How to gain wisdom
 

I think is would be cool to be wise and respected.
So the question is how can i gain wisdom.
Does books help or does it rely sololy of personal experience.
PS. I hope to become wise befor the age of getting too old

I don't think that you can gain wisdom by reading a book. Wisdom comes from personal experience. The only way to truely be wise is to understand what you are talking about and the only way to do that is to speak from experience.

"practice"

???

Read some Plato, specifically the Apology, if you want to read about wisdom. Then you will realize that trying to be wise is the surest way to be unwise.

Stay drug free. There's a good place to start.

Definitely.

If you're talking about wisdom in more of a philosophical sense, read up on your philosophers, Plato, Descartes, Thoreau, Pascal, etc. Even better, find someone else, make them read the same things, and then argue about them with the other person. That way, you can come to your own conclusions, as well.

Wisdom is being able to admit that you do not know anything.

-SF

Only a wise man can honestly say, "I do not know", when he does not.

-SF

Try some Eastern philosophy. If you want some reading try 'Zen Flesh Zen Bones' by Paul Reps or the 'Tao of Poo' as easy starters.

There's a lot to be said for the idea in these sort of philosophies that true wisdom comes not from cramming your head with words, but from (if you'll excuse the tree-hugging terminology) cosmic realisation.

Meditation is a good way to start approaching such a state. You don't have to sit cross legged and say 'aum' or any of that crap, unless that happens to do it for you. The important thing is to relax and focus on something to clear your mind of all the unwisdom. This is something common to most forms of essential-wisdom seeking, whether you call it meditation, contemplation or prayer.

You might find some sort of breathing excercises help with this as they provide both a focus and a direct, biological relaxation.

Wisdom isn't about what you know, it's about what you don't fool yourself about.

surprised this hasn't been referenced...

definitely read and ponder on the book of Proverbs in the Bible's old testament. there are even some proverbs specifically about the attainment of wisdom.

this is a goldmine even if you don't subscribe to christian theology, the book is largely secular.

My advice is to gain experience from real life activities and/or from ancient texts, like Plato and such.

Read as much as you can -- not just philosophy, but literature, non-fiction, newspapers, poetry, etc. It's false that you can only gain wisdom from experience. People who only gain wisdom from experience tend to be just as one-sided as those who only gain wisdom from books. With books, you don't just have to rely on your own experience, but can also gain from the experience of many, many others.

Personally I believe that the more wisdom you gain the more you'll realize how little you know and understand.

listen and observe more- speak less.
I try.
Know that you already have the wisdom inside you, just be open to the great voice of your own heart & soul.
Wisdom has nothing to do with being right or knowing it all. It is about knowing your Truth and living by it, being yourself without fear.

Learn from your mistakes, and others' too, and apply those knowledge in the future...grasshoppa

This isn't directed at anybody in particular...

That being said, just shut the fuck up and listen. Observe. Realize that everything, no matter how small or seemingly irrelevant, has something to teach you about existence on this planet.

Teach yourself how to teach yourself.

"Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have ofttimes no connection. Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men; Wisdom, in minds attentive to their own. Knowledge, a rude, unprofitable mass, The mere materials with which wisdom builds, Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place, Does but encumber whom it seems to enrich. Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much; Wisdom is humble that he knows no more."

--Cowper.


IMO, wisdom is a cross between knowledge, experience, and maturity.

The very first profound lesson that life taught me was thus:

Wisdom cannot be passed on.

Wisdom is experience. It is walking the path. There is knowledge, which others can give you so you may know what’s up ahead and which turns to take but in the end, until you walked the path of wisdom you cannot have it.

#1 tool for gaining wisdom.

Listen....and try to understand all you hear.

It is better to remain silent, and be considered a fool.
Than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Stay aware, stay open to new ideas, examine your life and the life of others (without judging) determine your own truths and live by them.

Find a mentor.

James 5:1 If any of you lack wisdom, let them ask God that gives to all liberally and does not withhold, and it will be given them.

"Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
Fear meaning reverence for; great respect and honor for; love of.

Wisdom comes from thinking for yourself so it depends on your denomination.

I really enjoy and agree with a lot of these posts.
Wisdom IS deeper than knowledge, deeper than the mind.

It forms around experience and how you take on those experiences. Depending on your views, your perception and mindset, and what you do or say in that experience depends on the amount of wisdom you discover within yourself- because you already have that wisdom- it is all the answers you ever need that lie within your Soul. Experience is the most efficient way to discover your wisdom. It takes an open, silent, observant perception to be able to see it. Sometimes we tend to wrap ourselves up in the drama of an experience and miss its message to us. Observe more, listen to your heart more, and know that you have the wisdom and you are in control. :)

Re: How to gain wisdom
 

Might I suggest a nice +3 to Wisdom amulet? Thanks, I'll be here all week, try the veal its great.

Screw up repeatedly and learn from it.

about 300 years ago a jesuit scholar by the name of Baltasar Gracian wrote something called "The Art Of WorldLY Wisdom"
an oracle really, it was meant for people of high places but his proverbs and maxims can be appreciated and utilized by people of all walks of life.