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Index
Title
Copyright
Contents
1. Introduction
References
2. Judaism and Its Wisdom Literature
The Wisdom Library
Proverbs
Job
Ecclesiastes
Ben Sirach
Wisdom of Solomon
The Nature of Wisdom
Practicing the Way of Wisdom
References
Bibliography
3. Wisdom in the Christian Tradition
The Nature of Wisdom: The Historical Evolution of Christian Wisdom
Jewish Wisdom
Greek Philosophy
Early Christian Wisdom
Christian Philosophers and Wise Monks
Later Developments in the Christian East and West
Mystical Wisdom
Textual Wisdom
Intellectual Wisdom
Moral Wisdom
Stages of Wisdom
Biblical and Sacramental Stages
Monastic Models
Liturgical Models of Spiritual Ascent
Apophatic Correctives and Spiritual Exercises
Modern Reassessment of the Stages
The Cultivation of Wisdom
The Evolution of Spiritual Practices and the Formation of the Sage
Textual Wisdom
Intellectual Wisdom
Moral Wisdom
Mystical or Contemplative Wisdom
Practices
Prayer
Contemplation
Ascetical Practices
Challenges and Obstacles
Social Implications
Summary and Conclusions
Endnotes
References
Further Resources
Bibliography
Internet Resources
4. The Wisdom of Gratitude in Islam
Introduction
The Wisdom of Revelation
The Light of Inspiration
‘Abd al-Hakīm: Servant of the Wise
The Wisdom of Gratitude
Remembrance: Enlightenment of the Heart
Endnotes
References
5. Wisdom: The Hindu Experience and Perspective
A Preamble about Hinduism
East-West Encounter: The Larger Context
What is Wisdom?
Hindu Philosophy, Psychology, and Spirituality
The Transcendental Witness—The Most Important Discovery of the Indian Sages
The Mind as Object
Voluntary Discipline
The Ladder of Ecstasy Leading to Gnosis
Wisdom of the Path
Implications for Individuals and Society
Summary and Conclusions
Endnotes
References
Internet Resources
6. The Innate Awareness of Buddhist Wisdom
A Tentative Definition of Buddhist Wisdom
Wisdom Is Innate
Wisdom Is Experiential Awareness
Wisdom Knows Our Own True Nature
The Progressive Stages of Developing Wisdom
Wisdom Knows the True Nature of the Outer World
Wisdom Is Experientially Spacious, Blissful, and Clear
Wisdom Is Imbued with Love
Wisdom Is Inseparable from Altruistic Ethical Conduct
Wisdom Is Cultivated on a Gradual Path of Meditation with the Guidance of Qualified Teachers
Buddhist Wisdom—An Evolutionary Process
Endnotes
References
Bibliography
7. Wisdom and the Dao
Introduction
The Philosophy of Wisdom
Letting Go
Oblivion and No-Mind
Social Activation
Embodied Wisdom
Three Levels
Practices
The Buddhist Impact
Precepts
Sensory Control
Conclusion
Endnote
References
Bibliography
Internet Resources
8. The Confucian Pursuit of Wisdom
Introduction
The Nature of Confucian Wisdom
Sagehood
Spontaneity or Self-so and the Mind-and-Heart
Appropriateness
Formative Period
Unification of the Empire
Song Dynasty
The Cultivation of Wisdom
Social Distortion
Psychological Distortion
Metaphysical Distortion
Summary of Practice
Propriety
Mindfulness
Quiet-Sitting
The Investigation of Things
Implications
Understanding of Human Nature
Social Implications
Implications for the Individual
Summary and Conclusion
Endnotes
Endnote References
Bibliography
Internet Resources
9. Wisdom in Western Philosophy
The Concept of Wisdom
Metaphysics/Ontology
Epistemology
Ethics/Right Action/Virtue
The History of Wisdom
Wisdom of the Stoics
Christian Wisdom
The Enlightenment and Romanticism
The Cultivation and Significance of Philosophic Wisdom in the Twentieth Century
Classical American Philosophy
Simone Weil (1909–1943)
Martin Buber (1878–1965)
Karl Jaspers (1883–1969)
Sources of Wisdom on the Periphery of Philosophy: Rudolf Steiner, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, C. G. Jung, His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Conclusion
Endnotes
10. The World’s Great Wisdom: An Integral Overview
The Goals of This Chapter
Historical Approaches to Wisdom
Integral Theory
The Four Quadrants
Where Is Wisdom? The Four Quadrants and the “Location” of Wisdom
Levels of Development
Developmental Lines
What Is the Relationship Between Development and Wisdom?
Wisdom Linked to a Specific Stage (or Age)
Why Doesn’t Wisdom Increase with Age?
Wisdom as a Specific (Higher) Stage of a Specific Line (Postformal Operational Cognition)
Problems with Postformal Operational Cognition
Interaction Hypotheses
Wisdom as a Combination of Capacities
Wisdom From Balance
Integration Hypotheses
But What Kind of Wisdom?
Wisdom as an Emergent of Higher Levels of Multiple Lines
Wisdom as a Distinct Developmental Line
Summary of Levels and Lines
States of Mind
But Can We Recognize Wisdom?
Types
The Varieties of Wisdom
Practical Wisdom
Subjective Wisdom: The Several Faces of Sophia
The Varieties of Sagehood
Conclusions about the Varieties of Wisdom
Acknowledgments
References
11 Reviving Wisdom: What Will It Take?
What Can We Do To Revive Wisdom?
Cross-Cultural Studies
Contemplative Practices
Education
Can Wisdom Be Taught?
Translating Perennial Wisdom for a Postmodern World: A Call for “Gnostic Intermediaries”
Acknowledgment
References
Contributors
Index
Back Cover
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