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 [8]. 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 [9], 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.
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