Contents
Caveat Lector
Introduction 1
The Goal of Life 6
An Invitation to Wisdom 8
What Wisdom Is 13
Etymology 18
A definition standard in the West for 1500 years 20
20th-21st c definitions and descriptions of wisdom 24
Wisdom in later years 33
Wisdom and Illusion 41
Wisdom and Reality 41
The Wisdom Self: You Are the World 45
The uses of science 51
Why Aren’t More People Wise? 53
Developing Wisdom 55
Experiencing 60
Conversation and practicing wisdom 60
A method for attaining ultimate wisdom 61
Getting Started: The Key 69
Systole, Diastole 70
Mindfulness, Observing the mind 71
An Uncluttered Mind 73
A Focused Mind 74
Instant Focusing 76
Simplicity and Slowing Down 76
Controlling impulse 79
The feeling of pressure 80
A Word About Living Free of Clutter 80
Wisdom and Spirituality 81
The Human Task 84
Responsibility towards Others 84
Bringing About Change 85
Nurturing the Wisdom and Flourishing of Others 88
Perspective 88
The Wisdom Path 99
Contemplation is the Path 112
Centering 117
The Zone 128
Quick Aids to Progress 129
Frequently Asked Question 132
Wisdom as a Lifestyle 133
Assessing Political Wisdom 134
The Global Heritage of Wisdom Literature 151
Egypt 157
Indian Wisdom 167
Buddhist Literature 167
The Dhammapada 169
Buddhist Prajñā Pāramitā Literature 170
Jewish wisdom 173
Greece 174
The Christian contribution 179
Chronology of wisdom literature in the West 180
The Middle Ages 186
Thomas Aquinas on wisdom 186
Wisdom in China 192
A chronology of wisdom literature in China 196
Empirical Research on Wisdom 209
The Athena Award for Wisdom 217
Ashrama Sophia 218
References 221