The Center for Spiritual Intelligence®

SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE ®

Our approach is guided by the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, a road map for spiritual success and developing Spiritual Intelligence. Spiritual Intelligence refers to the ability to practice and integrate the spiritual polarities of intuitive wisdom and practical knowledge, love and responsibility, and energetic action and humility. The goals of practice include the development of mindfulness, awareness of the divine, choosing an ethical path and acting in accordance with one’s chosen values of for the benefit of self, others, community and the world. 

KABBALAH AND SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE

The Jewish mystical tradition know as the Kabbalah is a primary source for our model of Spiritual Intelligence. The primary text of the Kabbalah is a book called the Zohar which first appeared in 13th century Spain although it draws on many earlier sources. The Zohar has developed a variety of interpretations the most important of which is  found in the hasidic movement founded by Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, an 18th century Jewish mystic. 

In the Kabbalah there is a core teaching about the Tree of Life, a series of Sefirot/emanations through which God created the world. Each emanation is both a quality of the divine and of humans which we attempt to actualize in our lives. There are 10 sefirot (singular: sifirah) which may be grouped into 3 groups. For the purpose of  developing a psycho-spiritual paradigm which may be of practical use for our time I have explored the  way in which the sefirot interact and balance each, bringing a deep understanding of the psychological dynamics inherent in the model.

What follows is an interpretive description of the 10 Sefirot. The first three represent mindfulness factors. The remaining seven are middot or character traits.  You will find a diagram of the 10 Sefirot below.

SEFIROT – DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS – CHARACTER TRAITS

The first three Sefirot are conceived of as mental factors.

Chochma: Intuitive wisdom

Chochma represents raw perception which yields only an intuitive, embodied impression of a situation. We may experience

  Chochma as a sense of awe, as when viewing a rainbow, a sunset or a birth. It may also be experienced as raw fear.

Binah: Understanding, discernment.

As we absorb the impressions of perception we use the miraculous tools of language to compare, judge and evaluate our experience.

DA’AT: Knowledge

Da’at integrates intuitive wisdom and understanding. It is a mindful form of knowing that notices how the mind-body is responding to an experience and the way in which the mind understands that experience. The consciousness of Da’at represents an intentional fullness of knowing in the present moment that is distinct from the thoughts that often arise automatically in our daily lives. In the mystical tradition Da’at represents a mind state in which one is capable of connecting to God. 

  The next three Sefirot are related to a person’s inner world of feelings and managing those feelings.

Hesed: love, kindness, grace, unlimited flow                    

Hesed refers to the feeling of an abundant, unlimited flow of love and grace. This energy can be channeled into love or lust.   

Gevurah: strength, restraint, might, justice, severity, restriction and responsibility                               

Gevurah represents restriction and control. Its purpose is to focus the energy of Hesed. This energy can be directed as  responsibility and justice or as fear and hate.

Tiferet:  beauty, compassion, forgiveness, a balance of Hesed and Gevurah                             

When Hesed and Gevurah are balanced the result is the affirming and healing energy of Tiferet. Combining feelings of love or concern for the suffering of others with Gevurah as responsibility yields compassion or forgiveness for wrongs committed against a person. Unbalanced, the energy of Tiferet becomes  indulgence or chaos (as in addiction).