I think the problem with understanding some of this infrmation is that we confuse different layers of "SELF" when we talk about this. Which part of you made the decision to come here? It might not be the part that, say, makes a decision to get in the car and drive to the grocery store to buy food.
There are different ways of looking at the overall self. Kyo published a link to a book that uses the following. If you don't agree with the definitions, then at least consider that when we talk on this board, we may inadvertently confuse identity with all three layers of "SELF".
"There are three distinct dimensions of the self: the ego, the soul, and the Self. The ego is the most exterior and temporal self. It is our present concious sense of identity."
Ok I think we all want to think (or deny) our ego is the part of us that chose our parents, but on reflection, how can that be true? The ego is the part that drives to the grocery store. I think we need our ego to survive in physical reality. But we have come to identify with our egos. But we are more than our egos.
"The soul is the self that survives death and goes forth to project another ego-self. The term
psyche once meant "soul." Hence, I will use the the term
soul here to include all levels of the personal psyche that are not integrated into ego consciousness. .."
OK so the soul is the part of us that chooses our parents. But how can I say how it works? I'm only used to experiencing the ego. So it seems strange to me to try to explain the actions of the soul in words used to describe actions of the ego.
"The third, and most sublime, self is of a transpersonal nature. It is commonly projected into the image of God. It is the self that Jung refers to with his term
the Self. In the microcosm of our psyche, the Self is a reflection of the central organizing force of All That Is. It is a transcendent and whole-making factor. The Self provides a blueprint for the soul to follow in its task of building a kingdom of consciousness."
This amuses me because I think of myself being a little child being taught to say my prayers and thinking that God is something separate, but what I was actually praying to was my Higher Self! Just wish I was taught that then. So all our so-called religious activities should act to connect us to out higher Self. Of course if we did, we would probably be able to look down on the soul choosing to reincarnate with a particular set of parents, and understand it all.
Link to book page at Kyo's site:
http://infinity.usanethosting.com/Heart.Of.God/WayOfKarma/CharlesBreaux_WayOfKar...