What Is the Supra-Rational Faculty? The Highest Level of Human Existence Is Called the Supra-Rational Faculty, Which Is Also Known as the Heart or Human Dimension.
We hate limitations and always seek to push predetermined boundaries. However, the part of our existence with which we are mostly connected and acquainted is our material and limited part. This part only perceives the material world, and for this reason, it has a limited scope and boundary. Among the five faculties of our existence, the supra-rational faculty is the only unlimited and infinite part, a part that desires infinity, and the Absolute Perfect is its match and beloved. But what is the supra-rational faculty?
The first and simplest answer to the question “What is the supra-rational faculty?” is that the supra-rational faculty is one of the five dimensions of our being that is responsible for connecting with the unseen. Once the Divine Spirit is breathed into our body, it takes on the name of the “soul.” This soul is made up of different faculties and dimensions, one of which is the supra-rational faculty. To complete our answer to the question “What is the supra-rational faculty?” we must say that this faculty is the highest level of our existence, which has the greatest distance from the material world. It is higher in rank than the intellect, estimation, imagination, and sense perception; it breaks material boundaries and connects itself to infinity.
This name may be new or unfamiliar to you, and perhaps this question arises for you: “What are other names for the supra-rational faculty?” Is it possible for us to recognize it by another name? In Islamic Philosophy, terms such as the heart, human dimension, or supra-immateriality are used to refer to this faculty. With all these explanations, what is this unknown part of our existence? In other words, what is the supra-rational faculty?
What Is the Supra-Rational Faculty, the Heart, or the Human Dimension?
The human soul has five faculties, four of which we have explained in detail: sense perception, imagination, estimation, the intellect, and the supra-rational faculty. Each of these dimensions has its own specific match or beloved. In other words, the faculties of our soul start with sense perception, which is the most physical faculty, and continue to the supra-rational faculty, which is the immaterial and most abstract faculty and level of our soul. To further complete our answer to the question “What is the supra-rational faculty?” we must state that the supra-rational dimension of our existence is the only unlimited part of our being that is connected to things beyond materiality, nourishes from them, and grows. Our connection with the unseen world or the non-material world is made possible by the supra-rational faculty of our existence.
Our soul is a collection of all these faculties and levels that we have discussed in various articles. We can only find peace when one specific part of our existence takes control. As we have proven in previous articles, we are perfectionist and infinity-seeking beings. Therefore, only the infinite part of our existence can govern this restless being because it is the only part of our being that is infinite in essence.
The supra-rational part of our existence is immaculate and untainted. If it encounters problems and is unable to establish a connection with the unseen world or enjoy spiritual nourishment, it means other faculties of the soul have had tainted input. The supra-rational faculty is the most refined and elegant faculty compared to other faculties, and the pleasures we take from it are deeper and higher than other kinds of pleasure. The more supra-rational pleasure we get, the more emotional well-being and love we will have.
All humans experience sensate, imaginary, estimative, intellective, and supra-rational pleasures, but the veil of matter often makes it hard to fully enjoy these pleasures. The more we distance ourselves from material pleasures, the more deeply we can appreciate and sustain supra-rational ones. Our supra-rational faculty flourishes when it receives nourishment from its beloved match, as well as from the proper feeding of our lower dimensions.
What Does the Supra-Rational Faculty Do?
The supra-rational faculty establishes the connection between human beings and all non-material realms of the universe. Our perception of the unseen world and our connection with the world beyond sense and matter is entrusted to our supra-rational faculty. Gaining spiritual pleasures and our spiritual growth are also related to this faculty. Discovering the formulas in our soul and moving towards perfection are characteristics of this part of our existence. In fact, our difference from all the creatures of the material world is solely related to this part. It is because of our supra-rational faculty that we are humans and have the ability for spiritual growth.
As we mentioned, inanimate objects, plants, animals, and angels also have the lower dimensions of our existence, and it is only the supra-rational faculty which is exclusive to human beings. This part of our existence is the most elevated dimension and faculty in the material world. The human being seeks infinity and perfection. The source of these feelings and desires is the human dimensions of our existence. Our human dimension has separated from its infinite source and brought the memory of being infinite into the limited world of matter. This desire is so strong that it influences all our efforts, and if it does not take the right path, we will never achieve peace and happiness. The only part of our existence that has the ability to be infinite is the supra-rational faculty.
Maintaining our Human (Spiritual) Balance
We should keep in mind that without the lower dimensions of our existence, we will not be called humans, and the supra-rational faculty will also have no meaning and will not become activated. In fact, we need a series of sensate, imaginal, estimative, and intellective activities to be able to serve the supra-rational faculty. But if these activities exceed a certain limit and dominate our supra-rational dimension, they will take us out of balance, and we will no longer be human. We will be a balanced human being when all levels of our existence are under the control and command of the supra-rational faculty.
The supra-rational faculty acts as a ship captain; if it guides us, it can take us to our ultimate destination. Therefore, as we have discussed previously, sense perception, imagination, estimation, and the intellect are necessary for us as long as they act as tools. The efficiency and value of these faculties are determined by whether they contribute to the flourishing of the supra-rational faculty or not.
In this article, we answered the following questions: What is the supra-rational faculty? What are the special characteristics of its match and beloved? Why is it the most important dimension of our existence? We discussed its relationship with other dimensions of our being and emphasized the importance of keeping its dominance over other dimensions to maintain our spiritual balance. We said that the supra-rational faculty is the only unlimited faculty of our being that has the ability and capacity to receive infinity. But what is the manifestation of our infinite beloved in the universe?