Editing Koach HaSechel



Koach HaSechel SheBenefesh, the '''power of intellect in the soul,''' reveals itself in stages. As it is concealed within the essence of the soul, it is called '''[[hiyuli]]'''<ref>In Kabbalistic terminology, it is called '''chochmah stimaah''' (concealed wisdom), in the language of the Geonim '''sechel muflah''' (wondrous intellect), and it is the power of '''hiyuli intellect''' (Maamarim 5689, Discourse "On the Eighth Day of Assembly," section 52).</ref> (and sometimes by the name '''av''' [father]), as it extends to become a source for intellection it is called '''koach hamaskil''' (the power that intellectualizes, which is the source and root of all intellectual concepts), and when it comes to expression during actual thought it is called revealed intellect.

== Its Nature ==

A person has the ability to engage in intellectual conceptualization: from the perspective of its abstract hiyuli source and root, every person at every moment has the potential to be as wise as King Solomon. But as it extends to become a source for powers of understanding (even before there is actual intellection), it undergoes changes from smallness to greatness depending on age, fatigue, etc.

The '''actual''' revelation of intellect depends on the physical brain. A person whose brain matter is more refined and delicate will understand more quickly and with greater depth, and when, Heaven forbid, a human soul is '''reincarnated'''<ref>The life-force in an animal is only capable of receiving the power of the "living being" level but not at all the power of the "speaking being" level.</ref> into an animal, the intellectual power within it cannot be expressed at all (since the animal brain lacks an appropriate vessel to bring forth the powers of this soul). Therefore, a human soul clothed in an animal can direct the animal what to do and where to go, but cannot express activities that belong only to humans.

An example of this is a person writing words of wisdom. Among human organs, only the brain is a vessel capable of processing intellect, and the writing hand has no '''vessel''' to understand the power of intellect. It is understood that the hand itself does not comprehend what it must do, rather the brain extends into the fingers through the nervous system, but this does not transform the hand into a brain<ref>Maamarei Admor HaZaken 5568, pp. 115-116.</ref>.

{{Related articles|Article=[[Primordial Intellect]], [[Self Space]]}}{{Orphaned article}}</nowiki> {{Footnotes}}[[Category]] [[Category: teachings]] [[Category:in Chassidism]]