patrick.net

I believe we have different parts to our minds. We have the subconscious mind which is the seat of emotions, the regulator of unconscious bodily functions, and our most authentic self. I believe this to be what's colloquially known as the "heart."
Then we have the rational mind which is capable of abstraction, deductive, inductive reasoning, and is the seat of "self." When you say "I" you are referring to this part of you.
Then we have the other. This could be defined as spirit or mojo or a thousand other different words from different cultures. Every culture believes in the spirit or soul. Thus, I haven't the arrogance to say "everyone is stupid, there is no soul."

The difference between heart and self seems obvious, but here is where's we get tripped up the most easily. You can lie to yourself, but your heart knows the truth and is incapable of lying. You can change your mind a dozen times a day but you can't change your heart without months or years of patient training. And since your heart has control of your autonomous body functions, to be "sick at heart" is liable to make your body sick as well. People can and do die "from a broken heart." It's not just something poets write about. If you are at war with your heart, your body will keep score. To be united in purpose with your heart is the key to health and happiness.

Now the soul or spirit, that I don't know much about.

I would map it out or frame it a little differently. I see the self as the ego. It's me, my personality, what I mean when I say I. There is both emotion and rational mind attached to the ego, but the ego drives such things as feelings of self worth. Or feeling insecure. It drives things such as lust and greed.

(btw I'm not talking ego in the freudian sense)

Then I would say there's a higher self which knows what's best for you. One is not always in touch with their higher self, but the ego is likely to tell one they are, even when they aren't. Some would say that the soul or spirit is where the higher self lives.

The rational mind is a layer over these, it's always there and can support the higher self or the ego or sometimes both simultaneously (or neither).

As for heart. This one I don't understand so much, but I agree about it knowing what are the deepest truths and feelings you have. But I believe those deep truths and feelings are sometimes born of the ego.

I do not see these as independent or compartmentalized.

The area of subconscious and the roles it plays and where it gets its motives, inspiration and desires. That is the part that I feel least clear about.

But as a relatively old guy, I can say that it seems learning occurs on all these levels. Including the heart. But some of what the heart learns, are life lessons I could have done without.

humanity says

there's a higher self which knows what's best for you.

No no no - members of Congress know what's best for you: the knowledge comes from their immortal corporate sponsors, and is revealed by the immortals' earthly representatives, who are called lobbyists. It is not possible for any part of you to know what is best for you, unless you are a lobbyist.

There's no evidence for a magical immeterial part of a person (soul/spirit/ghost) that can "live on" after death. The idea comes from the human inability to accept mortality.

The fact that no two cultures/religions/individuals agree on what actually happens to the "soul" after death proves it's an imaginary concept.

Monotheistic Jesus speaks.

Freaky!
Where are you and yourborderline religious athiest love hate fest??

freak80 says

There's no evidence for a magical immeterial part of a person (soul/spirit/ghost) that can "live on" after death. The idea comes from the human inability to accept mortality.

marcus says

The real reason Dan's...

Jesus Christ, Marcus, I didn't realize you were so obsessed with me.

SoftShell says

Freaky!

Why must you resurrect this thread? I've heard enough nonsense from Marcus in 2013 to keep me satiated until 2015.