Musings on Wisdom

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.
~ Kahlil Gibran

Wisdom as far as common sense is pretty universal right? But a wisdom gained from personal experiences is just that, personal. In that respect Kahlil Gibran has hit the nail on the head, each person must find it for their self, and although external circumstances may shape things, that wisdom is found within, because the answers are found within yourself. And wisdom is all about growth. As Tryon Edwards said "He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, and will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today."

Wisdom is being open to all things, wisdom to me is humility too, not too often you see a wise proud man! Wisdom encapsulating the 'enlightment' part of it's definition is just that, enlightenment, freedom from mind, or perhaps rather, the freedom to use mind not be used by it. The Master not the slave.

To me, the wise man has simplified. He knows he is nothing, and lives like nothing is All there is. Out of all the knowledge he has he has extracted the valuable core.

Of course the other wisdom, the intellectual wisdom seems to pale in comparison, with no depth or substance. I like this quote, "Most of our pocket wisdom is conceived for the use of mediocre people, to discourage them from ambitious attempts, and generally console them in their mediocrity." Robert Louis Stevenson. That quote reminds me of the movie The Matrix, give them just enough to stop them seeking more, just enough to satisfy the drive for knowledge which will hush that underlying drive for freedom.

Those that have read much, and speak more are quite obvious aren't they? You probably all know one or know of more... the ones who are always trying to be more than someone else with the knowledge they can spout forth, all ego driven, no substance to it, knowledge without real wisdom, book learnt without experience to back it up.

The truly wise are secure in that wisdom, they have no need to throw it at people, but will always share that wisdom when actually asked, knowing that answering one well conceived question may lead that person to the threshhold of their own mind.

Alex Noble says it well, "If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day."

oh and this quote I just found... this dude and I are on the same wavelength but he expresses it so concisely and much more elegantly than I do!

The great teachings unanimously emphasize that all the peace, wisdom, and joy in the universe are already within us; we don't have to gain, develop, or attain them. We're like a child standing in a beautiful park with his eyes shut tight. We don't need to imagine trees, flowers, deer, birds, and sky; we merely need to open our eyes and realize what is already here, who we really are -- as soon as we quit pretending we're small or unholy.
~ Bo Lozoff

:o)