Understanding Wisdom in Buddhism

Study Notes

• Wisdom is the fourth of the ten perfections in Buddhism, but it's hard to understand why it's listed fourth because it's a core structure that influences and characterizes all the other perfections.

• Wisdom is not the same as intelligence, and a person with high intelligence can still be unwise and lack conscience.

• Intelligence is the capacity to answer questions, whereas wisdom is knowing which questions are important to ask.

• In science, wisdom is deciding which subject to study and which question to prioritize, and for the Buddha, the most important question is the cause of suffering and how to end it.

• The Buddha's search is not about accumulating knowledge, but about finding a way to end suffering, and he believes that all suffering is ultimately unnecessary.

• In Buddhism, there is no external agency that can intervene and manifest wisdom, and wisdom can only be developed through individual effort and the internalization of good advice.

• The faculty of wisdom is essential for the development of other psychological faculties, including faith, and it's the second factor in the seven factors of enlightenment, known as investigation of Dhamma.

• Wisdom is also one of the five spiritual faculties, and it's an absolute necessity that informs all the other faculties.

• In the Noble Eightfold Path, wisdom refers to the last two elements, mindfulness and Samadhi, which conspire together to produce wisdom.

• The Buddha says that if one has established sila (morality), then Samadhi (concentration) may rise, and if one is established in Samadhi, wisdom will naturally arise.

• Right concentration (sama Samadhi) requires right view, which is an intellectual understanding of the Four Noble Truths, and wisdom fulfills right view.

• The Eightfold Path begins with wisdom (right view) and ends with wisdom, and wisdom loops back into the path, making it the core of the perfections.

• Every other perfection, including loving-kindness, generosity, patience, and determination, requires wisdom to be fully developed.

Description

Explore the concept of wisdom in Buddhism, its distinction from intelligence, and its role in the development of other psychological faculties. Learn how wisdom is essential for the Noble Eightfold Path and how it influences the perfections. Discover the importance of individual effort in developing wisdom and its impact on ending suffering.