what is wisdom?

We think we know what wisdom is, but when we get right down to it, the definition seems elusive. Is it one thing or many? Does it come to us through our bodies or through our experience? Is it given to us by culture or through self-discovery? Does it only come to us at the end of life, or is it something available to people of all ages?

The questions are deep and complex, but there’s also a simplicity here:

Wisdom is a perspective and an orientation: Wisdom is not a skill or aptitude that one possesses or achieves. Rather, it’s an inclination towards the virtues of compassion, humility, patience, balance and proportion.

Wisdom is fundamentally relational: Wisdom is a way of touching and participating in the world. It’s not about being smart or intelligent, but is more a matter of putting ourselves in the correct relationship to people, habitat and the experience of being alive.

Wisdom is timeless and universal: Throughout human history, all cultures and peoples have sought wisdom and the insights are available to all of us. Today’s challenges may be unprecedented, but the core insights remain valuable to everyone.

Wisdom implies a deep understanding and appreciation for whole systems: Wisdom is less concerned with fragments and more concerned with the nature of large-scale processes and relationships. Wisdom strives for unity and integration.

Wisdom is an aspiration: No one gets to claim ownership of wisdom and no one really achieves it. Instead, the wisdom lies in our intention, our curiosity, our sincerity and our action. In other words, wisdom is a practice.