Wisdom

What is Wisdom and What is its Source?

Why is it that, in many regards in Western society, there has been a diminishing of the significance of wisdom, and in its stead has come the somewhat impecunious cousin of wisdom, known as knowledge?

In many other cultures, and certainly historically also in Western society, wisdom, in the form of the revered sage or the tribal elder, was always a point of reverence and a depth of respect and honouring was afforded to them by the younger members of the group, village, town or society.

It has been all too easy for us look to the East to source pictures of revered monks with Zen like silence and a perspicacious gaze that unnerves and commands a depth of respect in all who approach them. Equally, we often refer to traditional, indigenous cultures to bring awareness of how the local medicine man or woman is revered. This includes the Australian Aboriginal culture where elders have the responsibility. of making sure that all cultural protocols are sustained in accordance with their originals through the passage of time.

However, even within Western societies, there has been the archetype of The Crone, the aged wise woman of the village. At least until the insecurity of religious disapproval resulted in the eradication across Europe and in parts of America of these ‘crones,’ and even younger women, based on accusations of ‘witchcraft’.

It seems that our sense of what wisdom is has a somewhat chequered history in terms of its social acceptability.

The Symbol of Wisdom

It is indeed fortunate that there is one enduring symbol of wisdom within the animal Kingdom. I refer here to the class of birds that we call owls. Although in modern times, the symbol of the owl has been grabbed and mis-placed as a symbol of knowledge, often seen sporting an academic mortar board as the icon for many an educational product, nonetheless, there is certain quality to the symbol of the owl that resounds through the ages as intimating a quality that represents a depth of wisdom. Those large all seeing eyes that observe their entire environment from the vantage of their resting place are surely part of this quality, along with their sudden burst of activity when prey is sighted and swooped up immediately for lunch, followed by another extensive period of rest and observation until the next round of activity is required.

Could this be why the owl is the symbol of wisdom in so far as wisdom will only be moved when there is a call for it? Is it that wisdom has to respond, to be responsive? Is it that, in all other circumstances, we are simply to rest, as does the owl, in a depth of observation of life, only bursting into activity and the precise expression of wisdom when indeed there is a call to do so, whether that be from within the family grouping or the entire tribe?

It’s certainly worth considering that this type of ‘work-life balance’ may be one that we have somewhat lost sight of in favour of the more intense activities of seeking knowledge!

So, what is Wisdom?

It seems to be easier to define, or even derive the smallest of sense of what wisdom is, by defining what it is not. Unlike its impecunious cousin, knowledge, wisdom cannot be owned. There are no degrees to be had in wisdom and indeed there are no degrees I know of that confer upon you, the status of wise person. There is no amount of money to be gathered or garnered to glorify the family name when it comes to wisdom.

To try and catch or to hold onto wisdom is as futile as attempting to catch or hold a gentle, fragrant breeze that soothes the brow of intense mental activity when one walks on the beach alongside a relatively tranquil ocean.

It is impossible to do this...

And perhaps this is why we have somehow ‘lost interest’ in wisdom. Wisdom cannot be sought, it cannot be studied, it does not bring public or private accolade, it does not make you wealthy, nor can it be bought. It cannot be found in books, online, in tutorials or indeed in any copy, hard or soft.

It simply rests within us, awaiting our observation of life to activate it, having drunk deeply from its profound well of life sustaining, life enhancing, untainted clarity and purity.

I, for one, am definitely moving into a greater observation of life, as does the wise owl.