The Secular Meaning of Soul and Spirit

Twi Poles of Attention

Human Operating System

Secular Spirituality

Traditionally the terms “soul” and “spirit” derived their meaning from religious beliefs. Consequently, both ideas have been rejected as non-scientific by the dominant materialist paradigm. But the SQ paradigm defines soul and spirit in contemporary secular terms, based on a psychological, neurological, and transpersonal synthesis [ref]. Therefore “soul” and “spirit” no longer need remain articles of faith. Based on recent scientific evidence, validated by direct personal experience, the SQ paradigm thus returns the concepts of “soul” and “spirit” to the central place they have traditionally held in our understanding of human nature, but on an evidence-based empirical foundation, free of their traditional foundation in religious belief.

Soul

The SQ paradigm identifies the soul as a distinct sense of self that can be accessed with our natural capabilities. Being the soul is experienced as being consciousness itself, which is located at the subject-pole of attention. This is the alternative to being the ego, which is experienced as being the body and mind, located at the object-pole of attention. Consciousness itself (or the soul) is associated with the sense of unified oneness, free from limitation by objects of attention. Consequently, in contrast to the ego, which feels like a separate unit in a state of dissatisfaction, the soul feels an indivisible part of the whole, in a state of peace and fulfilment.

Spirit

Spirit is the unmodified energy of consciousness itself, free from bondage to objects of attention. As the free energy of the soul, spirit has no religion. The spiritual qualities of the soul are prior to religious interpretation. Spirit is experienced by all, at the subject-pole of attention, in moments of presence, in the form of wisdom, compassion, integrity, joy, love, creativity, and peace. Spirit is the source of spiritual intelligence.

Three Dimensions of Intelligence

Three Dimensions of Intelligence

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 [ref]. 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.