Wisdom, Deep Insight, Mature Understanding, Practical Skill, Wellbeing

     "All authentic religions — including revealed traditions such as Christianity and Islam — contain contemplative or mystical branches. These are vitally important because they practice contemplative disciplines (eg meditation, contemplation, yoga) that foster an array of psychological and spiritual skills such as concentration, emotional maturity, and wisdom. When these skills mature, they can culminate in a direct insight into reality that yields a radically different (transrational, transconceptual, or transcendental) kind of wisdom known, for example, as jnana (Hinduism), prajna (Buddhism), ma’rifah (Islam), or gnosis.
     Wisdom is a function of deep insight into, and mature understanding of, the central existential issues of life, together with practical skill in responding to these issues in ways that enhance the deep wellbeing of all those who the responses affect.  
     The ratio of wisdom to foolishness reflects the past evolution and present maturity of cultures, and is probably of monumental importance in deciding their fate. The wisdom to foolishness ratio may well be one of the most important cultural factors determining individual and collective wellbeing, and will also determine how much cultures support or suppress the search for wisdom (ie sophiatrophic or sophiatoxic)."

       Walsh R. The varieties of wisdom: Contemplative, cross-cultural, and integral contributions. Research in Human Development 2011; 8(2): 109-127.

     See also: http://www.johnlovas.com/2013/03/contributions-of-mindfulness-other.html
     and: http://wisdomresearch.org/forums/t/1242.aspx# 

Photo: Michael Hanson   http://pdn30.pdnevents.com/gallery/2013/index.php?contest=hanson