Instinct, intellect & intuition ------------------------------- Ordinarily, we have instinct, intellect and intuition. Instinct Instinct is an involuntary response by an animal or human being to an external stimulus, resulting in a predictable and relatively fixed behaviour pattern. Instinctive behaviour is an inherited adaptative mechanism that serves to promote the survival of an animal or species. It is most apparent in the fight for survival and sexual activity. Certain animal behaviour, such as exploring and play, can be modified, but in general, inherited behaviour is a sequence of acts that is internally motivated; it may be triggered by external conditions but is only secondarily influenced by them. The simplest form of instinctive behavior is the reflex action in response of a single organ to a stimulus. Some lower animals are governed by chain reflexes. Most animals, however, are capable of fiction action patterns in which several body systems participate. All animals have instincts. The evolution of human beings from the animal world also means that a part of human nature is instinctual. However, this does not mean human nature exists or is governed by instincts alone. This is lower human nature. In general, the higher the animal form, the more flexible the behaviour. Among mammals, learned behaviour often prevails eventually over fixed action patterns, as when a young rat learns through experience to adjust its instinctive heaping and smoothing motions to the appropriate stage of nest building. In humans behaviour is heavily influenced by the socialization process, and the issue of heredity versus environment continues to be a controversial subject. Thus human beings have a social nature, in addition to lower instinctual nature. Socialisation of human beings creates clash and cohesion and this also allows for the human mind to expand. This requires intellect. Intellect Relinquishing instinctual desire, by relating to a broader arc of understanding gives rise to development of intellect. Concepts such as love for friends, joy in inner freedom from external circumstances, respect for human rights of others, learning from mistakes are all related to development of intellect. However, it can also lead to anxiety, stress and related symptoms because of the mind's inclination to using intellect for self-gain. This is the lower inclination of intellect. To avoid this, the higher intellect needs to take the approach of doing what is best in the present with welfare for the future and without attachment to the outcomes. Negative application of intellect needs to be transcended and this happens through useful activity, devotion to selflessly helping others, channeling creative activity, working to instill courage in others, humility, and the like. Here it is important to remember that the secret of overcoming conceit is to view the universe as: center everywhere, circumference nowhere. Each human being lives at the heart of a vast reality. Recognise that everyone has a need to seek truth and that there is one universal consciousness in all things. This is the true causative factor or source of everything in this universe. From positive application of intellect comes inspiration. Inspiration is a vital force and is very much awakened by meditation. That inspiration expands one's potential, gives a feeling of a cosmic bearing, and establishes a sense of universalism. Meditation awakens intuition. Intuition Intuition is generally a substance of the spiritual world, whereas the domain of intellect is both the crude world and the subtle world. In the spiritual world also, the inspiration from intellect is a very important factor. That is why we cannot ignore the contribution of intellect. If we ignore intellect, we will have to deny the difference between human and non-human beings in the mundane world. In the process of evolution, when the ego (the subtler form of the elementary mind) has a greater area than that of the mere objective elementary mind, then the enlarged area is called intellect. Intuition is different. When the existential 'I' feeling becomes larger in area than the ego, then the enlarged area of existential 'I' feeling is called intuition. Existential 'I' feeling is the feeling of 'I am' or 'I exist' and is present in very living being. This existential 'I' feeling seeks spiritual meaning and is the essence of one's higher human nature (or dharma). In this regard, intuition establishes the link between the crude world and the subtle world. And as a result there is a closer link established between the subtle and spiritual worlds. Furthermore, as a result of its closer acquaintance with the sweetness of the spiritual world, this intuition guides human beings along the path of spirituality. And for those who have both intellect and intuition, the intuition is more colourful and more sweet, so intellect becomes somewhat dimmed or lustreless in comparison. It simply means spiritually oriented people are more preoccupied with intuition. The word 'Buddha' means "one who has deep spiritual knowledge', 'one who is guided by intuition'. Intuition is an inborn faculty of human beings. It can be cultivated through meditation which leads to universalism. Universalism Intuition gives rise to universal outlook. It is also timely to remember what the Asian poet Satyendranath Dutta said when looking at this universal outlook: "There is only one race in the world, And that is the human race, Nourished with the milk of the same Mother Earth, Dwelling within the same compass of the sun and the moon. The same heat and cold, the hunger and thirst, We all equally feel, Together we raise the tender green plants and make them strong. We all struggle to preserve our lives, We seek friends and comrades, and build happy homes, We all bathe in water, we all thrive on land. Black and white are merely external hues Internally the blood of all is red By penetrating below the surface, The true inner nature is instantly revealed. The brahmin and the outcaste, the great and the small, Are all artificial distinctions that ultimately crumble to dust. When love awakens in sleeping souls, Then true human beings will emerge. There is no difference between one colour, one race and another For the entire universe is pervaded by One Infinite Consciousness." The American poet, Carl Sandburg, has also said, "There is only one man in the world, And his name is all men There is only one woman in the world, And her name is all women There is only one child in the world And the child's name is all children." Through inspiration they believed human beings will move together shoulder to shoulder towards an exalted humanity, towards the highest fulfillment of their individual lives. Hence, development of intuition is also very important in social life. The Asian poet Can'd'iida'sa, from an obscure corner of Bengal, sang about the same great possibility: "Oh human beings, my brothers and sisters, Humanity is the highest truth, There is nothing beyond it." "Inseparable unity, all faiths and hearts will merge. For there is no distinction among human beings - the whole humanity is an expression of the Supreme One." Yoga and intuition Yogic science develops the intuition. Essentially the breadth of meditation and yoga covers such areas as: Hatha Yoga (physical postures) Mantra (subtle sound vibrations used for meditation) Bhava (ideation and mental focus used in meditation) Sadhana (meditation and the spiritual practices of Yoga) Yama and Niyama (moral and ethical outlook and approach) Karma Yoga (action for welfare) Jinana Yoga (spiritual knowledge and wisdom) Bhakti (inculcation of the feeling of love, devotion and surrender in meditation practices) All these are essential tools to meditation and an elevating lifestyle. Regarding Bhakti Yoga, spiritual singing is a good thing to do for expanding the mind's vision and elevation and removing limitations.