What do you think of these Twenty Virtues Essential for Wisdom?

[Secret Chief]

What do you think of these Twenty Virtues Essential for Wisdom?

Are they do-able, useful, a bit too much, or plain rubbish in your opinion?

You think Wisdom is possible without these, or that more is needed, or something else?

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I concur with the general thrust of it, without nit-picking.

 

[stvdv]

I concur with the general thrust of it, without nit-picking.

I like that ... a lot

 

[Aštra’el]

What do you think of these Twenty Virtues Essential for Wisdom?

Are they do-able, useful, a bit too much, or plain rubbish in your opinion?

You think Wisdom is possible without these, or that more is needed, or something else?

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If these things help you than I am glad for you. For me, however, “wisdom” is the word I use to describe a deep understanding of human nature. All that is required for that is significant experience around humans, enough to understand and reliably predict the patterns in their thoughts, emotions and behaviors, individually and collectively.

 

[stvdv]

If these things help you than I am glad for you

Thank you. Indeed I do find them helpful

For me, however, “wisdom” is the word I use to describe a deep understanding of human nature. All that is required for that is significant experience around humans, enough to understand and reliably predict the patterns in their thoughts, emotions and behaviors, individually and collectively.

Aha, yes, we have different idea about "wisdom". So, I understand your POV, seeing it from your description of the word "wisdom"
My experience is also that being around humans (with a healthy dose of introspection) suffices to understand 'human nature' quite well

 

[osgart]

What do you think of these Twenty Virtues Essential for Wisdom?

Are they do-able, useful, a bit too much, or plain rubbish in your opinion?

You think Wisdom is possible without these, or that more is needed, or something else?

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It doesn't mention the virtues of love and honesty. There can be no wisdom without these.

I can see that attachment is not love. Attachment sounds like codependency.

Some of the other virtues like solitude, and detachment contradict having the courage to live. Loneliness is not something to strive for.

My path of virtues is not without love and honesty. Though there is the pain of losing love when someone dies.

Then again I may define these things differently then others.

 

[Martin]

What do you think of these Twenty Virtues Essential for Wisdom?

Are they do-able, useful, a bit too much, or plain rubbish in your opinion?

You think Wisdom is possible without these, or that more is needed, or something else?

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That's a lot to do! Is there a particular order for these things?
Also it might be interesting to examine what "wisdom" actually means in the context of Hinduism.

 

[Kenny]

What do you think of these Twenty Virtues Essential for Wisdom?

Are they do-able, useful, a bit too much, or plain rubbish in your opinion?

You think Wisdom is possible without these, or that more is needed, or something else?

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Most are good... I think there are a few that I wouldn't agree with... starting with the line on family.

 

[SalixIncendium]

What do you think of these Twenty Virtues Essential for Wisdom?

Are they do-able, useful, a bit too much, or plain rubbish in your opinion?

You think Wisdom is possible without these, or that more is needed, or something else?

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I'm detached from them.

That said, I think all are quite useful in obtaining wisdom.

 

[Sirona]

This list looks like having a clear bias towards Hinduism, especially with regard to “reverential service towards the spiritual teacher”, “absence of attachment to family and home”, and “absence of interest to having company of the “worldly minded”. My father is currently about the age of Ajamila (from the Srimad Bhagavatam), yet he still works and helped me a lot in my life as I’m chronically ill. Had I grown up in another culture, I probably might have ended on the street. I also got the impression that a “proper Hindu” probably should love his guru more than wife and children. To be fair, there is a verse in the New Testament (Matthew 10:37) stating “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Still, the “Christian ideal” is for people to be in groups and to care about and help each other (I do acknowledge that theory and practice are sometimes worlds apart …) I think this is the reason why proselytizing denominations like Hare Krishna are strongly group-focused, whereas devotion in traditional temples seems more like an individual affair to me. As for which concept I like better, I really love the individuality concept of Hinduism, but for the rest, I may be biased, but I think as a Hindu in a Western country, you probably fare better.

 

[Aupmanyav]

A bit too many for an ignorant guy like me.

 

[Martin]

A bit too many for an ignorant guy like me.

I can generally only manage one thing at a time.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It is an interesting subject.
Now here is another version. People, who can't doubt, that they are fundamentally right about the universal conditions of a happy life. In other words they use their own individual way of being happy and declare that it is so for all other humans based on their individual way.

It is interesting. Especially when it comes to religion. It's assumed we all need thaylt spiritual stuff for a fulfilling, happy, moral, proper and good life. But lots of people get that without the invisible stuff.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

It is interesting. Especially when it comes to religion. It's assumed we all need thaylt spiritual stuff for a fulfilling, happy, moral, proper and good life. But lots of people get that without the invisible stuff.

Well, I really don't want to turn this into philosophy, but all subjective meaning is in fact invisible and non-tangible. In fact it has no objective or physical referent.
So as an atheist I believe in that too. I believe you have intrinsic positive worth as a human.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

And while there is nothing wrong with the aforementioned things in themselves, we are liable to dissatisfaction and unhappiness when our lives become a pursuit of those things over and above our true spiritual ends. I do not think it is an accident that devoutly religious people report higher levels of happiness than irreligious people.

People don't need it. We cam look at the Scandinavian countries where people have cradle to grave protections, great levels of safety nets for people, is a very safe nation, and yet not miserably depressed despite the long periods of darkness and being more atheist than any other nation.

Detachment is not indifference. It is the strength to endure hardship and the self-control to keep the material goods of life in proper order.

Detached means being disconnected.
Enduring is resilience.
What is "self control to keep material goods in proper order"?

No one is saying that we should all become ascetic hermits and live on nothing but bread and water.

Just saying we have to change or we aren't wise or fulfilled.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It is interesting. Especially when it comes to religion. It's assumed we all need thaylt spiritual stuff for a fulfilling, happy, moral, proper and good life. But lots of people get that without the invisible stuff.

I think that's the gist. People want a healthier happier life. so it's a venue to pursue.

However as you alluded, there are pitfalls as well.


Some come across as ignoring the latter in hopes of maintaining a linear progression that stays hidden and elusive.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I also got the impression that a “proper Hindu” probably should love his guru more than wife and children.

IMHO, that will not be a proper Hindu. Both are equally essential, to respect and follow instructions of the guru (if one has accepted a guru); and care of wife, Children, elders, business, job, charity, etc., (if one is a family man). None of these can be disregarded.
Which guru in Hinduism will say that leave your family and follow me? That is never done.

I do not think it is an accident that devoutly religious people report higher levels of happiness than irreligious people.

Except for this, I agree with your post. Irreligious people may be great on spirituality. Spirituality does not necessarily require a belief in God.

 

[stvdv]

It doesn't mention the virtues of love and honesty. There can be no wisdom without these.

True, Love and Truth are very important. It would indeed be very strange if those 2 were not to be found in the 20 virtues

 

[stvdv]

Some of the other virtues like solitude, and detachment contradict having the courage to live. Loneliness is not something to strive for.

Solitude has nothing to do with Loneliness, according to Hindu Teachings, I would even say it is more like the opposite

 

[Aupmanyav]

Absence of attachment to family? Why? That's anti-social and denying something very deep, normal, and natural for us.
Detachment? That often comes with troubled lives and mental illness.

Detachment in Eastern thought is about not getting mad after something. But duties are 'dharma' (for religion (if one adheres to any), for one's society, for nation and to all living beings). They should never be disregarded.
A break, solitude is good to reflect upon things, just like after a sport performance or music (or anything that we do). It should not mean a break from the world, till you have duties to fulfill.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Detachment in Eastern thought is about not getting mad after something. But duties are 'dharma' (for religion (if one adheres to any), for one's society, for nation and to all living beings). They should never be disregarded.

This clearly isn't based on Eastern thought.