Qualities of Wisdom

It was reported that we have had a discussion about nameless individuals who had demonstrated wisdom.

The qualities that we recognised as wisdom are:

detachment
clarity
common sense
self-confidence

“all of a piece”, perhaps the same as integrity.

This person knew where he was, he had tranquility, self-possession and charisma.

a healthy, balanced, approach to life
trustworthiness

He always paid bills when they were received on the basis that any delay would make it more difficult to pay. This foresight I call prudence.
He always repaid injury with kindness because he was sure that there must have been a cause and he did not wish to reopen old wounds. This was patience.
He steadfastly refrained from writing books on the basis that they could be falsified. The footprints do not necessarily represent the person who trod in them. He gave verbal instruction and this showed discretion.

The qualities of the village elder or grandfather:
knowledge obtained from life
judicious acts
disinterest in the outcome, there is no axe to grind.

knowledge gives a wider field for the use of wisdom
judgement comes from interpretation and analysis of life-experience
a demonstration of wisdom by sharing with others through actions

intuitive understanding gained by thoroughly internalising knowledge
the capability of applying knowledge
an ability to correctly proportion wants to possessions and ambitions to abilities

the ability to communicate sensitively
knowledge with the intelligence and ability to apply it
the ability to deal skillfully with situations and the emotions of both themselves and others
good conduct: bodily conduct; verbal conduct and mental conduct

To make a wise action one must have:
the necessary information and knowledge
judgement about that knowledge
a broad adjustment and a realistic perspective on life

Meeting Tuesday 5th August

We discussed the following, except for item 8 and 10 !

Assertiveness

1. You arrive at a blind street corner at the same time as someone else and bump into them.

2.You’re in a queue and someone you know and like/ know but don’t like /don’t know pushes in front without reason

They give a reason that they’re in a hurry

3. You’re at a good restaurant and are served a leg of chicken that isn’t fully cooked – still pink – refuses to come off the bone

4. Travelling on a train, sleeping on a seat with another complete stranger on the other seat in the dark.
You wakeup to glimpse the stranger standing up against the window using passing lights to peer at what looks like your wallet which you had hidden under your pillow

5. You return home to find that the shirt, you’ve just bought has four buttons missing.

6. Someone is sitting in the train window seat that you had booked .
When asked to move they ignore you and look straight through you as though you’re invisible. When asked to move point out that there are lots of other window seats available. and two of your friends are trying to walk down the street through the middle of them.

7. At lunch time, school children aged 13/14 are congregating in Upper Brook Street, flicking chips across the street in a mock fight when you and two of your friends are trying to walk down the street through the middle of them.

8. You go to the cinema alone to enjoy a film that you particularly want to see.
Someone heads for the seat next to you with a massive tub of pop corn.
They ask politely whether the seat next to you is taken. . . .

9. Is this philosophy?

10. Does it matter?