Spiritual Intelligence in Judaism

Skills and Abilities – The Ten Sefirot or Divine Reflections

There are ten Sefirot or Divine reflections that encompass the various competencies and practices that make up Spiritual Intelligence. Below you will find a brief description of each Sefirah and the related competencies and practices.

Chachmah is Intuitive Wisdom, the flash of insight that allows us to focus on and envision a particular aspect of reality. Chachmah is the source of our sense of awe and wonder, not yet transformed into language. Openness and awareness lead to the cultivation of a Sense of Awe and Wonder regarding creation, to self-knowledge and to a basic intuitive BELIEF in God as the Source of All. Competencies include moment to moment awareness and using intuition as a source of wisdom.

The counterpart to Chachmah is Binah or Reasoned Understanding. Binah is the process of drawing out, expanding, analyzing and synthesizing the insights gained through chachmah/intuition in order to clarify the meaning and specific details of our insights. Competencies include expressing a concept of G-d, identifying and prioritizing sources of power, value, and meaning in life, and cultivating a sense of wonder. Meditation and journal writing are helpful in this process.

When we integrate and balance Chachmah and Binah we are able to enter a state of Da'at or knowledge - fully knowing the object of our attention. Da'at encompasses appreciation of insight, understanding of details, and awareness of our immediate experience and functioning. Da’at, as the human reflection of the Divine Will, expresses our sense of purpose and meaning in life. Competencies include mindfulness and intentional living. Practices include Hitbodedut - reflective inner directed mediation and prayer, Mindfulness meditation, use of holy language.

The sefirah of Hesed (love) represents the unbounded flow of divine love and energy. It flows from our continuous awareness of gratitude for all of life. Competencies include the ability to express and receive love, compasssion, and gratitude, openness to one’s own feelings. Meditation to develop hesed focuses on developing this trait in one’s own life and situation, and on connecting Hesed and Da’at- / one’s purpose in life.

The counterpart of Hesed is Gevurah (might, restraint), which represents restriction, control and focus. Literally, Gevurah refers to might, strength and power, especially in the sense of control. When expressed in a positive way Gevurah manifests as justice, judgment or on a personal level as self-control. It’s purpose is to focus the energy of Hesed. Competencies include self-discipline, personal responsibility, and ability to monitor and evaluate one’s own behavior. Practices include making a personal, moral self assessment, confessing our wrongs, learning the techniques of emotional intelligence, e.g., problem solving, managing feelings, clear communication.

When Hesed and Gevurah are optimally balanced the result is the affirming and healing energy of Tiferet. Unbalanced, the energy of Tiferet becomes chaos (as in addiction). Tiferet is often translated as beauty, but we must understand this beauty in the spiritual sense of compassion and forgiveness. Competencies include healing through Forgiveness of self and others, the ability to express compassion and exercise accountability, letting go of anger while maintaining safe interpersonal boundaries and limits. Tiferet is developed along with continued awareness of Hesed and Gevurah and the tension between those two qualities. Meditation, prayer and self-reflection nurture Tiferet.

Netzach (literally victory) is both dominance and energized engagement. Netzach is living and acting out the full expression of one’s love and identity in the context of family and community. It is a positive, energized self-assertion; the ability to live with happiness and zeal. The energized engagement of Netzach can be directed into the willfulness of rebellion and addiction or the will power of leadership. Competencies include the ability to change and improve one’s behavior so that one acts in accordance with one’s Da’at and expresses Hesed. Practices include mental rehearsal of positive behavior, personal affirmations, doing favors for self and others, expressing love by doing random acts of loving kindness (gemilut hasadim).

Hod (literally "glory" or “splendor”) is best understood as empathy or the ability to be present with humility and dignity. Hod represents the ability to act in dignified accordance with God’s will and with your own understanding of your spiritual ethics and values. Hod energy is reflected in loyalty to one’s principles and one’s Higher Power. Hod focuses the energy of Netzach just as Gevurah focuses and limits Hesed. Without the energy of Hod, the energy of Netzach might lead to inconsistency, impulsivity & or even promiscuity. Competencies include the ability to repudiate temptation, empathy, self-restraint and self-control regarding speech and behavior, demonstrating commitment to one’s values in daily actions, using one’s understanding (Da’at) and Torah (ethical path) as a guide and resource for making personal, business and ethical decisions and behavior.

Yesod is the sefirah of creativity, transformation and connection. Literally meaning ‘foundation,’ Yesod signifies loyalty, connection and communication. Balancing the abundant flow of Hesed and Netzach energies with the focusing power of Gevurah and Hod, Yesod represents a loving, energized, dignified and optimally effective ordering of one’s behavior. Yesod also refers to creativity and sexuality, the most intimate human connection. Competencies include bringing God, love and dignity into one’s life, and establishing and nurturing interpersonal relationships. Yesod practices, integrating awareness, mindfulness, blessing and right action, include expressing one’s response to awareness of the holy through verbal blessing of eating, breathing, study, and all one's actions; social action, building relationships based on compassion, limits, positive deeds, and commitment.

Malchut is the Kingdom of God - Happiness and Fulfillment, Life with Optimal Spiritual Intelligence. Malchut represents the fullest expression of the divine purpose here on earth or, in human terms, the fullest expression of our highest purposes and self-fulfillment.

Copyright: © 2008 Rabbi Yaacov J. Kravitz, ED.D., Center for Spiritual Intelligence Inc.
Source: http://www.spiritualintelligence.com/abilities.html