What Makes Us Intelligent? Lessons from Big Bang Theory to Bhagwad Gita

Time of India

27-06-2025

In the sitcom Big Bang Theory, protagonist Sheldon Cooper has a high Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Still, he struggles to understand sarcasm and fails to 'read the room' when confronted with subtle emotions. Sheldon's twin sister, Missy, does not have a prodigious IQ, but she is more perceptive than her child prodigy brother in sensing emotional cues, a sign of higher Emotional Quotient (EQ). American developmental psychologist Howard Gardner has identified eight types of intelligences, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinaesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.
Naturalistic intelligence
refers to our innate ability to interact with our environment, identifying, classifying and labelling the natural world around us. However, natural world exists at myriad levels, some of which can be explained by modern science, and others are still being studied. Greek philosopher Plato's 'theory of forms' refers to the physical world as merely a shadow, an imitation of things, while their perfect, eternal forms dwell in higher realms. Plato regarded intuition and reason as the highest forms of intelligence, as they enabled contemplation on perfect Forms. Indic schools of thought hold that a human being is made of five sheaths, panch koshas: annamaya, gross body, pranamaya, energy body, manomaya, mental body, vijnanamaya, intellectual body, and anandamaya or bliss body. According to Indic spirituality, the ultimate aim of human existence is to attain sat-chit-anand, truth-consciousness-bliss.
Human intelligence, too, is like a mirror reflecting nature's intelligence and super intelligence underlined by consciousness that is both within and without. It is visible in beautiful patterns unfurling on their own accord in nebulae, gazillions of light years away or in the tiniest invisible-to-the-naked-eye atom, nay quark, which scientists constantly try to observe through experiments. Then there is Artificial Intelligence that mimics human capabilities, and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which, in theory, would possess capacity for abstraction, an understanding of human emotions, and ability to engage in self-directed learning.
One look at the night sky or our garden is enough to know that nature's intelligence is at work, guiding life and other phenomena in the multiverse and beyond. And nature's work speaks for itself. So many processes run smoothly at the same time. Natural selection ensures that various species develop attributes for survival. Cells in our body die and are replaced by new ones. Mitochondria are not coded software but programmed to initiate apoptosis (programmed cell death). Beauty of nature's designs and intricate patterns often makes even the hardest of non-believers ponder the question: Is there an intelligent designer?
by Taboola
by Taboola
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In Indic systems of thinking, creation emanates from consciousness, jada, inanimate matter appears from chetan, consciousness principle, for
Ex nihilo nihil fit
, that is, nothing comes out of nothing. This consciousness reflects in all of creation, including human intelligence.
Bhagwad Gita identifies 20 types of intelligence, the highest among them being
Atma-Vishyak Buddhi,
intelligence born of placidity of mind brought about by meditation, that is, when individual consciousness becomes aware of its true nature, the Self. The second is Vishudha Buddhi, pure intelligence, followed by Nishchayatmak Buddhi, a determinate intelligence concentrated on the Self. Buddhi Yog/Buddhi Sanyog is an undistracted intelligence resting steady in bliss because of one's samskaras in a previous birth.
The fifth is Asakti-rahit Buddhi, detached intelligence, unaffected by victory or defeat. The sixth is Sambuddhi, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. The seventh is Sthirabuddhi, a stable mind indicative of a God-realised soul; eighth is Sukshm Buddhi, subtle reasoning purified by meditation on Supreme Consciousness. It is followed by Dhairya yukt Buddhi, a tranquil mind, fixed on the Divine. Shuddha Buddhi, sinless mind, Sattvic Buddhi, intelligence that correctly determines paths of activity and renunciation – what ought to be done and what should not be done, what is bondage and what is liberation, and Buddhiman, a wiseman, who practices self-control, which allows him to attain higher intelligence.
Besides these higher intelligences, Gita deals with lower intelligence, too. These are: Swarthi Buddhi, intelligence characterised by greed, restlessness, craving; Bhedon-wali buddhi, intelligence of ignorant men moved by desires; Rajasi Buddhi, intelligence that is unable to perceive what is dharm and adharm, what should be done and what should not be done; Mamatva Buddhi, performing of actions only in self-interest; Tamasi Buddhi, total ignorance; Ashuddha Buddhi, impure mind, considering itself the doer. Manda Buddhi, intelligence attached to bodily consciousness; Buddhiheen, an ignorant individual, who regards the Supreme Spirit to have assumed a finite form through birth as an ordinary human being.
According to Indic philosophical systems, intelligence and intellect not just enable day-to-day functions but also prepare an individual to realise the ultimate Sachidanand, bliss.
Authored by: Sonal Srivastava
With inputs from Agam Khare
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