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Or is there a difference ? I was asked this question a while ago. From my own perspective, I see them as one and the same.... the essence of who we are that lives on after our physical demise. However, I'm curious to hear what you think. |
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Even though questions about spirit, soul, higher self and consciousness etcetera have cropped up a few times on IQ, I’m always happy to read other’s ideas, beliefs, opinions or knowing on this subject because I’m integrating various ideas about it and piecing together what’s seems rational and reasonable from my current perspective. As always, my intention is not to make another wrong; every point of view is valid after all. I believe it’s beneficial and provides value to all to explore different perspectives and not to get caught up in fixed ideas or apply rigid labels. Some time ago I received this from my higher self: Spirit-u-all – Can you see – Spirit in you – Spirit in me? I became excited and so started inquiring into the meaning. The ideas that follow are made up partly from what I know, partly from my belief and partly from my research and as such my understanding may change over time; but this is what feels right and makes sense to me right now. Spirit & Soul Our higher self is a part of our current physical life and can be seen as existing as a vibrational frequency just a bit higher than that of our physical self. Although it’s true that certain kinds of drugs can help us to reach a heightened state of awareness, where we’re more in touch with our higher self and our other deeper inward realities, they’re a tool that’s not ultimately needed. The effectiveness of drugs is in their ability to render the chatterbox physical mind silent; thereby allowing communication from the higher self to reach our consciousness unhindered by our constant internal dialogue. Our soul is a collection of our individual experiences from many lifetimes, past, present and future; all occurring multi-dimensionally and simultaneously. Souls may form into soul groups. For example, members of IQ could all be from soul groups with specific purposes for coming together. Humanity has an oversoul that’s connected to all individual human souls and other oversouls. All souls and all oversouls are connected to the one great soul; often referred to as Creator, Christ Consciousness or Buddha Nature etcetera. Spirit is All That Is and is connected to and IS everything. Spirit, being All That Is, prior to causing separation within Itself had no way of experiencing Itself because there was no contrast and no polarity and hence, no reflection was possible. Thus, spirit caused separation within Itself by creating the one great soul in order to know Itself through the experiencing of Itself. Of course, there’s no real separation other than what we’ve defined through our beliefs; we’re all of these things right now. Thus we’re the physical self, higher self, soul, oversoul, the one great soul and spirit (All That Is); so all of that is who we really are right now. We’re all spirit. So in that sense, spirit and soul are one and the same thing :) Consciousness Another way of looking at all of the above is simply to say: we’re consciousness being all that consciousness can be, which is everything. All those ideas listed above are only ideas and beliefs that we’ve come up with to help us to remember who we really are anyway. From this reality or our current physical perspective, which again, is nothing more than our current definition of reality; we’re playing out the idea of forgetfulness, which is still a part of all that consciousness can be and obviously is. That’s why I like to view life on Earth as a game of remembering. It’s not that consciousness fills our reality and reflects Itself through our current perspectives, Illusions or dreams, but rather that consciousness Is all of those realities that we’ve defined as reality through our beliefs. We are that consciousness. I prefer using the term who we really are to contain and mean all these things without the need of applying any one fixed label and risking becoming attached to it. Bearing in mind that any label we apply to something abstract is really just a place holder for our mind. Once we’ve examined, explored and got to the root of it all, labels are not needed for us to understand What Is :) Confirmation all around then Michaela :)
(25 Mar '11, 00:05)
Eddie
"Souls may form into soul groups. For example, members of IQ could all be from soul groups with specific purposes for coming together' - one never knows.
(09 Jun '13, 22:12)
ele
Nice answer, the "chatterbox" mind. Susan Jeffers used to call it that! Brings back memories, shes the first metaphysical author I ever read.
(10 Jun '13, 04:11)
Monty Riviera
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there is none, the soul, spirit, inner self, higher self, all of these describe what the inner part of you is,, the part of you that is eternal and the part of you that knows all and delivers it to yourself, love n light, rob Thanks Rob - pretty much the conclusion I came to :)
(21 Mar '11, 20:55)
Michaela
@michaela Thank u,. love,.
(10 Jun '13, 07:49)
TReb Bor yit-NE
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"I am a spirit, I have a soul, I live in this body," says Wade's Minister, Terry. This expression is backed up by Hebrews 4:12: "For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit [ you see, the Bible says they are two separate things!], and of the joints and marrow; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Wade and I are saying that there is a big difference between soul and spirit, according to God. There are quite a number of Bible Verses to back this up! We are only going to quote one: John 3:5:"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of the water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." You see, many times, the Bible refers to soul and spirit as different things. The soul is animated by the spirit, which comes from God. (Wade says everyone needs to read the Bible more! We are prone to do that, the two of us! ;) ) In short, we consist of three things: a body,which has a unique soul, and is animated by the Spirit which comes from God. Wade spent two whole weeks studying this concept in Church. I have learned it in College. Blessings from both Wade and Jai LOL give a Biblical accurate answer and you can watch the tumble weeds roll past.
(23 Mar '11, 04:15)
Wade Casaldi
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@Wade & Jai, if the Bible serves you guys and enhances your spiritual understanding, that's fine. I'm not that attracted to it, but I do believe it contains spiritual truths, even though I've never read it. I often quote Jesus and Buddha, but I'm neither a Christian nor a Buddhist. Jesus and Buddha did not ask for nor desire followers, but the creators of those doctrines, who may not have understood the messages of those very wise teachers, seem to imply that following is necessary. Peace :)
(24 Mar '11, 02:24)
Eddie
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Thank you Eddie and I see your answer is similar in your own words of them being different. +1 your answer
(24 Mar '11, 04:25)
Wade Casaldi
Thanks Wade, all the best :)
(24 Mar '11, 05:01)
Eddie
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the terminology of spirit is almost as loose as that of god. Interesting, thank you Fred :)
(22 Mar '11, 01:52)
Michaela
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Thoughts of how we perceive our soul has also interested me. I have a hard time with the Judea-Christian concept of a soul going to heaven or hell along with the concept the we are created in the image of God. Just one of the contradictions that don't make sense to me so I choose to not believe them. Our souls/spirit are perfect and never ending just like our God /creator/universe Thanks ursixx :)
(24 Mar '11, 18:22)
Michaela
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I asked this question a while ago, you can see the answers here; http://www.inwardquest.com/questions/10975/are-source-and-spirit-the-same-thing :) Thanks aquamarine - I did realize that you had posted a similar question. However my question was referring to 'soul' not 'source' - we are each individual 'souls' that come from the one 'source' :)
(21 Mar '11, 20:52)
Michaela
oh woops.... :)
(21 Mar '11, 21:58)
aquamarine
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The soul is supposed to contain the spirit. The idea comes from the question of "Where" does something reside. Everything has a place of residency on earth, in Heaven and beyond. The soul is said to be bound to the body until death, but is able to evade the body during unconsciousness. The spirit is the acting emotion of the living being. This is why during an out of body experience the emotion or spirit is felt within the soul and not the body. |
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From God's word they are not the same at all, it says in the Bible Spirit will one day return to God when we die but the Soul depends on if we have repented and accepted Jesus or not whether it gets to go to heaven or not. Spirit is the animating force, while Soul is who and what we are as our true selves that are clothed in these bodies. If you look in the Bible you will see a clear distinction between Soul and Spirit. |
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soul is the mind and heart. spirit is you made in the image of god in light form. spirit is perfect. but soul sometime is out of balence in this world has mind and heart. you see it every day when people get mad they are out of balence. to much heart not enuff mind. you see it also when women gets beat up over and over and they stay with the guy because they love him. same thing. the opposite example would be: when someone is not using is heart and doing selfish things example not feeding his kids not helping someone else that have helped them thinking only about profit etc. to much mind not enuff heart. |
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