Spiritual Intelligence
If you ask most postmodern minds, they will say they are “spiritual, but not religious” and many will admit to being “very spiritual,” but what does that even mean?
Spiritual intelligence is a relatively new concept that refers to the ability to access, apply, and integrate spiritual and existential resources to address life’s challenges and achieve personal and collective goals. It is the capacity to recognize, understand, and utilize the power and presence of higher realities or dimensions that are beyond the physical world.
Based on that description, “I am very spiritual” had better mean, among other things, “I use the power and presence of higher realities that are beyond the physical world.” Using such power would require an understanding, and direct experience of subtle, causal, and unitive realities. But how many of those that say they are “very spiritual” have direct experience with the causal realm, or unitive realm, and would they even know it, or claim it?
Unlike traditional measures of intelligence, such as IQ or emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence is not a single trait but encompasses a broad set of competencies and characteristics that reflect a person’s level of spiritual awareness, insight, and wisdom. Spiritual intelligence includes an ability to
transcend the ego
connect with others in meaningful ways, and
align with a higher purpose or ultimate concern.
Ultimate Concern
The concept of “ultimate concern” is central to the study of spirituality and spiritual intelligence. Ultimate concern refers to a person’s highest priority or most deeply held value. It is the thing that gives life its ultimate meaning and purpose. For some people, ultimate concern may be a personal relationship with a deity or a divine force. For others, it may be a commitment to a particular moral or ethical principle, such as justice or compassion.
Spiritual intelligence involves an awareness of one’s ultimate concern and an ability to align one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions with that concern. It requires a deep understanding of one’s own values and beliefs, as well as a willingness to explore and challenge those beliefs. By cultivating spiritual intelligence, we can develop a greater sense of purpose and meaning in our lives and strive to make a positive impact on the world.
In Ken Wilber’s model of consciousness evolution, ultimate concern becomes increasingly important as people move towards higher stages of consciousness. At the lower stages of consciousness, people are primarily concerned with physical survival and meeting basic needs. As consciousness evolves, people begin to recognize the importance of social relationships, personal autonomy, and rational thinking. However, it is not until the integral and transpersonal stages that ultimate concern becomes fully integrated into one’s life.
Understanding the Evolution of Consciousness
To understand the concept of spiritual intelligence, we need to first appreciate the larger context of human consciousness. According to Ken Wilber, a renowned philosopher and spiritual teacher, human consciousness evolves through various stages of development. Each stage represents a different level of awareness, perception, and understanding of the world. Wilber’s model of consciousness evolution provides a framework for understanding spiritual intelligence in a larger context.
At the lowest level of consciousness, people are mainly concerned with their physical survival and basic needs. This stage is called the “archaic” stage, and it is characterized by instinctual behavior and reflexive responses to external stimuli. People at this stage are not capable of reflecting on their own experience or contemplating abstract concepts.
As consciousness evolves, people begin to develop a sense of self and become more aware of their own thoughts and feelings. This stage is called the “magic” stage, and it is characterized by a belief in supernatural forces and magical thinking. People at this stage often see the world in terms of myths and symbols and believe that they can influence reality through rituals and spells.
As people continue to develop, they begin to recognize the importance of rational thinking and logic. This stage is called the “mythic” stage, and it is characterized by a belief in objective truth and scientific inquiry. People at this stage value reason and evidence and are able to differentiate between fact and fiction.
At the next stage of consciousness, people begin to recognize the limitations of rational thinking and begin to explore their own spirituality. This stage is called the “rational” stage, and it is characterized by a belief in personal autonomy and the ability to make choices based on individual values. People at this stage are able to think critically and question authority, but they may also be skeptical of spiritual experiences and dismissive of religious traditions.
As people continue to evolve, they begin to integrate their rational thinking with their spiritual experiences. This stage is called the “integral” stage, and it is characterized by a holistic approach to life that integrates spiritual and rational perspectives. People at this stage are able to recognize the interconnectedness of all things and see the world in terms of complex systems and relationships.
Finally, at the highest level of consciousness, people transcend their individual identity and merge with the universe. This stage is called the “transpersonal” stage, and it is characterized by a sense of oneness with all things. People at this stage are able to access higher states of consciousness and experience profound spiritual insights.
Spiritual intelligence, therefore, is not simply a matter of having mystical experiences or following religious traditions. It is a matter of developing a comprehensive understanding of the nature of consciousness and integrating spiritual insights into everyday life. Therefore, “I am very spiritual” had better have “very deep understanding” through personal experience of the evolution of consciousness that shows up in practical matters. By cultivating spiritual intelligence, we can access a deeper sense of purpose and meaning and develop a greater sense of compassion and empathy for others.
Increasing capacity for making sense of the world is correlated with awakening latent, evolutionary, inner organic technology. Ones Sense of Coherence of the world includes Comprehensibility, Manageability, and Meaningfulness.
PraxisAletheia: a Mystery School at the Leading Edge of Evolution
During the year of PraxisAletheia, students both Wake up, and Grow up. The more we wake up and grow up, the deeper our spiritual intelligence and more profound our ultimate concern.
Growing up: greater understanding of structures of consciousness. The item sum score is like a “raw score” of vertical development without assigning a actual stage. The key here is that students of PraxisAletheia actually grow up and they do not in MBA programs, nor Coach-Training programs.
The NHU even offers graduate degrees at this leading edge of evolution. Are you ready for such a challenge? Ready for the Hero’s Journey? It’s a journey of
Waking Up
Growing Up
Cleaning Up
Showing Up
If you’re ready to increase your spiritual intelligence, watch the webinar for PraxisAletheia, which is a one-year journey at the leading edge of evolution and which is required for a graduate degree from The NHU.