rename+48

=Learning Wisdom= (By Sam)(ael) (Return to Teachings)


 * What is Wisdom ?**

-Sam)(ael- ||
 * **QUOTE** ||
 * "Wisdom is a hard to measure substance. Like the wind, it cannot be held in your hand but can be felt and seen as it passes."

Wisdom is hard to define for many people. It is unmeasured physically, it cannot be easily tested though it's presence can often be felt. Indeed Wisdom requires at least some measure of wisdom to be explained. It is described as more valuable than gold, as the foundation of success, and as the greatest protection and boon a man can get.

A wise person is one who learns from their experiences more than others. A person who is very aware of their surroundings and gains both inner and outer understanding and knowlege through observation and reflection. A Wise person is one who has found Faith, and one who plies the trade of Compassion without fail.

(Proverbs 16:16) ||
 * **QUOTE** ||
 * "How much better is it to get Wisdom than Gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than Silver!"

(Proverbs 16:20) ||
 * **QUOTE** ||
 * "He that handeleth a Matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."

(Proverbs 16:22-23) ||
 * **QUOTE** ||
 * "Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wiseteaches his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips."


 * Aspects of Wisdom **

-**Experience**: Wisdom Requires experience, though experience does not always create wisdom. This is beneficial because experience teaches us the application of truth. We also witness the grand scape we are a part or and may, if we pay attention deeply realize not only truths about ourselves but about our values, and the workings of the universe. Experience must be gained through participation. The greater the commitment of your effort, the greater the gain in experience may be with the application of Awareness and Reflection.

-**Awareness**: To be truely aware is to experience each breath, each pulse of the heart, and each scent with your full attention. If you were to have but one moment left to savor in this life it would be treasured with your full attention. That is how you must live your life.

Awareness is the measure of experience. While experience is the participation in an undertaking, your gain and enjoyment of such endeavors is measured directly by how much attention you pay. A person who is simply participating will do the tasks and remember a vague outline of what was done with a few of the vibrantly new experiences remembered. A person who is actively aware will remember the feel of papers in their hand, the smells that came by, the expressions and personalities of the others, the colors, the surrounding feelings and information.

You can see how much we fail to experience when we do not pay attention.

To truely benefit from experience we must pay attention.

-**Reflection**: Reflection is a process that begins after experience which is also benefitted by awareness. It is when we look inward and begin to realize and apply the lessons and the puzzles of our experiences. A great deal of time spent pondering and in reflection must be spent to truely gain the wisdom of a master. One who Ponders upon the examples of others or upon the consequences and implications of their own actions will find that they understand much more in all aspects of their life, and may avoid many of the pitfalls of others by sharing in their experiences.

-**Knowlege**: One who is educated and well-studied will have much more knowlege to work with when reasoning and reflecting. Knowlege itself is a powerful tool but it is also imperative to Wisdom. To understand even the simpler workings of Mechanical farming devices can lead to a better understanding of one's self and the universe in which they live. This in turn grants the ability to reflect in greater measure and to understand at greater depth. Often in life we see examples of greater principles in simple circumstances.

-**Faith**: It is also important to have faith. It is not by coincidence that the wisest among us are often attached to a religion or way of belief that edifies and instructs the average man. Faith is belief in things that are not seen which are true. As one comes to understand the universe in deeper and deeper reflections upon themselves and all that is about, one inevitably cannot help but feel the presence of a greater design in it's working.

This faith is not only upon the greater design be it a God or a natural Order but upon the principles and the truths they have learned.

Though often this results in beliefs contrary to the common understanding, the truth in the principles cannot help but appeal to the people.

Faith often results in great teachers.

-**Compassion**: Without doubt there is but one purpose to Wisdom and it cannot be gained by any who do not profess it's intended purpose. Wisdom is designed to be used with compassion. For in serving others you serve yourself. In teaching others you teach yourself. In pondering on others you ponder upon yourself. When compassion runs dry in a man, he ceases to progress and will soon wither and die.


 * The Need for Wisdom **

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalms 90: 10,12) ||
 * **QUOTE** ||
 * "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

(Marion G. Romney) ||
 * **QUOTE** ||
 * Sooner or later, in this life or the next, every person will learn the significance of applying his heart “unto wisdom.” Some learn it too late. Others learn it before it is everlastingly too late, but only after bitter experience that leaves long-lasting scars. A fortunate few are wise enough to learn wisdom in their youth. It is my prayer and hope and desire that each of us may find ourselves in this last group.

In another example of learning wisdom too late, Shakespeare has Cardinal Wolsey, after falling from eminence and power, say: fling away ambition: By that sin fell the angels; how can man, then, The image of his Maker, hope to win by’t?
 * **QUOTE** ||
 * Cromwell, I charge thee,

Then comes Shakespeare’s comment on wisdom: Love thyself last: … Corruption wins not more than honesty. … … be just and fear not. Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s: then, if thou fall’st, O Cromwell! Thou fall’st a blessed martyr. … … O Cromwell, Cromwell! Had I but serv’d my God with half the zeal I serv’d my King, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies. (King Henry VIII, act III, scene 2.) ||

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