What is the "inner self". What role does it play or what purpose does it fulfill?

The inner-self:

something that is in a state of becoming...

something that has a yearning to remember...

The "inner-self" is a brilliant ray of "That Light".

Within specific esoteric circles it is known as the soul (ruh). A small fragment of light sent forth from within "That Light".

The "inner-self" is constantly in search of the knowledge and understanding of the One from which it originated and was sent forth.

What is its role and purpose?

Its role is to gain further understanding and wisdom.

Its purpose is to fulfill its true destiny.

Its true destiny is to once again become united with "That Light".

In order for that to take place it must eventually, see and observe "That Light".

Questions:

How well can one see if ones glasses are covered and encased with dust and dirt?

Of what value are glasses if they are not cleansed periodically?

With what degree of clarity does one desire to see?

Within ones daily life, a good cleansing is often found to be necessary, is it not so?

The "inner-self" within man is a fragmented aspect of universal consciousness that is in need of de-fragmentation.

The "inner-self" is constantly going through the process of de-fragmentation.

The "inner-self" is in a constant process of becoming.

One should possibly ask one-self, just what does ones role in day to day life play in the development of the "inner-self"?

Ones day to day life must ultimately become the reflection of ones "inner-self".

Ones day to day life and activity must eventually become 'self-fulfilling'.

What appears on the periphery of man is a direct reflection of what is within man.

So whatever is harbored within man, appears as a reflection on the periphery of man.

What does man wish to see and observe on the periphery.

Man sees what man desires to see.

Man has been granted free will, is it not so?

Ones day to day life must be utilized to gain the necessary wisdom to understand the condition of ones inner life. Outer life is but a small aspect of ones inner life. What briefly appears on the periphery of man is infinitesimally small compared to that which is infinitely contained within man.

How does one clean ones glasses if ones glasses have become dirty.

Simple, by removing the dirty glasses, and periodically cleaning them until the lenses have become crystal clear...

Oh! My!, there is so much more cleaning to do...

Yet it is the wisdom contained within man that constantly reminds man to continually pursue the cleaning and polishing...

*Footnote - "The taste of the cake is dependent upon the ingredients that the baker used within the creation of his/her cake." - "The taste of the world is dependent upon the ingredients that the baker used within the creation of his/her world."

Peace be always with you.

in sha'Allah

al-hamdu lillah

Salaams,

In the mill house, the mill stone grinds grains to produce flower. The grind stone in an old fashioned mill would be powered by a horse that would be tethered to an oak axle. Thus there is the saying: a mill horse travels many miles during its working life, but gets nowhere. A feeling of purposelessness being analyzed by the brain gives rise to the image of purposelessness. Not being satisfied with the feeling or the mental image, the brain evolves the image of purposelessness into the idea of ''purpose''. Thus: as long as the idea of having greater purpose is developed in the mind, the image of purposelessness (and associated feeling) will remain as the backdrop. The question: "what is the purpose of life" usually gives rise to an answer of some positive or negative sense. It is the conclusion that life is having no purpose that gives rise to the quest for purpose. It is a mental quest: the answer will be mental. The mental answer is not filling, not satisfying. What occurs then is a re-iteration of the question from time to time, in an attempt to continue the mental procrastination. Look through your own question again. See the conclusions you make: it is those conclusions which sustain the question/answer cycle. For the ego, it doesn't matter which conclusions you make, so long as you continue to make conclusions. The concept of ''play'' vs ''serious action'' disappears when egocentric mental activity yields its attention to observe facts going on in your life that need physical action to resolve physical problems. Normal and abnormal have no power when attention is kept on fact. It is known that there are two main neural networks in operation in the brain: the extrinsic network and the intrinsic network. When intrinsic network of neurons is very active, the extrinsic network fails to function. Either ''yourself'' is the intrinsic calculations in action or ''yourself'' is reactive to fact. If ''yourself'' is the calculator; obviously, the calculator can only continue calculating. The results of calculations are fodder for further calculation. The question ''how'' has uses in considering physical problems: you form an idea of how to do something, and try it out in reality. The result of the trial gives relationship between the idea and the facts: thus thinking becomes a tool for refining a way to ''do something''. There is no physical trial you can do to test how to be yourself. You have assumed that there is a self: that is the conclusion creating the goal. A psychologist may suggest that deep down, you believe there is no self, and that the notion of self is a mental escape from a physical relationship with the world. The notion of self/no-self is irrelevant to relationship. I will not say there is no ''self'' or that there is a ''self'', only that any conception of self/no-self is the result of mental calculation: that calculation has no relationship to the body and its survival struggle. There is thus nothing to conclude or reject; there is no further exploration required, its not going to be you who brings about change, as there is no need to change.... Fact is always there, it does the changing for you.

That's such a deep question- I'd really like to have some background on why you asked it-- it seems almost purposely vague and yet-- not giving some back ground may get you a wide range of answers as well. hmmmm

Althought the first answer is really good, I'm not sure you can "use" your inner self like a hammer or computer or whatever-- I think that most often-- when you hear the term, the concept of an inner self is a more of a poetic euphemism for your conscience than a trait that you can just put to work like ESP or something. In a purely theological sense, your inner self would be defined as your soul. It can be weak or strong just like your body and your mind-- a strong, vibrant soul might be accompanyed by a bright, strong aura as well. So-- if you asked what could you use your body or your mind for-- the answer is: "Everything." In keeping with Eastern terminology, one might say that you would strive to become one with everything. In Star Wars terminology you would cultivate the force-- which again, is a sort of modern re-telling of the age-old concept of the life-force which is present in one form or another in all religions. From that standpoint, the more good you do, the more like minded people you share such endeavors with etc etc-- then the more good tidings, prosperity and harmony come your way. In Christian thought-- the bible says where two or more are gathered in my name, I (God/Jesus) am there with them-- implying-- in its most basic fashion-- that there is (spiritual) strength in numbers. For what its worth-- the difference between using such force for good or bad in many philosophies is whether you use such powers-- however you might define them-- for your self or for the community-- for the one or for the many--- In still other words, embrace God or make yourself a god. Hope that helps! Live long and prosper! :)

That inner self seems to be able to relate to the exterior. Think of your own roles, brother, sister, mother?

What do you become in relation to anything? I don't really think I've thought about it much.

I guess that inner self might be considered a character, and its actions the expression of that inner self because the real self.

How can it be used? It depends on what it can become. You are your habits, but your inner self is more than them. You might also think of the inner self that thinks of the future, not yet being the future, but appearing to the inner eye as possibility.

See the inner self with the inner eye? I often think I am doing this when thinking to myself, or reacting and thinking of the reaction. For every action there is a reaction. Being mindful of the mind. :0

Inner self, something that makes judgments? Makes the choices? That little voice, trained to speak: I am.............

i'm with carl rogers that the inner core self is our 'real self that which we are when not appeasing or rebelling against other - We form a constructed self before we even have language and learn how to be social - The inner self is there to check learning against So if we have meta awareness we might see the divisions between what we want to do and what we feel we ought to do and that is the learning edge to see how free we might be able to allow ourselves to be. I think day to day looking at which behaviours are not working for you and or others, and adjusting beliefs and values to allow for experimentation. Some core beliefs we hold dear are totally unexamined introjects that were never ours in the first place - Weeding them out to let the ones you want thrive is a helpful project.

The inner self is that which exists within the unconscious and subconscious minds, and exhibits in our dreams. The inner self experiences and entire existence in a world separate from our conscious understanding and experience. It sorts the information gathered through the five senses we are not aware of from minute to minute. The inner also is the source of music, art, and other creative endeavors. Those who are more "aware" of other existences outside of our conscious world, what we view as "ghosts, spirits, momentary awareness, the chills, etc" are part of the experience of the inner self.

I guess that the phrase ‘inner self’ means different things to different people.

Basically, what I understand of it is that the ‘inner self’ is the part of your personality that you do not show to others. The outer self is the part of your personality that others can see.

What role does it play?

Basically, the inner self is the true self; it’s us. To me, a better question is why do we have an ‘outer self’ which is different from our inner self.

My answer would be that the outer self allows us to interact with each other in a more ‘civilised’ way.

As an example and forgive my crudeness:

I’m talking to girl and she bends over and I can see down her blouse. My inner self says: WooHoo!!!!!... you know, I’m feeling kinda frisky right now!!!

My outer self says: “Err… It’s a nice day today, isn’t it?” …saving myself a slap in the face!

Imagine a world where we had ‘one self’, We would have to do things a lot differently… and I’d get a lot of slaps!

==

There's also a part of your personality that you hide from yourself! But that's a question for another day.

Salaams dear sister Blue:

i am listening to Snap - Rhythm is a Dancer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3zIG0dd4kU

i tell you this because it is part of my inner self at the moment. i am letting you into some of my Reality. i believe that you have asked a most excellent question. "What is the inner self and what role does it play/fulfill?"

as we all know... it is critical to "Know One's Self"... and as the beloved Holy Prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said... "to Know one's Self is to know God."

new song. Dr. Alban - Sing Hallelujah - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX2QX6hhIQk

Alhamdulillah. "God is greater than all else." Allahu Akbar.

along with other enlightened Beings inshallah... [x] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyself

it is starting to rain. how beautiful. it reminds me of verse 8:11 of the Holy Qur'an...

Bismillah. "When He made slumber fall on you as security from Him, and sent down water from the clouds that He might thereby purify you, and take away the uncleaness of the devil, and that He might fortify your hearts and make firm (your) feet thereby." Hallelujah! [7:7/10:10]

new song: Urban Cookie Collective - The Key The Secret - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt91rG311OM

The inner Self is a Sacred Space. It is true that "the body is the Temple of our LORD."

selah.

new song: Bass Bumpers - The Music's Got Me - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYLYbTGsvUo

i believe that the closer that you get to you true Inner Self...

the closer you come to Reality...

the closer you come to the Throne. Insh'Allah.

the closer you come to the Truth.

selah.

Gloria.

if there is any good here... all praise belongs to God alone.

is was fun dancing with you on this question... xo.

credits: Megamix 90's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EVzixU4OU

it's the outer-self

that's the role,

played by the inner-self,

which, in my case,

is an eleven year old boy...

..it's purpose is apparently

to have feelings about things..

in the old testament

is your true self that always in contact with the creator

thru the knowledge god has put in each heart

that is active even in the darkened corrupted heart...

in hebrew transliterated into english letters it is...

NESHAMA