I am interested in what your different ideas are regarding what the soul is, or if you have had experiences of it.
Back in the day I used to explain it thus:
Close your eyes and try to internalize your thoughts. Next, try and remove every part left over that has anything to do with the outside, i.e. opinions of people, society and your place therein, family, all sensations, all fears, hopes and dreams. If you block enough out, only your soul will remain.
I did this a few times and it is a pretty weird state to be in. I mean, we define ourselves entirely by the outside and our place therein. Remove it all and what remains? Soul?
Of course, I don't believe in the existence of a soul anymore, but I remember the profound "understandings" I developed from this. One was an idea of what happens when we die, when that detached part of ourselves is set free to be put in a new environment with new pathways to the outside. Imagine a perception entirely unclouded by our mundane and petty earthly sensibilities. An all encompassing perception of the universe, not limited by a fleshy brain or narrow-minded pursuits. Truth.
Thoughts?