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@Tavs said:
From a Buddhist point of view, what actually is The Higher Self? I know some Buddhists compare it to Buddha nature but I find that answer unsatisfactory or some might say its what lies beyond ego but to me this answer is vague and too abstract. People talk about it as if it's a little silent unseen deity which somehow lives in our heads. Does it exist at all?

ty for the food for thought.most buddhist including me, wrestle with two truths which deals with the dynamics of emptyness and it collary relatedness to form.
a graph:

( aware-ness field=mind/energy attention input and output) called a bitof information and /0 ratio of no space=emptyness.
1.we are aware in a given space in the mind.awareness of mind creates perception 0f the 6 senses afecting awareness into "form" the mind create. mind then postulate the form through aware energy and this energy goes into mental states what physcologist call ego.
2. this ego on the suface is the projection we call self. the self is the ego form field of awareness. but awarness is the o state what buddha call sunyata. hence the negation school is born. awareness is a steady field that neither bond postive and negative states in form. awareness is neutral to what self/ego is. the thing to stop conventional perception the buddha taught anything divided by o is o/empty of inherent self.so higher self or lower self is mistaken to the minds mechanism that escreww the relevance of form. in a sense buddha wanted to "see" or be aware mind is an illusion in the brain. the ego is seen as a process of the five agregates which is process under awareness0 states

in zen/dao is called mu/doesnt apply. ego doesnot appy the buddha being a great quantum lotus 0 deduced the form of any perceive structure doesnt have a cause. no orignal point in spacetime fluidity. he propose the equality of empty and form. they are like enter-related.

the wisdom of buddha can be summarise be aware self and no self without ego enflation.the saying if your head swell to higher self godhood gravity will humble you like a blace hole thus not violation emptyness equals form.

thinking abot stuff like this i see buddha wisdom in everday life. i avoid snob minds and learn from "simple" people because wisdom for me is better than higher self or lower self.

in the mundain to groung my self in being a higherself asshole is the principle chop wood and fetch water.

@marcitko said:
For some time now, to my mind, you have been far too often critical and harsh, towards several members, but apparently with a special focus on Jeroen. To my mind, Jeroen has been nothing but gracious and kind to you. I would have called you out far sooner than Jeroen, but even his calling you out was gracious and kind. Had he not called you out, I would have done so.

Trying to silence me?

For now, looking to hear what others think, and if they mostly agree that you've meandered into harrasment territory according to our ToS, looking for you to remedy your future postings on these boards a.k.a. limit the ad hominem personal attacks based on this or that perceived fault.

Thank you @marcitko, that more or less covers my feelings on the subject. I haven’t had to deal with this kind of targeted harassment since my days in school, and that from a Buddhist, no less. Back then my preferred method of settling things with a bully was meeting for a bout of fisticuffs, glad we don’t have to go through that kind of nonsense anymore. I’m sure that if @federica or @linc were not busy with their personal lives they would deal with it in their usual zero-tolerance manner.

On the subject of not being a Buddhist, I’m glad the community doesn’t hold to a rigid standard on this, admitting taoists, free thinkers and others. It’s a group of “new Buddhists” after all. I spent nearly a decade devoted to Buddhism, and I still follow many of it’s tenets, but found my heart took me in another direction.

On Right Speech, and especially kind speech, as @person mentioned it, I’ve always admired it and found it one of the most beautiful traits of Buddhists in general. I’ve associated Buddhism with gentleness and grace and eloquence, and long may these traits continue.

The Higher Self...Does it exist at all ?

Thus have I/eye heard/seen on the odd occasion:

The "higher self" and "lower self" are ultimately just mind-made concepts. They are empty of inherent existence.

The concepts of higher and lower self are complex, and fascinating. Tickling the intellect's fancy, intellectual entertainment for the ego. They are just another object for the mind to cling to, and thus, another form of delusion.

Awareness is fundamentally non-conceptual before thinking splits experience into subject and object... AKA The original mind's eye: what is seen before the seer (thoughts) arrives on the scene.

As the second most disagreeable member of the forum, I'll stand up for the importance of challenging people's opinions and stand against pitchfork mobs running people off.

I will, however, point out that part of Buddhism's right speech includes stating things in an agreeable manner and with a good intention. Perfection isn't what's important, or I'd be out on my ass, its the understanding and willingness to try.

Truthful speech: Speaking honestly and truthfully.
Kind speech: Using words that are friendly, benevolent, gentle, and endearing.
Beneficial speech: Speaking in a way that is useful and promotes well-being.
Timely speech: Speaking at the right time, considering whether the words will be helpful and whether it's the appropriate moment to say them.
Speech with goodwill: Speaking with a kind and benevolent intention, hoping for the best for all involved.
Noble silence: If one cannot speak in a way that is truthful, beneficial, and kind, it is better to remain silent.