Wisdom

Wisdom is knowing how to do what you came here to do.

"Wisdom is understanding how to apply Knowledge in the real world."

"Wisdom, then, represents the ability to translate Knowledge into the finite world."

The Acquisition of Wisdom

"Wisdom, like courage, must be cultivated by direct engagement with life, by making important decisions and abiding with them, by facing error, by facing pain, by accepting help, and by rearranging your life whenever this becomes necessary. In all cases, it requires giving greater priority to truth over your personal wishes or preferences."

"Most of your wisdom will be learned from your own mistakes and the mistakes of other people."

“Wisdom is hard earned. Earn it. Practice it. Use it today.”

"Wisdom is understanding how to apply Knowledge in the real world. Wisdom is cultivated by following Knowledge and by developing skills in the world. It is based upon the cultivation of discernment and discretion, two very fundamental aspects of your education."

Aspects of Wisdom

"Wisdom is an experience, an experience of openness and recognition, an experience of being in contact with two realities simultaneously—the reality of your physical life in the world and the reality of your divine life, your spiritual life, which represents your intrinsic relationship with God and with all of God's messengers.

"Wisdom is not something that you possess alone. It represents a relationship—your relationship with the Greater Power in your life and with Creation itself. Wisdom must be able to guide and instruct you in areas which are beyond your understanding and capacity."

"You are learning The Way of Wisdom as well as The Way of Knowledge. Wisdom has to do with how you carry Knowledge in life--how you express Knowledge, where you share it and how you hold it in regard to yourself and other people."

"Build real relationships. Begin with your relationship with Knowledge and develop character by developing patience, forbearance, restraint, objectivity, compassion, the ability to observe others and the ability to have your life be undefined. This builds character, and with this you gain a greater capacity for experience. This is Wisdom."

"Wisdom always has compassion, patience and regard, for it represents a state of mind attained by one who has proceeded onward past the normal places where people quit, give up or lose heart. Only as you advance up the mountain will you understand this and understand what it offers you."

Expressions of Wisdom

"Learning to deal with the tangible world in a practical way and to open yourself to the mystery of your life, with reverence and humility, represents a new threshold in learning."

"Being in right relationship with your body, your mind, your being and the being of life itself, which is God, represents Wisdom.

"Knowledge within you requires Knowledge within others to bring about any kind of positive results in the world because Knowledge is fully revealed within the context of relationship. This is where things are known and verified. This is where things are acted upon and given meaning in the world. This is an expression of Wisdom."

"Along with Knowledge comes the Wisdom of how to use Knowledge in the world. Thus, Knowledge is the source of your understanding and Wisdom is learning how to apply it meaningfully and constructively in the world. You are not yet wise, so keep Knowledge within yourself today. Allow it to strengthen itself. Allow it to grown. It will give itself naturally, without your attempting to force its expression. In time you will learn to become wise, both through the demonstration of Knowledge and through your own errors."

"Discernment is knowing what you are dealing with. Discretion is knowing how to communicate with it. Both of these require the willingness to be instructed, the willingness to learn, and the willingness to revise or unlearn things that have proven counter-productive for you. This requires restraint. This also requires that you hold in abeyance many of your needs--the need for recognition, the need for validation, the need to express yourself, the need to be accepted by others, the need to overcome your adversaries, the need to be unique or special and the need to have all of your wishes fulfilled. These needs must be overcome in order for you to have this greater presence of mind and security in life."

"Wisdom, then, represents the ability to translate Knowledge into the finite world. This is your function—to be a vehicle for creativity and creation."

See also

Knowledge

Further Study

• Greater Community Spirituality, Chapter 7: How is Wisdom Achieved in Life?

• Wisdom from the Greater Community, Book 2, Chapter 23: Becoming Wise