Chapter 11
SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE: OVERCOMING EXISTENTIAL CONFLICT
Eleventh law for quality of life
ELEVENTH WEEK OF PROGRAM
I. SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE IS:
- Being conscious that life is a great question in search of a great answer.
- Looking for a life’s meaning and the reason for existence.
- Trying to understand, independent of our religion and our cultural formation, the mysteries of life and the secrets of the Creator of existence.
- Looking for answers to the questions science cannot answer: Who are we? Where are we going? Es the end the beginning or the beginning the end?
- Being conscious of the temporal nature of existence.
- Discovering hope in desolation, comfort in trying times, courage in loss, wisdom in chaos.
3. Spirituality fed by serenity brings peace socially, stimulates love, and enriches pleasure; but when controlled by extremists and authoritarians, it produces discord, promotes hate, and generates anguish. All social systems linked to consumerism, cosmetic surgery, leisure, clubs, and work do not satisfy human needs, since the same concerns which perturbed primitive civilizations continue to preoccupy modern man. Among them, death and finite existence.
25. Darwin’s theory of evolution, confirmed by mutations and genetic variability, can explain adaptation of species due to inclement weather in the environment, but cannot justify illogical processes occurring in the dressing room of the human soul. It’s entirely too simple to explain the source which produces the world of ideas and emotions. The psyche of the human soul requires God, to be explained.
29. On one occasion, Einstein was asked if he believed in God. Surprised by the question, he answered that a scientist, such as himself, could not help but think about God. On another occasion, he said he was more interested in knowing about the mind of God than about the phenomenon of physics.
34. Who are we? Where are we going? How is it possible to recover the identity of our personality after death if trillions of secrets in our memory are dissolved in the chaos of our tombs? Everyone who looked for the answers in science, died in the midst of his doubts.
To enhance quality of life, spirituality can develop the most important functions of intelligence:
- Learn to give but not impose ideas. We must impart what is thought and believed but without imposition; after which, freedom should be given for listeners to reject or accept what is said.
- Think before reacting. Spiritual intelligence should develop the art of thinking, softening instincts, stopping aggressiveness, hate, and anger.
- Being capable of tolerating and creating solidarity. Tolerance is the art of respecting differences, and solidarity, that of perceiving the pain and necessity of others in an attempt to resolve them.
- Live in love with life and for human beings. Spirituality should contribute to the enrichment of human emotion, the development of sensitivity, the capacity of forgiveness, comprehension and inclusion.
- Wisdom. Spiritual intelligence enhance ability to recognize errors, perception of our own limitations, comprehension of the vast array of possibilities of existence.
42. The yearning for medicine is to prolong life and alleviate pain. Philosophically speaking, religion shares the same aspiration, though medicine is a natural science and spirituality is a transcendental search. Every religion considers the alleviation of pain, the prolongation of life, and overcoming finite existence. Without doubt, it has to do with a fantastic dream. Meanwhile, the fact is one day we will be without friends, without children, achievements or status, in the the main phenomenon opposing life. We come to life alone, and also leave her in solitude.
60. Human beings are completely free to be atheists, to obey what their conscious ordains. But there is no doubt that the development of spiritual intelligence through prayer, meditation, and the search for answers to existentialism, besides resolving internal conflict, quiets thought, appeases the waters of emotion, and gives us a healthier psyche.
Spiritual intelligence calms thoughts, tranquilizes emotion, gives comfort in loss, courage against injustice, hope in chaos. Have you calmed the waters of your emotion? Is the future for you a dream, or a nightmare?