Wisdom

[Duży Zaganiacz]

Wisdom is the opposite of stupidity or ignorance. Definition of wisdom is: the ability to see things exactly as they are.

The opposite for ignorance is awareness, which is not equal to wisdom but might be a good estimation. What you just defined is rather pragmatism, which requires the subject to be fully apprehensible. Wise people like everyone must sometimes deal with non-apprehensible things. Are they supposed to rely on faith then?

[arcticwolf]

The opposite for ignorance is awareness, which is not equal to wisdom but might be a good estimation. What you just defined is rather pragmatism, which requires the subject to be fully apprehensible. Wise people like everyone must sometimes deal with non-apprehensible things. Are they supposed to rely on faith then?

Being aware of something does not equal understanding it. The opposite of awareness is oblivion.

[lamb]

Wisdom = life experiences/observations combined with knowledge and judgement

[arcticwolf]

Wisdom = life experiences/observations combined with knowledge and judgement

I think you beautifully summed up what we in the European sphere of thinking/understanding comprehend as wisdom. The problem with our way of thinking is that we bundle knowledge, judgement etc together with observation.

There is a whole another way of perceiving this, and a whole another definition of wisdom.

Wisdom is seeing reality the way it is without adding or subtracting anything from the perception of it.

Perception as we ordinarily know it is faulty and filters stream of reality in essence rendering all our conclusions incomplete or false, or both. In other words... if the premise is wrong all the conclusions will be wrong no matter how sterling is the logic leading up to them.

Nothing is what it seems, absolutely nothing, not a thing.

[el22]

There is a whole another way of perceiving this, and a whole another definition of wisdom.

Wisdom is seeing reality the way it is without adding or subtracting anything from the perception of it.

What does it mean seeing it as it is? Different species equipped with different sensory systems have different views of reality.

[arcticwolf]

What does it mean seeing it as it is? Different species equipped with different sensory systems have different views of reality.

It means without distorting the flow. It''s how well tuned perception is. How well aware the mind is of itself. It's minds capability to discard "filters" that distort perception. You have to take the process of perception apart and analyze each constituent part. There are some parts that are absolutely necessary and others that hinder perception and change it.

In short and simple language to someone who has never worked on tuning perception, it's not what you see but how you see it that matters. The state of mind while observing is the difference.

To be able to see the flow of reality as it is without changing it the mind has to be in "neutral observer" mode. That does not mean indifferent, on the contrary it must be very mindful and aware but totally neutral to all phenomena inside and outside.

Naturally it does not happen, mind has to be disciplined and trained. Mind is extremely tricky and will fool anyone anytime. It takes a long time to get a grasp on the enormity of deception. But it ain't hopeless, it's just very very hard to do.

[de Burgh II]

Wisdom in its own sense is an unbiased view of reality through one's experience. We should not discern one's experiences with our own mental bias. Whereas we should live life through the acceptance of reality for what it is... embrace the truths behind our experiences that in turn influence our accumulated knowledge for what reality has to offer. See and live our lives as a privilege to live within the very means of our own lives. Not above nor below life... but, on an equal basis with everything around us. Quelling one's arrogance is the key to acquiring wisdom. Respect one's body/mind for what it is, not something you are not.

Ultimately treat your life as a gift... something to be grateful for. Living one's life in the pursuit of their own individual happiness that no one should dictate but, the individuals themselves in that respect.

[arcticwolf]

Wisdom in its own sense is an unbiased view of reality through one's experience. We should not discern one's experiences with our own mental bias. Whereas we should live life through the acceptance of reality for what it is... embrace the truths behind our experiences that in turn influence our accumulated knowledge for what reality has to offer. See and live our lives as a privilege to live within the very means of our own lives. Not above nor below life... but, on an equal basis with everything around us. Quelling one's arrogance is the key to acquiring wisdom. Respect one's body/mind for what it is, not something you are not.

Ultimately treat your life as a gift... something to be grateful for. Living one's life in the pursuit of their own individual happiness that no one should dictate but, the individuals themselves in that respect.

Well, I agree with it if we understand wisdom as an individual quality, like own physical pain for example.

I tend to look at wisdom as impersonal quality, what I mean by that is the ability to understand reality that excludes any personal opinion, judgement, concept, emotional attachment etc. Totaly egoless experience of reallity. That is only possible when the very process of perception/observation is tuned to remove all mental hindrances that change minds reception of reality.

[Unome]

Wisdom is knowing that you know nothing, and that ignorance is evil.

[arcticwolf]

Wisdom is knowing that you know nothing, and that ignorance is evil.

That's just the starting point, not wisdom itself yet, but it is a good start.