Wisdom from Sri Sri

The intellect divides and synthesizes. Some creatures in the world synthesize and some creatures divide. But a human being has both abilities.
Ants synthesize; they build an anthill and collect things together. A beaver synthesizes by bringing wood together to build a dam. Birds also synthesize (such as the weaver birds).
Monkeys cannot synthesize, they divide everything. Give them a garland and they will tear it to pieces and throw it all over the place! A monkey can only divide and analyze.
A human being both divides (analyzes) and synthesizes. The intellect analyzes the relative world to find the Truth. And Truth once found synthesizes everything into One.
When the intellect becomes quiet, it brings out intelligence. Usually people think that gathering information makes one intelligent. This is not so. It is samadhi that brings intelligence.
An unintelligent man, though he may have all the information, cannot be creative. An intelligent man, even without much information, can be creative.
A sign of intelligence is to see the One in many and find the many in One.
There is an old Sanskrit proverb:
The first sign of intelligence is not to start anything.
The second sign of intelligence is: if you have started something, you have to continue it to the end.

© The Art of Living Foundation