Spiritual Psychology

Twi Poles of Attention

Human Operating System

Spiritual Psychology

Spiritual psychology belongs to the field of transpersonal psychology [1], which developed from earlier schools of psychology, including psychoanalysis [2], and humanistic psychology [3]. Transpersonal psychology formulates new concepts, based on evidence, to describe and integrate spiritual experiences [4] within modern psychological theory.

Ego and Soul

Spiritual psychology identifies the soul as the existential self, in contrast to the ego, which is the body-mind self [5]. Being the soul is experienced as being consciousness itself, which is located at the subject-pole of attention [6]. This is the ever-present alternative to being the ego, which is experienced as being the body and mind, located at the object-pole of attention [7].

Related:
Spiritual Intelligence: A Higher Dimension of Intelligence for Enhanced Learning

Location of the Soul

It might be objected that the analysis of the soul according to spiritual psychology is about a different “soul” than the traditional religious notion of the soul. However the qualities that religions ascribe to the soul are identical to the native qualities of consciousness itself, which are experienced at the subject-pole of attention in moments of presence, in the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace. Spiritual psychology therefore describes the same soul qualities as religious beliefs. The difference is that religious beliefs situate the soul in a remote supernatural location that can only be accessed by faith or in an afterlife, whereas spiritual psychology identifies the soul at a psychological location that makes the soul accessible here and now, without relying on beliefs.

Consciousness Itself

At the subject-pole of attention, consciousness itself is not identified with anything at the object-pole of attention, such as thoughts, perceptions, memories, desires, fears, hopes etc. Consciousness itself is therefore free from modification by any experience of space-time reality. Consequently, coonsciousness itself is experienced as all-transcending peace and all-pervading joy.

Three Dimensions of Intelligence

Three Dimensions of Intelligence

All-Transcending Peace

The peace of consciousness itself is experienced as all-transcending, because peace is inherent in being consciousness itself, regardless of the conditions of space-time reality at the object-pole of attention. Thus the peace of consciousness itself (or the soul) feels beyond anything experienced at the object-pole of attention. Therefore the peace of the soul is experienced as all-transcending.

All-Pervading Joy

Similarly, the joy of consciousness itself is experienced as all-pervading, because joy is inherent in being consciousness itself, regardless of the conditions of space-time reality at the object-pole of attention. Thus the joy of consciousness itself (or the soul) can be felt in association with anything experienced at the object-pole of attention. Therefore the joy of the soul is experienced as all-pervading.

Spiritual Energy

The all-transcending peace and all-pervading joy of the soul is known as spiritual energy, because spirit is the energy of unmodified consciousness itself, free from identification with objects of attention [8]. Spiritual energy therefore represents source energy in its pure unadulterated form, before it is modified by IQ and EQ and PQ at the object-pole of attention, in the form of mental and emotional and physical states of awareness (9). The spiritual energy of the soul, which is experienced at the subject-pole of attention in moments of presence, manifests in the qualities and capabilities of spiritual intelligence, in the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace [10].

Related:
The Architecture of Identity

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 [11]. Consequently, coaching in 3Q trains the whole brain. The resulting whole-brain coherence optimises brain function and replaces the ego with the soul by shifting identification from the object-pole to the subject-pole of attention via the SQ portal, 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. For information about the 3Q Training Course, click 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. The methodology used in the Course is secular not religious. Consequently, the methodology is not based on belief but on experience and knowledge, and is 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 – 2023, Richard Griffiths.

Meet the Author

Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths is a psychologist, author, trainer, and public speaker, whose mission is to provide education and training in spiritual intelligence for the benefit of individuals, organisations and the community, and in support and preparation for the emerging next stage of collective consciousness. He is the founder of the 3Q Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, and former National Chairman of the Transpersonal Psychology Section of the Australian Psychological Society. Drawing on decades of research, he is the author of a new framework that unites ancient wisdom with modern knowledge about psychology and spirituality. His work offers a new understanding of the human operating system, and a new method of experiencing a secular form of spiritual intelligence that works instantly, among other significant innovations. He received a global Award for Outstanding Leadership in Education, and has given presentations on spiritual intelligence at international conferences, like the Conference on Advanced Research in Education and the Global Conference on Education and Teaching.