Originally, I recognized it as the original soul of a group soul. Based on what I learned through out-of-body experiences, there are various elements, but I couldn't quite determine which one was the "higher self" itself. Although it has been talked about as a "higher self" for over 30 years, I haven't fully understood what the "higher self" that is often mentioned in New Age and spiritual circles actually is.
Recently, I've been thinking that various concepts are individually interpreted as the "higher self" by different people and organizations. Trying to understand the "higher self" using the words "higher self" and spiritual words has hindered my understanding, but more importantly, I think that by combining direct experiences gained through out-of-body experiences and meditation, or by combining various knowledge such as Vedanta, we can understand the reality of the "higher self."
So, what I think now is that the "higher self" is a collection of various concepts. The concept, which was originally difficult to understand, seems to have become something with various meanings, having gone through the evolution of people's imaginations and usage in different schools of thought, and I wonder if it was originally one thing.
As such, the meaning of "higher self" varies depending on the school of thought, and there are probably two main meanings: the meaning that is likely intended in spirituality and New Age, and the meaning that is generally interpreted. Including more detailed meanings, there seem to be three meanings.
- In the mainstream of spirituality, the soul is simply referred to as the "higher self."
- Another meaning is when "higher self" is used to mean "group soul," and I think this is probably what New Age originally intended to convey.
- The third is when one's own spirit is acting on oneself across time and space.
The higher self and the group soul are the same or not the same.
It is repeated, but based on my understanding, it is related to out-of-body experiences I had in childhood, where I became a fragment of a gigantic and great soul, which is probably 1000 times the capacity of my soul. It has a human form and possesses something like a personality.That is a place where my soul returns, and since I am a part of it, I think it is not inappropriate to call that original soul "(me)" with an explanation. However, it is so different from me that it is difficult to say that the original great soul/existence is "me." So, while I am "me," it would be easier to understand if I simply said "fragment."
From that perspective, the relationship between a fragment and its original, or the relationship where the original existence is a group soul and I am a part of it, is my understanding. The term "higher self" does not appear in that. Therefore, the concept of "higher self" has long been something that I could not quite understand.
I know this because I have seen the original soul's existence up close during out-of-body experiences, or I have merged with the group soul on various occasions. Even if you add "higher" to it, "self" is an overly presumptuous term in terms of the amount of aura, knowledge, or perception. I know about the original soul, so it is possible to call it "higher self" in terms of terminology, but it is too different to be called "self."
It can be seen as either a group soul or a higher self, depending on the perspective. Or, it can be called the original soul of the fragment. When you merge with the group soul, you become one with the group soul, so calling it "self" is not entirely wrong. While it is technically still "me," it is very different in terms of existence.
So, there is a perspective where the group soul is seen as the higher self.
Spiritually, the higher self is equivalent to the group soul.
On the other hand, there is also a simple view that one's soul is the higher self. Since one's own soul becomes one's own consciousness, it is the consciousness that normally exists and is taken for granted. This is usually just ordinary consciousness, but in rare cases, when someone has materialistic thinking, conflicts, or is recently transformed from an animal and their consciousness is not yet fully developed, they may not even be connected to their own soul as the higher self. In such cases, it is necessary to first connect with one's own soul's higher self, and then connect with the source, which is the original group soul. However, most people who are somewhat interested in spirituality have already passed this stage, so it is usually not a problem. It is enough to understand that there is a simple view that one's soul is the higher self.In terms of stages, one's soul reaches the state of being the higher self (although it is often obvious from the beginning), and then comes into contact with the group soul.
The group soul is the origin from which one is born, so the group soul is always concerned about one and provides various insights and instructions. The insights, wisdom, and knowledge are all far superior, so what the group soul says is usually correct. However, even the group soul, which descends to the earth as a fragment, is exploring things that it does not fully understand in order to deepen its knowledge and insights. Therefore, when one shares insights with the group soul, the group soul is very pleased.
As I wrote when I wrote about the relationship between the higher self and the group soul, for those involved in spirituality, it is not entirely wrong to think of the group soul as the higher self. However, as mentioned above, there is a significant difference, so it is a well-known term in the spiritual world. If you understand this and use the term "higher self" as a term, it is not a big problem.
The term "higher self" seems to have emerged during the New Age era in connection with channeling, etc. However, there is no channeling between oneself and oneself, because in order to observe or communicate, it is necessary to become a separate entity. Therefore, in channeling, the term "higher self" inevitably refers to the source, which is the vast and great soul that is the origin of oneself, which is equivalent to the group soul.
In that context, the term "higher self" means the group soul.
I, as a spirit, contact myself across time and space.
In this case, I would simply call this spirit a "spirit" and not necessarily refer to it as the "higher self," but in terms of its positioning, I think it would be acceptable to call this spirit, which transcends time and space, the "higher self."For example, if a spirit from childhood or from another lifetime contacts the current self, it could be seen as the self, or it could be described as a spirit connected through a group soul. Calling it the "higher self" is not necessarily wrong.
Sometimes, a spirit from childhood contacts the self to guide the future of one's life and adjust the timeline. On the other hand, there are also cases where it directly contacts another lifetime.
In such cases, it is difficult to distinguish from the conscious mind, and one might think of it as a simple guardian spirit or a higher self.
For some people, the guardian spirit may be their own past or future life, and the person who is being protected may be aware of it. However, the guardian spirit is not necessarily the self's own spirit, but may be a spirit that is connected to it.
Some people who are involved in spirituality insist that the guardian spirit is one's own past or future life, but I think that while that may be the case in some situations, it is not always the case.
When a spirit transcends time and space and becomes involved with the self, it is a significant matter, and if it were to happen without adjustment, it could lead to a very tragic life. In some cases, it may be a lonely soul that does not have many close and reliable spirits. However, in most cases, it is normal to have people who will protect you if you ask.
There are times when simply being connected to one's soul is referred to as the "higher self."
That way of saying is not entirely wrong, but I always think, "What does that mean?" and many options come to mind, and I wonder "Which one is it?" So, I would appreciate it if people could be more specific rather than just saying "higher self."