Wisdom

Wisdom. We all want more of it. We are all in awe of someone who possesses it. But, wisdom is not about reading and studying more subjects and gaining more knowledge. What good is knowing about everything on earth and in the cosmos if wisdom is not applied with it?

So, how do we become wise? The Buddha said that insightful wisdom is understood when one recognizes three characteristics of existence:

All things are (1) impermanent, (2)ownerless, and (3) dissatisfying in the long run. Any other way of thinking is delusional.

The wisdom of understanding reality, as Lama Surya Das explains in his book, "Buddha Is As Buddha Does", is like an experienced sighted guide capable of leading the otherwise blind practices of generosity, ethics, effort, patience, and meditation. Helen Keller reflected a similar attitude toward wisdom: "To be blind is bad, but worse it is to have eyes and not to see."

An awareness of life, of Oneness, is seeing things just as they are, as well as how they fit into and effect the entirety. The Dalai Lama calls this the Third Eye, or the Wisdom Eye. This mystic eye, or the eye of wisdom, perceives unity, while the other two "normal" eyes see dualistically. A person with wisdom sees a clear, holistic, third-eye vision of the cosmos.

Every person has this "wisdom" within himself. It's there for all to discover. There is a dimension within you that transcends all wordliness and concepts. It is your best friend, your teacher, your guide, ally, and protector. Innate wisdom is like your higher power, God, or Oneness. When we go into stillness or meditation, there is a dimension within that taps into this wisdom, this God. It's in the Now dimension where all that is real exists.