The Faculty and Strength of Wisdom

Week of June 5, 2005 – The Faculty and Strength of Wisdom

The faculty and strength of wisdom is the fifth set of Faculties and Strengths. They are the elementary result of all practices and cultivation, and the fundamental essence for liberation and enlightenment. The faculty and strength of wisdom is imperative for the attainment of Supreme Universal Perfect Wisdom (Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi).

May I divert a little bit and clarify the differences between: Mindfulness, Concentration, Contemplation, Wisdom and the Supreme Universal Perfect Wisdom?

Mindfulness involves concentration (shamatha/samatha) and contemplation (vipassana/vipasyana).

Concentration entails meditation, absorption, abstraction: it is the physical aspect of mindfulness.

Concentration tends to lean more toward the liberation of the body. According to the Complete Enlightenment Sutra, there are three types of concentration: namely Shamatha (emphasizes concentration), Samadhi (emphasizes wisdom) and Jhana (emphasizes equally concentration and wisdom). For the meditation class in Mississauga, the Hua Yen Ch’an that we are learning is Jhana.

Contemplation entails discernment, discrimination: it is the mental aspect of mindfulness. Contemplation tends to lean more toward the liberation of the mind.

Wisdom (Prajna) here refers to understanding, insight, and intelligence. It consists of concentration and contemplation. It is the principal means of attaining Supreme Universal Perfect Wisdom (Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi), through its revelation of the reality of all things.

Supreme Universal Perfect Wisdom (Anuttara-Samyak-Sambodhi) is the wisdom of Buddhahood. It is an attribute of every Buddha, a defining characteristic of all Buddhas.

Many literatures and learners use these terms interchangeably without differentiating among them, which I find rather confusing. I hope I have provided some useful clarification here.

The faculty and strength of wisdom is related in particular to the following Aids of Enlightenment:
1) The Miraculous Power of Wisdom.
2) Analysis of Qualities as a Factor of Awakening – discrimination of true & false
3) Equanimity as a Factor of Awakening – detachment of all thoughts from external things
4) Right View of the Eightfold Path – free from common delusion
5) Right Aspiration of the Eightfold Path – right thought and purpose

In the beginning stage, we may cultivate the faculty of wisdom by practicing “The Five-fold Procedures for Quieting the Mind” and “The Four Bases of Mindfulness”. These practices help us to develop and strengthen our faculty of conviction, persistence, mindfulness and concentration, which in turn lead to developing and strengthening our faculty of wisdom.

Wisdom can also be cultivated through contemplation and the raising of existential doubts. The basic stages of contemplation are:

The rising of awareness- aware of the ability to be aware, the object of awareness, and the relationship/interaction between the two.
The focusing of attention – ability to focus your attention on your awareness for a period of time. The ability to be aware, the object of awareness, and the relationship/interaction between them becoming “one”.
Perceiving – ability to perceive reality or matters as such. For example, to be able to perceive that the five aggregates are “empty”, and thereby to transcend all suffering, as is stated in the Heart Sutra.

The strength of wisdom is particularly important for the transformation of the consciousness element of the Five Aggregates. The Five Aggregates (or Five Skandhas) are the five components of an intelligent being, especially a human being. The Five Aggregates are: 1) Matter (Rupa); 2) Feeling (Vedana); 3) Perception (Sanjna); 4) Volition, (Samskara); 5) Consciousness (Vijnana).

Consciousness is the mental faculty in regard to perception and cognition, discriminative of affairs and things. It is associated with the faculty or nature of the mind. Of the Five Aggregates, Consciousness is not as easy to transform as Perception and Feeling. The strength of wisdom assists one to transform the consciousness element of the Five Aggregates into Mirror-Like Primordial Awareness (The Wisdom of Neutral Perception).

Mind leads the world and wisdom leads the mind!

Cultivate your faculty of Wisdom and your will be on the Bodhi Path to Enlightenment.