Utilizing Intellect for Spiritual Judgement
The Intellect is a subtle instrument of consciousness, positioned finer than the mind and the senses. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it serves a crucial, practical function: helping the mind determine what to reject and what to accept. However, the intellect itself belongs to the body, and spiritual understanding is ultimately beyond the intellectual platform. The true ground of intelligence is the soul.
Hierarchy of Understanding
Śrīla Prabhupāda outlines a clear hierarchy of understanding. We begin with the gross understanding of the senses, moving to the finer mind, then the intellect, and finally the soul. Empiric philosophers err when they attempt to approach the Supreme Truth solely on the strength of their own, inherently limited intellect.
- We have got from Bhagavad-gita that the gross understanding are the senses, though the still finer understanding is the mind, and then intellect, and then the soul.
- It is beyond intellectual. The intellect also belong to the body. But understanding of the soul is beyond intellectual.
The human being possesses a special intellect developed far beyond the animals, granted so he can understand his identity, the nature of God, the cosmic manifestation, and the aim of life.
Spiritual Function of Intellect
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the proper function of the intellect is to receive and scrutinize spiritual teachings. Lord Caitanya emphasized that His teachings should be received with intellect and full senses so that one can logically understand the great mission of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The intellect enables a devotee to recognize that everything—matter included—is the energy of Kṛṣṇa. When we perceive matter in this way, it is no longer materialism, but spiritualism, and we learn how to utilize everything with Kṛṣṇa.
Failure of Misdirected Intellect
Those who are on the mental platform (writing poetry or philosophical speculation to satisfy the mind) or those who are impersonalists fail to use their intellect correctly. When impersonalists use their intellect for temporary philanthropic or humanitarian work, they become further entrapped by the material world. Furthermore, the highest wisdom, demonstrated by scholars like Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, is to always refer to the śāstra (scriptures), rather than opining by one’s own limited intellect.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the intellect is the faculty used for spiritual judgement. When properly utilized, it helps the individual transcend the bodily concept of life (sudhiyah), accept spiritual direction from the Lord within the heart, and become an intelligent person who is always satisfied, depending on the mercy of the Lord with body, mind, and intellect.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Intellect. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.