverse whenever it acts in unison – which it seems to do often, and in many ways.

We have the coming celebrations of the birth of Baal (who was born in Bethlehem on December 25th, at least two months before Yeshua’s actual birthdate) and of the sun god Mithras (born on December 23rd, also in Bethlehem I believe) and of the Saturnalia (a week of celebrations preceding but also including the new year, since Saturn was the god of time).

At such a time of year we might perhaps consider contemplating what the incarnation of Yeshua’s Higher Self really entailed. If the Higher Self dwells only in some much higher dimensions, was Yeshua’s birth totally in vain? Christian theologians have used up an awful lot of ink over many years trying to find ways to make sense of this. "God's incarnation as man" is regarded as probably the toughest paradox of Christian dogma. (Not that I'm a Christian.)

Apparently Baal and Mithras also resurrected themselves after death, though some scholars believe no such claims were initially made about Yeshua. At any rate: is the Higher Self in any way involved in such resurrection? Does it communicate anything into, and therefore in, the 3D world after such a resurrection? If it does so communicate, then how could it possibly do so without part of it being right here in the 3D world?

[jorr lundstrom]

No one lives ever only by ego, Self is always present. It may seem as only ego

but as ego is a modification of the energy from Self, ego is an

impossibility without Self. One may be unaware of , ie not consciosly be

in ones Self, but that doesnt mean that Self isnt present.

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt81/sakasvattaja/wedgetailedeagle.jpg

[etm567]

Could anyone please define what Higher Self or Source means?


Well, I am under the impression that it is a part of us that we leave behind, elsewhere, not here in third dimension or density or whatever you want to call this place that we are. So, that being said, I think my impression of the "higher self," which I have taken from other people, is different from what I think some people here seem to think of as the higher self, which would probably be what I call the self, or the soul, but that portion of the self that is here in this body. That self is what is left when you shut the mind down. It is the observer, the "who" that is watching what you are thinking. I think that is what Ken Wilbur calls the witness.

The notion of higher self that I ascribe to is that when we incarnate, the entirety of our being does not incarnate here in our bodies. Some portion of ourselves is left behind, and that portion of ourselves is aware of our "contract" for this incarnation and what we intended to accomplish or experience in this incarnation. I think that is the higher self.

But the portion of our soul that is here in our bodies is not, to me, the higher self; it is the self. This self is not the mind or the personality. It exists apart from the mind and apart from the body. And it would be the part of you that would leave your body in an out-of-body experience.

That higher self is somewhere else. And is more difficult to get in touch with.

That's just my take on it.

[ROMANWKT]

That is correct Jorr, one cannot be without the other, not in the mood for explaining, as its a merry go round here, over and over again, same repetitive questions and very little else, nothing seems to move on, new faces same questions.

Regards to you Jorr
roman

http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?15834-Its-all-nonsense-part-1


http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?32896-MANIFESTING-IN-THE-MATRIX-its-all-nonsense-part-2

[greybeard]

That is correct Jorr, one cannot be without the other, not in the mood for explaining, as its a merry go round here, over and over again, same repetitive questions and very little else, nothing seems to move on, new faces same questions.

Regards to you Jorr
roman

Its a bit like young teens think they discovered sex--- yet its obvious something must have happened between their parents for them to exist.
Avalon is an amazing resource--- most including, my self, are just not aware of the extent of useful information stored here.
When I joined the original Avalon I think I read for months before it occurred to me to actually post something. Lol

So it may seem that new people are saying much the same thing but here and there a gem appears.
There is always something to discover that inspires and lifts.

We exist because there is Source--- call it what you will.

My understanding is that it is similar to an energetic step down principal.
God is of an energy and intellect beyond our knowing.
Just say "That" is a million volts.
The average human would be like a 100 watt bulb by comparison.
Yet it is That energy that flows through us--- greatly reduced.

We live in a heavy density world where it is difficult to raise our personal energetic frequency.
The Saints and Enlightened ones are of a higher frequency than the average.
Not better than you or I, just a different class.

We make our way through junior school in this world and at some point in time we graduate from University Earth.
The God man (enlightened being) can truthfully say "I am the totality all of it"
(You will find paradoxes in Spiritual teaching)
(You can be the totality but yet not of the same energetic quality as God.)
God is form-formless both and neither.
The mind cant get that.

After enlightenment no more reincarnation here---- higher realms to be in-- more expansion/evolution of consciousness.
Eventually there is a complete merging with Source.

Enlightenment could be likened to kindergarten in the scheme of things.
Yet our potential is phenomenal---- beyond our wildest imagination.

Not saying im right but thats my understanding of this moment---- no doubt it will change.

Chris

[Deega]

Tony, great subject, and how interesting!

Here is a few authors' definitions of some of your question, I will add comments that hold for me.

Higher Self - What qualities does it have?

In http://magicalpath.net/higher-self/,” there are a number of qualities associated with the Higher Self and transpersonal experiences in general. These include stillness, peace, an ‘inner knowing’, an all-pervading aura of unconditional love, contentment, feelings of being outside of time, sudden bursts or flashes of insight or inspiration, and inclusiveness. Other qualities of a spiritual or transpersonal nature include: beauty, comprehension, creativity, goodness, joy, serenity, will, calm, confidence, energy, harmony, love, silence, wisdom, compassion, courage, enthusiasm, humour, patience, and simplicity”.

In my experience, the qualities are energy coming down in my body, peaceful energy, strong and it seems related to your concentration, healing capabilities, helping in being a better loving person and progressing on forgiveness.

Is it internal or external or both or neither?

In http://higherselfguides.com/free-articles/good-questions/how-do-you-know-its-real/ , the author talks of “external validation is when someone or something outside of yourself helps you validate that you are having an experience. If a friend touches you on the shoulder both of you feel the contact. If you drop a red ball on the floor and it bounces back up, both you and your friend can see and hear it happen. You and your friend can confirm for each other that the experience did indeed happen” and when you are in love “it’s an internal experience and you don’t need anyone to confirm that it is true for you”.

I’m not sure if this quotation stand along the line you were expecting…?

How does the lower self relate to it?

In http://www.first30days.com/living-more-spiritually/tip/873, the author say “throughout life, your Higher self (the part of you that is calm, collected and connected to something bigger) is in constant competition with your Lower self (the anxious, ego-driven part of you that often resorts to worry and anxiety)”.

When did you first hear of these expressions?
I would say, a while back in the late ’80.

Deega

[Rantaak]

:jester:
Wow. Brilliant thread you've got going here.

Having directly perceived both the higher self and source from out of body, I can say that these two things might not be mutually exclusive. When you ask some people to think about "source", they think of something above and separate from them. It has never been this way for me, at least not in this lifetime.

Sometimes, if I make eye contact with another person and will myself into a certain space, my perception loses the boundary that normally separates my identity from theirs.

This source goes beyond our bodies and the physical, however. Take a look at this sephirot!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JmOhe-3opIc/TTFbzkNk7wI/AAAAAAAABFY/ivReCR-XSsM/s1600/kabbalah-tree-of-life.gif
Never mind the funny writing, I just wanted to use this diagram as a reference.:angel:
Our bodies are just the bottom cell in this tree. We exist at many levels, as does reality. We cannot readily perceive many of these levels in a normal state of mind due to bodily limitations imposed by external powers.

Sometimes when we speak, we channel energy from beyond our bodies and material reality. This can also happen when we play music or improvise on any level. This energy comes from somewhere on one of these higher levels and makes its ways through our body into some expression. I tend to think in terms of sound. Our bodies are just a tool, a vessel for experience, and I believe that by utilizing the mind as a simultaneously physical and non-physical bridge between the soul and body (as the physical is a reflection of the non-physical in this context, due to the higher self or soul having originated and constructed the blueprint for the mind which is at this moment a product of everything you have experienced while in this body) that we can channel this energy in order to communicate anything that exists as some form of energy. Pretty vast selection of things, if you ask me. But that's just ontology (the study of the state of being, the formality of separation from source).

I know that when I laugh it is because I have somehow looked directly at my higher self while its non-euclidean and gender-less fractalian form has looked at me. We have many eyes. This usually accompanies the perception of truth or irony, two things which also might not be mutually exclusive.

I think that exhausts my current store of false dichotomies. Unless, of course, the dichotomy between truth and irony and that of higher self and source is also a false dichotomy. That makes 3 false dichotomies out of only two things... Wait...
Need to re-position my assemblage point.

I am reminded of a lyric I wrote that sums this all up pretty well:

Creator
You wallow in me
Creator
You are watching me
Creator
You are the emptyness in me, -oh

Creator
Do you see you in me?
Creator
You are what you see
Creator
Authori Domini

[Healthy Skeptic]

Could anyone please define what Higher Self or Source means?

I know this is not easy as it is beyond words.
But it would be interesting to see if we are all
on the same page or not...or something near enough.

What qualities does it have?
Is it internal or external or both or neither?
Does it exist or is it none existent or both or neither?
How does the lower self relate to it?

When did you first hear of these expressions?
This is not meant as the beginning of an argument,
it is just to make things a little clearer.

It may be time to pull things together, so we can focus better.

Tony

As I see it. 'The Source' is 'God' or 'Buddah' or whoever else you might believe that 'God' is in your religion.
Your 'Higher Self' is how one 'attunes' oneself to this (The Source).
Your 'Lower Self' is what we experience as 'real' in this world, ie what we 'see, feel, hear or taste'.
So, Us people in this World should all appreciate 'The Source' and stop fighting between ourselves and killing each other because of our 'differences' on how we 'interpret The Source'. We are 'all in this together' whether we like it or not.

Sorry for this: "May the SOURCE BE WITH YOU".

Love HS.

[music]

Of course there is no ultimate distinction between HC and source. There is no ultimate distinction between anything, merely degrees of removal from prime.

[ktlight]

Could anyone please define what Higher Self or Source means?
Tony

We know it is energy because it is felt. It has the qualities of loving compassion. We find it through internal examination and adjustment. It exists because it IS. The lower self in earthly illusion fears it.