Intelligence, smartness, and wisdom are different
The one who understands the difference also understands the path to enlightenment.
Hi,
I wish you a wonderful week full of love, health, happiness, and peace.
We are together again in the new issue of the free weekly magazine, THE SCHOOL OF WISDOM.
Let us start questioning the difference between intelligence, smartness and wisdom.
In everyday life, we communicate with words, and words are perceived differently according to the perception filters of everyone, as Mevlana had mentioned wisely eight centuries ago with the words “whatever you say, what you say is what your opponent understands”. If 7.8 billion people live in the world today, it means there are 7.8 billion different, unique, special perspectives and perception filters.
This is not a bad thing. The universe works like this. Everything is different manifestations of God. We refer to it as "the uniqueness in multiplicity" as it is explained by the Latin term "e pluribus unum".
The place of words in our lives and their different understanding by different people have been studied deeply by 20th-century philosophers. Each word is perceived differently in different eyes and different ears. Sometimes it is not even perceptible; Just as emphasized in Kybalion with the hermetic saying “The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of understanding”.
Therefore, what is the meaning of "intelligence-smartness-wisdom" to 100 different people? 100 people will respond differently for sure. Most people use these 3 words in the same sense in everyday life. Her daughter, who solves a difficult math problem, is called as "very clever" by her mother. People call a man clever when he resolves a conflict well. They say that a person is smart when s/he is harmonious with his environment and life. None of the examples have the correct use.
Many people look at philosophers as if they are flying over the clouds, but philosophy also helps to describe and explain life and also ourselves correctly by the use of words and the function of logic of the rational mind. What we call intelligence is a function of the brain, inherited by genetics, improved by the wealth of experiences acquired in early childhood and at later stages of life, developed by lifelong learning. Maybe it's a gift. Smartness is about how intelligence is used. Imagine someone driving a Ferrari. Smartness is about HOW the capacity of intelligence is used and is the key to success in our lives. A smart person can succeed, but cannot achieve permanent success. Wisdom is more than being smart; it is different. A smart person may be using his intelligence correctly, but cannot be wise unless he is equipped with virtues.
Virtues have been one of the important issues that philosophers have emphasized since ancient times in Western and Eastern philosophies. But for most modern people, the word virtue is the inaccessible human traits of sublime people like the Gandalf character in the movie The Lord of the Rings. But this is wrong. Virtues are open to everyone's understanding and use. It is difficult to have virtues. It takes effort, time, and perseverance. It requires working regularly. It requires self-control. But once it is owned, the virtues become the golden bracelets with huge value.
That's why intelligence, smartness, and wisdom are different. Maybe it looks like a simple word game, but these 3 words represent the 3 main gates on the path of evolution that we can define as knowing, doing, and being. So the one who understands this difference also understands the path to enlightenment.
Picture of a lotus flower from Unsplash by David Cohen
Lotus Flower is one of the most beautiful flowers that symbolize spirituality, spirituality, and cleanliness. Blooming in the dirty waters of the rain forest, the lotus flower has managed to be a symbol of its beauty and purity, as well as beliefs such as Buddhism and Hinduism. However, in many ancient civilizations, lotus flowers are considered sacred. Especially in Ancient Egypt, the lotus flower was highly valued.
Another detail that makes the lotus flower special is the region where the flower grows. The lotus flower, specially grown in areas such as swamps and muddy land, can remain clean despite the dirty environment it grows. The lotus flower, which can clean even a single dust drop on it, greets those who come across it with white beauty. Easterners also use the lotus flower to show the evolution of man's three stages of consciousness, i.e. the stages of ignorance, zeal, and understanding. Just as the lotus flower is present in the soil, water, and air, that is, in three elements, human beings exist in material, intellectual and spiritual realms. Just as the plant with its roots in mud and swamp passes through the water, grows and eventually blooms in light and air, human spiritual evolution is from the darkness of basic desires and actions to the light of truth and understanding. Water, on the other hand, is a symbol of the constantly changing illusion world that the soul has to pass in its struggle to reach the spiritual enlightenment stage. Rose and its eastern counterpart lotus, like all beautiful flowers, represents the realization and cultivation of the person: that's why the eastern gods are pictured sitting on the lotus flowers.
And that's why, when Buddha was asked by a man if he was God or human, he replied, “How the lotus flower grows in water, grows in water, rises and stands upright and clean, I grew up in the world, I exceeded the world, free from the dirt of the world I live as a puck. ”
Lotus was also used as a universal motif in Egyptian art and architecture. The roofs of many temples stood on lotus pillars showing eternal wisdom; The lotus headed wand, which is the symbol of frequent self-realization and divine privilege, was carried in the audience.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK - Could leadership and spirituality co-exist?
I definitely think it is possible and with 18 leaders of experience in leadership roles, last 14 years being in senior leadership, I know by practice that spirituality makes a leader better.
If IQ (intelligence quotient) is the X-axis and Y-axis is for the EQ (emotional quotient), someone with 10 out of 10 IQ and 3 out of 10 in EQ will have an impact of 30. 6 in IQ, and 6 in EQ will equal to an impact of 36 which means EQ can compensate for lower IQ.
If we add SQ (spiritual quotient) as Z-axis, imagine how EQ and SQ add to an intelligent leader.
Watch my video and come up with your answers.
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The light of truth arises from the collision of ideas.
I am waiting for your valuable contributions and comments. See you next week.
With love,
Kenan