Intellect Versus Intuition

Here's a tricky question for you. What is more important in your opinion your intellect or your intuition? And how about intelligence? I see it this way, intuition which comes from the spiritual realm, to do with the third eye and the heart sensitivity, is always good, useful and above all truthful. The intellect which resides in the head area, the mind, also good, but does not necessarily have to do with intelligence, and could be disastrous when overinflated. And overinflated intellect goes along with an overinflated ego. A very dangerous combination. There is nothing more boring or draining than to be with someone with an overinflated intellect and ego.

A Sufi Master Hujwiri said: 'There are three forms of culture: the mere acquisition of information; religious culture, following rules; and the elite culture.'

Both the mere acquisition of culture and the religious culture goes hand in hand with the intellect. You read, you repeat what you have been fed, sometimes without reflection or digestion, you accept blindly as total truth. Whereas the elite culture is the combination of the two, the intellect and the intuition together with spiritual intelligence. It is receiving information, digesting, reflecting, analyzing and then coming up with a result that is your own truth. Intelligence as well as reflection and digestion has to do with a non physical realm.

In the west much emphasis is laid on the intellect which is important, except that there is a great danger, as there is in all things, when the golden middle line is crossed. The danger is having an over developed intellect. Often an over developed intellect is mistaken for intelligence. Intellect is acquired knowledge from outside sources. It is using the brain, it is ability, it is genius, it is propensity but it is also most definitely partiality. It is only partial because it does not include the whole truth.

In contrast Intelligence is reason, understanding, sense, penetration, mentality, distinction, discrimination and refinement. In other words intelligence goes a step further and deeper than intellect, it goes into reason and understanding. This we reach when we combine a harmony of intellect and love, the heart aspect. Or intellect with spirit with intuition. The knowledge is taken intellectually and reflected on an inner deeper level bringing the heart love aspect into it in order to shed a different light upon it, to make visible other deeper aspects, giving a wider and more holistic view.

With an overdeveloped intellect the heart aspect is not included. Everything happens in the head area, it gives only a partial view of the whole. No deep thought or reflection is exercised any more, and facts are accepted and stated as read or taken from an external material source. Anything else that does not fit in is flatly rejected. Over the centuries many brilliant scientists, philosophers and religious leaders have been guilty of this. An intellect has no compassion nor deeper understanding that penetrates through the physical and the obvious. The inner balance and harmony is lost when one has an over inflated intellect.

Intelligence, in comparison, is based on deep reflection with an open mind and a compassionate heart. Intelligence embraces all, versus an over developed intellect that separates everything into different compartments. The danger in an over developed intellect is that it can block the mind, the heart and the intuition and what more in its rigidity can lead to mental illness. Far too many are considered intellectual geniuses who in reality are doing nothing but intellectual masturbation stuck with an idea closed to any new thought or input that would disturb their equilibrium. This you experience when you read a well written document or hear a very articulate speech after which you say to yourself 'now what was all that about? What did he or she actually say? What was the core of the message?' This experience can leave you feeling stupid, confused and less adequate, instead of feeling emotionally inspired and mentally enriched.

Never cease to question your own beliefs, never stop reflecting on what you hear or read, weigh the information and view it from all aspects and only then make up your own mind as to whether you want to add it to your knowledge or discard it. Or may be if you are not sure, even put on hold for a while.

This rule goes even for this article here that you have just finished reading. Take this as food for thought for you to reflect on.

Margo Kirtikar Ph.D. spiritual reacher and guide, life coach, author, speaker, artist, lives in Switzerland. Her books are available on amazon.com
Free e books can be downloaded from her websites.
http://www.your-spirit-guide.com
margo@margokirtikar.com

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