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Koach HaSechel SheBenefesh, the '''power of intellect in the soul,''' is a manifestation of the soul that gives a person the ability to process intellect.


This power is revealed in stages and thus has various froms (which can generaly be split in three):


Koach HaSechel SheBenefesh, the '''power of intellect in the soul,''' is a manifestation of the soul that gives a person the power of intellect.  
# As it is concealed within the essence of the soul, it is called '''[[hiyuli]]'''<ref>= Abstract potential intellect before any manifestation (Infinite potential). In Kabbalistic terminology, it is called '''chochmah stimaah''' (concealed wisdom—beyond conscious grasp), in the language of the [[Geonim]] '''sechel muflah''' ("wondrous" intellect—intellect distant and foreign), and it is the power of '''hiyuli intellect''' (''Sefer Maamarim 5689'', "Bayom HaShemini," sec. 52).</ref> (and sometimes by the name '''av''' [father]), [at this stage it is not apprent at all and it is too abstract to be even a "source for intellection."]
# 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 [[Machshavah|thought]] it is called revealed intellect.


This power reveals in stages and thus has various froms.
== Its Nature ==


As it is concealed within the essence of the soul, it is called '''[[hiyuli]]'''<ref>= Abstract potential intellect before manifestation (Infinite potential). In Kabbalistic terminology, it is called '''chochmah stimaah''' (concealed wisdom—beyond conscious grasp), in the language of the [[Geonim]] '''sechel muflah''' ("wondrous" intellect—intellect distant and foreign), and it is the power of '''hiyuli intellect''' (''Sefer Maamarim 5689'', "Bayom HaShemini," sec. 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 [[Machshavah|thought]] it is called revealed intellect.
A person has the ability to engage in intellectual conceptualization. From the perspective of this abilities highest form (1)—its source and root which is merely an abstract potential with no means of manifestation—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" (2) (even before there is actual intellection), there are differences between individuals capacity depending on age, fatigue, etc.
 
== Its Nature ==


A person has the ability to engage in intellectual conceptualization. From the perspective of this abilities highest form—its source and root which is merely an abstract potential with no means of manifestation — 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), there are differences between individuals capacity depending on age, fatigue, etc.
The '''actual''' revelation of intellect (3) depends greatly on the physical brain. A person whose brain matter is more refined and delicate will understand more quickly and with greater depth. Thus we see that the brain has the proper structure to be compatible with the mind. This can be better understood by contrasting understanding something in the brain and a person writing words of wisdom. They are both expressing wisdom which is essentaily non tangible however there is a major difference in how the two are processed by the organs they are traveling through. Among human organs the brain is a vessel capable of processing intellect; the mind is compatible with the brain. On the other hand when writing the hand has no capacity to understand and process the power of intellect; the mind is not compatible with the hand. Thus when wisdom is passing through the hand, it is understood that the hand itself does not comprehend the wisdom it is writing, rather the brain extends into the fingers through the nervous system and directs it to write the words of wisdom, but this does not transform the hand into "brain"<ref>Maamarei Admor HaZaken 5568, pp. 115-116.


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.
This is similar to the difference between a "hamshacah" in way of Maavar vs. Hislabshus.</ref>.


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>.
[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 [Chayah] but not at all the power of the "speaking being" level [Medaber].</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.]


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