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| MEDICAL EDUCATION |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 19
| Issue : 3 | Page : 202-204 |
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Connecting with spiritual intelligence in medicine
Vijayaraghavan Padmanabhan
Department of Medicine, ESIC Medical College and PGIMSR, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| Date of Submission | 21-Feb-2021 |
| Date of Decision | 10-Mar-2021 |
| Date of Acceptance | 29-Mar-2021 |
| Date of Web Publication | 05-Jul-2021 |
Correspondence Address:
Prof. Vijayaraghavan Padmanabhan
TW1B2, Ragamalika Apartments, Thiruvengadam Street, RK Nagar, Chennai - 600 028, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/cmi.cmi_21_21
While diagnosing and treating patients, the physician makes use of cognitive intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ). Coming up with a concept or treatment that is completely new and yet suitable for a clinical situation requires not only IQ and EQ but also a connection with the physician's own creative “inner self” or “soul,” which is spiritual intelligence (SQ). Such an individual can function from the level of “self” or ego as well as from “inner self” and can move between ego and “soul” with ease. The physician can utilize the unbiased instinctive wisdom of SQ while making use of IQ and EQ. He (or she) will be comfortable in dealing with uncertainties. Individual insights corroborated by studies in neuroscience have helped to understand how IQ and EQ relate to SQ, making it comprehensible to all. Connecting with SQ benefits the physician in patient care as well as in medical education.
Keywords: Awareness, ego, medical education, patient care, soul
How to cite this article:
Padmanabhan V. Connecting with spiritual intelligence in medicine. Curr Med Issues 2021;19:202-4 |
| Introduction | |  |
With ever-increasing medical knowledge, remaining updated within one's area of work is a challenging task. The problem is compounded even more in these pandemic times. Technological innovations have been playing an increasing role in the practice of medicine. Applications such as artificial intelligence may help in making faster diagnoses of the structural (body) aspects of diseases, but every disease also has thought-based (mind) and feeling-based (spirit) components that are beyond the realm of the machine.[1],[2] In this context, it is appropriate to remind ourselves of spiritual intelligence (SQ), the hidden tool that is within each one of us.
| The Three Inner Faculties | | |
When the disease is new with no existing protocols or if the protocols are changing frequently because of new developments, the clinician may come up with a novel way of treating the disease based on past experiences and direct observations. In fact, this is how new treatment methods are developed, which are then corroborated by similar methods developed by others. The astute clinician instinctively tries a new treatment in an urgent situation, which turns out to be successful. This aspect of the physician has been at the forefront during these uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Treatment based on existing concepts and available protocols requires prior knowledge and is based on cognitive intelligence or intelligence quotient (IQ). Applying the knowledge appropriately to the patient requires an empathetic connection with the patient and is based on emotional intelligence or emotional quotient (EQ). Coming up with a concept or treatment that is completely new and yet suitable for a clinical situation requires not only background knowledge and an empathetic connection with the patient (IQ and EQ) but also a connection with the physician's own creative “inner self” or “soul,” which is spiritual intelligence or SQ (Spiritual Quotient). While IQ is logical and EQ is intuitive, SQ is instinctive. The instinctive wisdom of SQ is not the exclusive territory of the astute clinician. Every one of us has all these three faculties, but formal learning and practice of medicine have hitherto been mainly IQ and EQ based.[3]
| Integrating Aspect of SQ | | |
The “inner self” or “soul” is pure consciousness that is reached by each one of us during the stage of deep sleep. The information and experiences of the waking state are presumably integrated and made meaningful during the bliss of deep sleep. This is the integrating aspect of SQ, which is inbuilt. After the person wakes up, the blissful wisdom of deep sleep is carried forward, informing and influencing the thoughts and actions of the day. A shortfall in the quality of deep sleep is reflected as lack of bliss and an impaired SQ.
| Expressive Aspect of SQ | | |
Spiritual intelligence is by nature comfortable with positive human qualities such as truth, love, and peace. If these qualities are lacking, the “inner self” is not satisfied giving rise to unease or stress experienced by the individual. SQ (relating to the “inner self” or “soul”) is the base from which IQ and EQ (relating to “self” or ego) operate during the waking state. The individual connected with the “inner self” is calm, composed, and gives his (or her) best. Such an individual can function from the level of “self” or ego as well as from “inner self.” Recently, studies in neuroscience have clarified how IQ, EQ, and SQ work and are related to each other. While IQ pertains to the left brain and EQ to the right brain, SQ involves synchronous activity of the whole brain.[4]
| Good Quality Clinical Work Depends on Finely Balanced IQ and EQ | | |
Clinical work involving patients helps to fine-tune the EQ of the physician. On the other hand, when fascination for acquiring knowledge leads to overemphasis on IQ, neglect of EQ can result.[5] What matters is a fine balance between IQ and EQ, functioning on the base of a sound SQ, for optimal performance. This applies not only to health professionals but also to all individuals.
| Meeting the Challenge of Dealing with Uncertainties | | |
Physicians may tend to become biased in favor of using either their IQ or EQ. Especially in critical situations, they may tend to become either too objective or too subjective. However, the physician who is calm and connected to his “inner self,” uses the instinctive wisdom of his SQ by maintaining a balance between IQ and EQ and bringing the best out of these two faculties. He will be comfortable in dealing with uncertainties at a time when tolerating uncertainty has become a challenge for the health care system.[6] He can navigate through any clinical situation with confidence and equanimity. In addition, the process of becoming updated with the latest knowledge becomes a creative and selective process. The physician instinctively chooses what is relevant and meaningful from a plethora of available information.
| Tapping the Potential of the Soul | | |
In recent times, the importance of being connected with the “soul” is being increasingly recognized in every field of activity.[7] The practice of meditation helps to gain awareness and connection with one's “inner self” or “soul.” The process and the beneficial effects of meditation have been well studied.[8] While everyone benefits by practicing meditation and connecting with the “soul,” it is relevant to note that the quality of work of the physician is also enhanced. With awareness of the “inner self” comes the ability to move between the ego and the “soul.”[9] When the development of this ability forms the core of medical education, it allows the full potential of the physician as a human resource to be tapped and utilized.
| Conclusion | | |
Connecting with SQ or the “inner self” or “soul” can be a simple and natural process for some but can be strange and difficult for many, since matters pertaining to the “soul” have become neglected in this age of science and technology. Individual insights corroborated by studies in neuroscience have simplified its understanding bringing it within the grasp of the modern mind. The instinctive wisdom of SQ can be utilized by the individual when there is a fine balance between IQ and EQ. While connecting with SQ benefits everyone, it is of particular relevance for the physician in patient care as well as in medical education. Of even more significance is that whenever the hidden tool of SQ is utilized, physicians as human beings enjoy fulfillment and peace within.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
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| 2. | Vijayaraghavan P. Quantum view of medicine and its implications. Int J Acad Med 2017;3:334-5. [Full text] |
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| 6. | Simpkin AL, Schwartzstein RM. Tolerating uncertainty – The next medical revolution? N Engl J Med 2016;375:1713-5. |
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