Today's podcast focuses on a question posed by a mother, who is working with a daughter struggling with substance use. This mom, will call Keisha, was trying to understand what wisdom is; feeling she made many mistakes - not only with her daughter, but through her life. Keisha was perplexed to understand where do you learn, or gain wisdom from? So, today's podcast is a story on wisdom, followed by breaking down some of the meanings and understanding of what it means to gain wisdom.

Wisdom:

Where do we acquire wisdom? Here is a story that will help explain the answer to that question.

A man decides to undertake a quest to seek all the wisdom of the world. His journey takes him across the earth.

He begins in North America, searching from state to state. Then off to South America, through the great Andes and rainforests.

He finds his way through the outback of Australia, then to the colors of New Zealand. His journey continued through Asia, to the Great Wall of China. Then off to Russia and Europe.

Still, he has not found this wisdom. He travels then to Africa, through the Great Plains and deserts.

He continues up to the Nile, into the Middle East. Crossing over the Dead Sea, he makes his way to India.

While passing through Bangladesh, he stops for some tea at a café. There a waiter tells him about an old monk high up in the Himalayas.

He is told that this monk is sought out by many travelers as they pass through the country. It is believed by some that he has been given the gift of true wisdom.

The man immediately embarks for the Himalayas. He comes to a village at the base of the mountain and finds a Sherpa who will guide him up to the monastery where this old monk resides.

As they are making the climb up the mountain, the man becomes anxious and is filled with impatience. He has traveled the world seeking this wisdom and he knows that he is getting closer. He yells to the Sherpa that they must move faster.

They finally make their way to this small monastery. Upon their arrival the man demands to see this wise old monk.

He has searched the world over and expects to be given that for which he has quested for.

He is brought to the monk’s cabin where the old man is meditating by a fireplace. The weary traveler is introduced as a man who is seeking wisdom.

The monk gets up from his seated position, walks over to the man and embraces him. He is welcomed like a lost brother who has finally come home. After a long embrace, the man asks that his request be honored.

The monk, speaking very softly, asks the man if he is ready to be given such a gift. Without hesitation, the man replies, “yes I am”!

The monk smiles, then explains, “that for which you are seeking has been seeking you”. As you traveled the world, wisdom has been waiting for you. Instead of looking abroad, you only needed to look within yourself. There, in the center of your spirit, you would find all the wisdom of your world.

For a man/person who knows him/themself internally and spiritually, has the wisdom to know the world around him/them!

The answer to wisdom is within us all. Only through reflection of your own personal constitution and principles can you gain wisdom.

Tiger Resilience Podcast Series 4.7.2022