Venerable members of the Sangha,
Venerable fellows,
Valued Upasaka, Upasika,
Dear interested,
"
How does Emotional Intelligence go along with Dhamma practice?" was asked, followed by some explainings, outside and my person thought to repeat the answer here as well. May possible mistakes or missing points, for best use for all, out of compassion, be pointed out as well, after sacrifices of time and effort to read about it.
How does Emotional Intelligence go along with Dhamma practice?
Emotional intelligence is an ability to deal with one's emotions. I am wondering how does it affect and get affected by the practice of the Dhamma? Does deeper meditative absorption lead to heightened awareness and control of one's emotions and vice versa or are they completely unrelated? Also, does the 'feeling' skandha include feeling of one's emotions? Are there any wholesome emotions one feels as the practice deepens? Are the Brahmaviharas all there is to wholesome emotions?
- Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhassa - Good householder,
practicing the Dhamma, walking the path of the real intelligent, is "all" about developing "emotional intelligence".
First of all one should know feeling (emotion), it's kinds, it's origin:
”'Feeling should be known. The cause by which feeling comes into play… The diversity in feeling… The result of feeling… The cessation of feeling… The path of practice for the cessation of feeling should be known.' Thus it has been said. In reference to what was it said?
“There are... Nibbedhika Sutta: Penetrative
Secondly it's very needed to know the different between household and renounciation feelings/emotions, especially for avoiding to make the Brahmaviharas just to another home and to avoid dangerous kinds of practice:
"'The eighteen explorations for the intellect should be known': thus was it said. And in reference to what was it said? Seeing a form via the eye, one explores a form that can act as the basis for happiness, one explores a form that can act as the basis for unhappiness, one explores a form that can act as the basis for equanimity. Hearing a sound via the ear ... Smelling an aroma via the nose ... Tasting a flavor via the tongue ... Feeling a tactile sensation via the body ... Cognizing an idea via the intellect, one explores an idea that can act as the basis for happiness, one explores an idea that can act as the basis for unhappiness, one explores an idea that can act as the basis for equanimity. Thus there are six happiness-explorations, six distress-explorations, and six equanimity-explorations. The eighteen explorations for the intellect should be known': thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.
"'The thirty-six states to which beings are attached should be known': thus was it said. And in reference to what was it said? Six kinds of household joy & six kinds of renunciation joy; six kinds of household distress & six kinds of renunciation distress; six kinds of household equanimity & six kinds of renunciation equanimity.
"And what are the six kinds of...Salayatana-vibhanga Sutta: An Analysis of the Six Sense-media
Third, they have to be observed, making them to a frame of reference:
“And how does a monk remain focused on feelings in & of themselves? There is the case where a monk, when feeling a painful feeling, discerns, ‘I am feeling a painful feeling.’ When feeling a pleasant feeling, he discerns, ‘I am feeling a pleasant feeling.’ When feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling, he discerns, ‘I am feeling a neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling.’
“When feeling a painful/pleasant/neither-painful-nor-pleasant... Satipatthana Sutta: Frames of Reference
Then, in regard of the Brahmaviharas (Sublime dwellings), which are better seen as "way of thoughts" or "dwelling of mind" then to be regarded as feeling/emotions, one can bring the gained intelligence (wisdom/insight) and ones heart ("emotions"), where the development of them is of great fruits, can, will, lead even to highers right liberation.
A perfect guide on the matter of bringing intelligence (head) and emotions (heart) together will help further in details if needed:
Head & Heart Together: Essays on the Buddhist Path , with it's heart-essay, right on the topic of good householders question:
Head & Heart Together Bringing Wisdom to the Brahmavihāras , "emotional intelligence.