(Clearwisdom.net)

"Cleverness," which is simply a product of everyday people's skills and experience, should never be equated with "wisdom." At its core, "cleverness" is a notion formed within ordinary human society.

"Cleverness" is developed postnatally from acquired notions. For example, it is not possible for a young child without any notions to be "clever." But after a person comes into contact with society, he gradually absorbs more and more notions, which enable him to eventually react quickly and comfortably to all kinds of situations. A person thus becomes what humans regard as "clever"--that is, one who cares much more about himself than others.

In contrast, "wisdom" comes from the origin of our lives, from our inborn purity. By virtue of wisdom, we are able to make judgments with benevolence, without any selfish or self-centred notions. "Cleverness" belongs to the realm of everyday people, and its power only manifests at that level. In fact, "cleverness" is comprised of many factors: postnatal notions, thought karma, various attachments, and even things that are reflected into a person's brain by external beings. All of these factors can make a person feel very "clever."

"Wisdom" is the manifestation of one's original true realm, and is both majestic and benevolent. Bestowed by Fa, wisdom is one of the elements comprising beings in their original realms. It is also the manifestation of a being's true nature.

As a manifestation of the Buddha's Law, "wisdom" possesses the power of Fa in a being's realm, and so is extremely powerful.

For quite some time I've been perplexed by a question: Our wisdom is supposed to grow while cultivating in Dafa, but why is it that I have not felt like I have become any smarter? I encounter issues that I cannot handle well, and have conflicts that I cannot resolve. Why?

In fact, it was I who had confused cleverness with true wisdom.

Wisdom seldom manifests in specific ways of thinking or doing things; in fact it never does. Dynamic and transforming, wisdom is able to resolve any situation instantaneously, whether or not the results are immediately apparent. Moreover, if we consider everything completely on the basis of Fa, both our actions and the subsequent results of our actions are bound to be the best they can be.

Without attachments, there is no longer any need for "clever" thinking.

When we enlighten to this principle of the Fa, assimilate into this layer of the Fa, and act according to this principle of the Fa, we will then be able to see through the illusions of ordinary society and be able to handle all matters with a clear head.

When we are grounded in the Fa, we are using our wisdom with free will, which testifies to the fact that the Buddha Fa is the greatest wisdom.

Conversely, when we make judgments with human notions while under the influence of attachments, we are using "cleverness" and are acting out of self-interest. In other words, we use "cleverness" in order to shield our attachments. It is really frightening that when we take an attachment such as "fear" to be part of ourselves, we are in fact giving up our true selves for the sake of an attachment!

Wisdom possesses the great power of the Fa. If we always use everyday people's principles in making judgments, our xinxing (moral character) will fall to the level of ordinary human society. Then no matter how clever or smart we are, we will be restrained by principles governing everyday people at that level. Consequently all manner of "accidents," and unfavourable circumstances can arise.

When enlightening to a Fa principle, we should truly act in accordance to that principle and continue to have new enlightenments following each breakthrough -- this is what great wisdom is truly about! This is what great profound freedom really is!

Everyday people are lost in a false reality, unable to let go of attachments to fame, self-interest, sentimentality, and money. They see themselves as being very clever for getting a tiny bit of personal benefit through whatever means. The whole society functions this way, and this has become the fact of life in every facet of humankind. Even when an everyday person sees the truth right in front of him, he dares not admit it, let alone accept it.

Our Dafa practitioners, however, are diligently eliminating the myriad of human attachments, courageously resisting the interference from the attachments of fame, self-interest, and sentimentality, and are nobly unconcerned about loss and gain within the three realms (though not limited to loss and gain within the three realms). All of us lose knowingly on the issue of self-interest, so do we not also gain knowingly? Isn't this great wisdom?

Not only are we not deluded by the maze and its illusions, we are consciously using them to cultivate and elevate ourselves. Isn't this precisely what great wisdom is?

All of this is given to us by Dafa, and established by Dafa; then, isn't this the same as enlightening and gaining great wisdom in Dafa!

These are my personal thoughts in recent days. Fellow practitioners, please kindly point out anything incorrect.