The Secular Meaning of “Spirituality”
Over the centuries the term “spirituality” has accumulated a multitude of different meanings and associations, based on a vast number of different traditions. The spiritual intelligence paradigm [1] cuts through the confusion by defining “spirituality” in secular terms, with reference to the underlying experiential process common to all forms of spiritual realisation. This secular analysis of “spirituality” clarifies the meaning of spiritual realisation, which is an important contribution to all spiritual traditions and to the many different forms of spiritual practice.
Not Secularism
Secular spirituality is not “secularism”. As a philosophy, “secularism” is associated with a materialist view of the world that denies the existence of anything other than the physical dimension of reality. Consequently, “secularism” rejects spirituality. Whereas secular spirituality is spirituality freed from religion, beliefs, and dogma. In contrast to “secularism”, secular spirituality legitimises spirituality by identifying the underlying psychological process shared by all forms of spiritual realisation [2].
Secular Spirituality
The core psychological process underlying the early stage of practice in all traditions of spirituality (except in TQ traditions) is the shift in identity from the object-pole to the subject-pole of attention. This identity shift activates spiritual intelligence (SQ), which results from being identified with consciousness itself at the subject-pole of attention (which means being the soul), instead of being identified with the body and mind at the object-pole of attention (which means being the ego). With the exception of TQ traditions, the shift from ego to soul underlies all forms of spiritual practice in every tradition. Spiritual intelligence therefore represents secular spirituality, founded on experiential reality, prior to the superimposition of religious interpretations and beliefs.
Human Operating System
Spirit
The word “spiritual” means pertaining to spirit. Spirit is the energy of unmodified consciousness itself, free from identification with objects of attention [3]. As the energy and attention of the soul [4], free from bondage to objects of attention, spirit consists of unmodified source energy in its pure unadulterated form. Spirit is experienced by all at the subject-pole of attention in moments of presence [5], in the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace. Spirit is the source of spiritual intelligence [6].
SQ and Religion
The evidence for spiritual intelligence is based on personal experience, corroborated by the findings of scientific research [7]. SQ therefore stands apart from religious doctrine and institutional spirituality, based on its own empirical foundations. Nevertheless, despite the secular nature of spiritual intelligence, SQ is compatible with religious belief. There is nothing to prevent those with religious beliefs from using empirical SQ methodology to access their own innate spiritual intelligence.
Beyond Religious Belief
Spiritual intelligence results from experiencing the soul, rather than merely believing in the soul. Mere belief in the soul does nothing to transform the ego. You can still be the ego regardless of what you believe. SQ therefore serves to deepen religious observance by activating the spiritual transformation that is missing from mere belief. In the absence of spiritual intelligence, religious belief is an exercise of the mind that merely consoles the ego without transforming it. Whereas SQ represents the spiritual transformation of the ego, by means of the shift from ego to soul.
3Q Training
As a powerful combination of three principal dimensions of intelligence, 3Q represents IQ and EQ in association with SQ. Studies in neuroscience reveal that the experience of spiritual intelligence is correlated with hemispheric synchronisation and whole brain activation. The resulting whole-brain coherence optimises brain function and replaces the ego (the false self) with the soul (consciousness itself, the true self) by shifting from the object-pole of attention to the subject-pole of attention, which results in greater fulfilment, increased creativity, sharpened intuition, more empathy and compassion, and improved performance on a wide range of work skills and life skills. If you want to learn more, there is a Course on 3Q Training here.
Sources
The SQ paradigm is based on a synthesis combining the wisdom of ancient spiritual traditions with the findings of modern science, as summarised in this article here.
How to Experience Spiritual Intelligence [Video]
Spiritual intelligence is easy to experience. We all experience SQ spontaneously at times. But spontaneous moments of SQ are rare and unpredictable. Therefore it’s important to know how to experience SQ intentionally. When you can engage your spiritual intelligence voluntarily, at any time of your own choosing, SQ becomes your most powerful personal resource. This video provides step-by-step instructions on how to activate SQ intentionally. Watch the video here.
References
3Q Practitioner Training Course
Do you want to accelerate your own personal and spiritual growth, and teach others to do the same? The 3Q Practitioner Training Course trains and certifies Spiritual Intelligence Practitioners.
Spiritual Intelligence is a higher dimension of intelligence beyond the ego that has access to the advanced capabilities of the true self. This Course is based on secular spirituality not on religious beliefs. Consequently, the methodology used to activate spiritual intelligence is not founded on articles of faith but on experience and knowledge, backed by evidence from related fields of scientific research. Certified Practitioners are provided with the training materials to coach their clients in spiritual intelligence, and conduct workshops in spiritual intelligence for leaders and organisations, and for the general public.
As the intelligence of the true self beyond the ego, spiritual intelligence (SQ) has many benefits that exceed the scope of intellectual intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ). Spiritual intelligence relieves anxiety and depression and the extreme pain of meaninglessness and despair that is often associated with ego states of awareness. Freedom from ego, as experienced with SQ, grants wisdom and clarity of vision, combined with more empathy and compassion, which increases creativity and intuition, and results in greater personal fulfilment and better performance on important life skills and work skills. Spiritual intelligence therefore represents the most powerful resource for personal and professional growth and fulfilment.
Widespread adoption of spiritual intelligence as a personal code of conduct raises the standard of accountability in collective governance, in response to public demand. When standards in governments and corporations are based on spiritual intelligence, the energy of love will turn into a social and political force, as never before in history. Public training in spiritual intelligence therefore heralds a new era of human rights and social justice, which form the foundation for global cooperative community, shared prosperity, and world peace.
As a 3Q Practitioner you will be equipped to introduce spiritual intelligence in the context of contemporary secular culture, and contribute to the next stage in the evolution of collective consciousness. When a tipping point is reached, the emerging next stage of collective consciousness will result in global transformation, founded not on beliefs of any sort, or on government control, or on mass media narratives enforced by censorship of contrary views, but founded instead on the inherent qualities of consciousness itself, such as love, wisdom, and peace, which everyone can experience by activating their spiritual intelligence.
For more information about the 3Q Practitioner Training Course, click here.
© 2011 – 2024, Richard Griffiths.
Comments on this entry are closed.
What a great article!. I am bookmarking it to read it over again after work. It seems like a very interesting topic to write about.
I came across your website from google and it truly is fantastic. Thnkx for writing this sort of amazing blog post…
Phenomenal job here. We really enjoyed what you had to say.
This is very uniquely written information. You must think like me or I like you, because our views are very close. It’s a little scary.
My favorite past-time is reading informative articles. Your article is one of the most interesting I’ve read. Your insightful, fresh views gave me many things to think about. Thank you.
It isn’t often I take note of a writer, but you have done a bang up job here. I feel the same as you about this topic. Thanks for sharing.
I’m intrigued by the information you have written in this article. I happened upon your article and I’m glad I did. Your points are valid, well-represented and the article is easy to read and understand.
The viewpoints you make in your article are so well stated. This is easy to understand from the beginning. This is interesting to read. Thanks for clearing up some things I have been thinking about.
Fanatastic post! Made me change my embargo on commenting!
I think you may be right in what you have said in this article. However there will be many people who will not agree with you.
Thank you for writing this informative article so well. It has really given my brain a boost. I agree with much of this info.
Thank you for writing this article in your own unique way. I’ve been hoping to find clear information like this. You really helped clear up a lot of my confusion.
I have this article bookmarked. I did that because I feel I need to read it again. I believe your information to be valid. Thank you for making it interesting.
Many thanks for discussing this, it really helped a whole lot. This is extremely useful. I will be keeping tabs on this blog more frequently, many thanks. Continue the great work!
You seems to know much more than I do, I’d love to know your sources!
This is really an incredibly helpful study for me. Have to acknowledge you may be one of the most successful bloggers I ever saw. Thank you for posting this informative article.
Hi, thank you for this great article. It was very helpful to me and to anyone who reads it. You truly are a great writer!
I’m really thankful to find this website, just what I was searching for, saved to fav.
I feel the need to thank you for your great writing ability and unique content. Your article reflects many of my same views. You have written some very interesting content.
This article has an influential writing style. The specifics of your article are obviously well researched and made very clear. Thanks for writing such an informative article that made me think.
I barely got through the second sentence before this article drew me into it’s spell. You have really made your points and I agree on most of them. Thank you.
You raise many queries in my thoughts; you wrote an excellent article, but this article is also thought-provoking, and I am going to need to ponder it a bit more; I will be back soon.
I was always interested in this topic and still am, thanks for putting up.
I am not a professional writer, but I do recognise great work when I see it. Your content is of high quality and your standards are at a high bar.
Hey there, this kind of article is really instructive and entertaining to read. I am a huge follower of the issues blogged about. I also enjoy studying the comments. I hope everybody bookmarks this page to pass on to others. Many thanks
It’s refreshing to read interesting content like this. Your unique writing style brings forth thought in the reader. I agree with a lot of this content. Thank you for writing this engaging and intelligent article.
I’m pleased I found this article. Your information is thought-provoking and most interesting. I agree with the points you have made here in this writing.
Thank you for providing such high quality content. I’m very impressed with how you are able to write your material in such an interesting way.
It’s very apparent to me you are a devoted writer, passionate about your subject matter. You write to your readers and not at them. Thank you for making me think.
I am impressed, you know what you are talking about.
When I read an article that makes this subject so interesting I have to say something. Your insightful points and interesting material has given me reason to ponder these things.
I’m glad I discovered your article. Your writing is so thought-provoking. I’m sure I will think about this content for a while. Really good content.
Your article impressed me enough to comment which is kind of odd for me. It’s just that I like your views and your ideas. This is great content which says a lot about your writing.
It’s nice to find a site where the blogger definitely knows what they are talking about.
Cool comments. Big thanks to all visitors and to the author. I love this site!!!
Gday everyone, basically want to point out that this article is very useful even though it’s an unusual points of view.
This is just what I wanted. I wasn’t expecting to get so much out of reading through your article! You’ve just earned yourself a returning visitor.
This article is very well written and I am happy to find so much useful information here in this post, thanks for sharing it. I hope you will adding more.
This article is worthy of top honors. Well-written online material is a rarity these days as many people, claiming to be writers, have no concept of staying on topic. You stay on-point in your content.
I truly enjoy visiting this website, it has wonderful articles.
Keep up the great work, I read few posts and I think that your website is very interesting and has got lots of good info.
Incredible article, it makes the whole subject so clear. Many thanks, I will book mark you!
Many times the articles I find are so difficult to understand, it seems I need a college degree just to understand the writer. Thanks for making the information on your site so easy to understand.
I’m glad I found your article. I would never have made sense of this topic on my own. I’ve read a few other articles on this subject, but I was confused until I read yours.
I’m intrigued at how very engaging this informative article is, especially on this topic. You have hit the nail on the head with this information. Thank you for making your article so easy to understand.
Your writer has presented views about this subject in a very thoughtful and detailed manner. Thank you for publishing this article and giving me something to think about on this topic. This is top class.
Thank you for writing such a great article. I’m impressed with your views on this matter and I agree with a lot of your ideas.