Wisdom

105. MANJUSHRI

The bodhisattva of great wisdom, Manjushri, is often illustrated riding a lion. In Tibetan his name means “gentle friend”. He provokes investigation into emptiness, free will and the nature of self. Manjushri’s fiery sword symbolizes wisdom cutting through ignorance and illusion.

106. THE FOURTH PARAMITA

The paramita of wisdom (panna in Pali) means seeing the true nature of things, no longer contaminated by personal bias. With wisdom we can then live in accordance with things as they are, and realize inner peace and the truth.

107. ESSENTIAL FOR ENLIGHTENMENT

“All the Buddhas of the past, present and future, after approaching the paramita of wisdom, have awoken to the highest knowledge.”

THE HEART SUTRA

108. OUR JOURNEY

“We do not receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world.”

MARCEL PROUST (1871–1922), FRANCE

109. EVERY MOMENT COUNTS

“Better one day of wise and thoughtful life than one hundred years of folly and thoughtlessness.”

THE DHAMMAPADA

110. THROUGH HEAVEN AND HELL

When the Buddha-to-be was born as King Nimi, he was so famous for his wisdom that the gods sent a chariot to fetch him to meet them. On his journey Nimi experienced all the hells and also the various heavens. Finally he discoursed with the gods and returned to earth. In Buddhism, wisdom means being familiar with all states of being, and never overwhelmed by them.

THE NIMI JATAKA

111. CHEERFUL CLARITY

“The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: it is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear and serene.”

MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE (1533–1592), FRANCE

112. THUNDER DRAGON

Dragons are worshipped in many traditions. They represent prosperity and good fortune and are considered beautiful, friendly and wise. In Buddhism dragons are identified with Naga serpents (see page 111) and are not seen as totally mythological creatures. The Chinese dragon (lóng) represents the energy of heaven and is sometimes depicted grasping a pearl in one claw, representing wisdom. The Tibetan term for dragon (Drug Dru) refers to the sound of thunder.