17 Aug 2023
Sounds Like Wisdom
You know you’ve changed when what once made you mad now makes you laugh. (Tony Gaskins)
That sounds like wisdom. Perspective often yields to wisdom which is why we assume it comes with age. In this, our penultimate episode, we revisit Vijnanamayakosha - the wisdom sheath, which includes intellect and intuition. While this is not a new topic for discussion, but it is spoken about and explored in a different way.
The wisdom of experience is the best teacher. We can fill our cups with data-driven knowledge, but without the nuance of story and context, often we're left with dry dates and numbers. Minus any part, it may touch the intellect but will rarely stir the soul.
Wisdom shows up sometimes when we are trying to form the right response in the moment, knowing there is no one-size-fits-all. Wisdom in the skillful reading of any room. One person may need to hear something that would make another person roll her eyes. Reading the room is where wisdom and compassion meet.
Being present is a window into wisdom and intuition. The times when we're gazing through that window and still miss the mark, wisdom clears the way for resolution. Wisdom also asks, how can I best serve you? Or just guides deep listening.
While the Koshas (Vijnanamaya, the fourth of five) are depicted having a certain order, it can be illuminating to explore them in different ways. Observing your thoughts as a means to discover the origin story of back pain, for example. Or using breath practices to activate the parasympathetic nervous system as a way to work with discursive and anxious thoughts.
There are many subtle body anatomy maps to study and play with, including the koshas and chakras, among many.
Working with secondary awareness, also referred to as the awareness of awareness, gives us an in-the-moment opportunity to make the choice to interrupt an unproductive pattern. It is the wisdom of growth.
On the road to growth and self-discovery, we are often presented with a variety of teachings, lineages, and practices; wisdom allows us to discern what works best for us without getting lost in the din.
There are myriad practices available for exploration, something for everyone. We don’t always know why we end up where we are, but when it resonates, we know. Over time, we get to look back and understand the wisdom of the journey through the perspective of a wider lens.
Theresa shared a definition she recalled from her time on this path, “Wisdom is the ability to perceive the unintended consequences of both actions and inactions.” This provides for reality that not making a choice is making a choice. It’s not always what we choose to do, but what we choose not to do. It’s the choice that allows us to interrupt patterns AND there are consequences to both.
Wisdom is knowing what you don't know or even that you don't know.
Wisdom may arrive in the form of trust. When we have faith in the messages we receive and the circumstances we are in, we cultivate the ground for wisdom.
Sherry reads a story about a Zen Master (link below). It not only speaks to knowing when enough is enough, it reveals how we must empty our cups to receive teachings, that if we arrive full with what we know, our opinions, and stories, there won't be space for learning. That's wisdom.
NOTE: For those who felt left hanging after Sherry referenced Surya (Sun) and were wondering about its counterpart (which fizzled in the conversation) - Chandra (moon).
Sources and mentions from the show:
Zen Master Story (https://bengtwendel.com/your-teacup-is-full-empty-your-cup/) with the Teacup
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