OS XVII: Wisdom
There is a metaphor used in Buddhist scriptures to describe the task of taming the self. A wild elephant has been captured, and the king instructs the hunter to train the elephant: “Come you, good elephant tamer, tame the forest elephant by subduing his forest ways, by subduing his forest memories and aspirations, and by subduing his distress, his fretting and fever for the forest, by making him pleased with the villages and by accustoming him to human ways.” www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.125.horn.html
In ourselves, our families, our church, our communities, we are both the wild elephant and the trainer, and one of life’s goals is to train the forest elephant, or in other words to find wisdom; perhaps especially so in this time of pandemic.
In the Greek classic, Phaedrus, written around 360 BC, Plato evokes a similar metaphor: that of the charioteer with two winged horses (http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/phaedrus.html). One of the horses is noble, responsive, and willing to go where the charioteer wishes it to go. The other is wild, always wanting to pull in another direction. This is the nature of our human soul. Driving the chariot along the good path is hard work and takes considerable practice and skill.
For King Solomon, in our first reading today, there is a battle being waged in his dreams. God appears to Solomon and offers him his heart’s desire. He could ask for great riches or power, but instead he replies: “Give your servant … an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil.” He prays for wisdom. His father, King David, makes a similar prayer in today’s Psalm: “The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces … the unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” And Jesus puts it in parables: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.”
In his book Wisdom, Intelligence and Creativity Synthesised (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003) the psychologist, Robert Sternberg, reflects on this primal human theme. When you think of a wise person, what comes to mind? Perhaps you see an old woman or man sitting in a study, surrounded by books, looking out of the window into the garden, stroking his or her chin and contemplating life. Sternberg argues that wisdom is as much about doing as it is contemplating (p. 188): “Wisdom is not just a way of thinking about things; it is a way of doing things. If people wish to be wise, they have to act wisely, not just think wisely. We can all do this. Whether we do is our choice.” Shakespere puts it like this: “If our virtues did not go forth of us, ‘twere all alike as if we had them not” (Measure for Measure I.I.33-5).
So, how do we train the elephant? How do we build wisdom in our lives? And how do we ensure that our virtues go forth from us? I think the answer is a three-fold chord: (1) prayer and meditation (2) social service and social justice (3) Eucharist.
Firstly, prayer and meditation. We cannot skip this inner path to wisdom. In part three of her book, The Wisdom Jesus (Boston: Shambhala, 2008) Cynthia Bourgeault outlines a number of “Christian Wisdom Practices” including: centering prayer meditation, Lectio divina, and chanting. It is worth a read if you can get hold of the book. We can help you train your spirit and keep you sharp in these wisdom practices here at St Peter’s, even in lock-down, through our online offerings each week. On Wednesday Roland hosts a Christian meditation group; and each Monday, Wednesday and Friday Alae leads a group in chanting the rosary. Why not join one these wisdom-building groups this week?
Secondly, social service and social justice. Our prayer and meditation, is ultimately tepid and self-centered if we do not put into practice what we preach. The prophet Micah sums it up (6:8) “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” As a church we continue to feed the homeless and those affected by the pandemic each day; it’s just what we do. Each one of us as Christians, in our local situation, can do the same or similar in different and creative ways. Paraphrasing St Francis of Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words” (cf Rule XII “All the Friars … should preach by their deeds”).
Thirdly, Eucharist. Bourgeault’s final chapter of her book The Wisdom Jesus is on the Eucharist, arguably the paramount Christian wisdom practice. Eucharist, the life-blood of Christian community, involves both being and doing. I know some parishioners are struggling with on-line Holy Communion, but I’d encourage you to stick with it. Bishop Brad Billings has written an excellent article on “Spiritual Communion” that is well worth a read: https://www.melbourneanglican.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Spiritual-Communion.pdf
He points to our Prayer Book which teaches (p.693): “if for good reason it is not possible … to receive the sacrament, the minister shall give assurance that all who repent of their sins, trust in Christ, and celebrate his saving work with grateful thanks, truly eat and drink the body and blood of Christ, even though the bread may not have been eaten, or the wine drunk.” I will be writing more about this myself in next week’s pew sheet.
(1) Prayer and meditation (2) social service and social justice (3) Eucharist: Jesus wisdom to nurture our body, mind and soul; our church; our community; our world.
The Lord be with you.