An individual with wisdom can resolve difficulties for himself and others. One who lacks wisdom will lead a life without meaning. He brings sufferings to himself, as well as create problems and troubles for others. There are people who are born particularly intelligent and clever, but that does not mean they have wisdom. In fact, an intelligent or clever individual can also be one with a mind heavy with worries and vexations. Intelligence with little worries and vexations, or even no worries and vexations at all, is pure, ultimate wisdom.
Wisdom can be cultivated. Buddha's wisdom is born from a mind of compassion. The more compassionate a mind is, the higher the wisdom it has, and the lesser the worries it will have. What is "compassion"? It is to always be considerate of others, to help others resolve problems often. Relatively, an individual will find less troubling problems to himself being compassionate as wisdom grows.
How to help others with a compassionate mind? The right concepts and methods are necessary. Financial and material help can only resolve the problems partially. To permanently resolve a problem at its roots, it must be resolved from the mind with the right concept and method.
Therefore, compassion and wisdom are like two sides of a coin, inseparable; only the function and expression of each is different. The mind of an individual of wisdom is often in the state of peace, clarity, and rationality; not subjected to influences of external conditions and environment. At the same time, he is able to care for and be considerate of others, to be a true listener and a bosom friend; to put himself in the shoes and to understand the inner minds of others. This, is an expression of a compassionate mind.
Once, a doctor and his wife came to visit me. The wife always praised her husband in front of me, and was very understanding of him. The doctor, on the other hand, loved her dearly and took good care of her. They understood, appreciated and commended each other; a couple of true soul mates. They understood each other's inner worlds.
The ordinary love is one that seeks to possess and overpower, asks for the other to understand oneself, demands the other to belong to oneself. In this world, many people love this way. They do not make efforts to understand the inner worlds of others, but forces others to accept their own views and ideas. This is neither wisdom nor compassion.
Different attitudes or identities exhibit different experiences and expressions. To not give rise to contradiction, conflict, or displeasure while embracing differences is wisdom.
When people compliment and praise you, do you give rise to pride and satisfaction, do you feel proud? When you have an unlucky break, and are ignored, abandoned, or avoided like a pestilence by people, do you feel lonely, cowardly? Do you bear grudges or bitterness towards these people? A wise man is resilient and compliant; neither over rejoices in ecstasy when blessed with good luck, nor feels despiteful or cowardly towards himself in the face of misfortunes. The mind of a man of wisdom is always contented, composed, and free; without worries, anxieties, or hindrances.
Wisdom and compassion come hand in hand. For instance, if parents can be more understanding and try to enter the inner worlds of their children; the children, in turn, will know gratitude and pay filial piety to the parents. If parents only demand for the children's one-sided consideration, acceptance and understanding, or even force them to know and understand the parents' inner thoughts, the communication gap between the two generations will broaden and deepen. On the other hand, as children, we should understand and know that filial piety calls for more than just us buying presents, providing food and clothing for our parents; but requires us to make efforts to enter the inner world and understand the thoughts of our elders. We need to be more considerate, understanding, and observant of our parents' feelings - that is most essential.
Source : "Living Wisdom"