The essence of life is Wisdom...

Wisdom is intelligence in its pure essence, which is not necessarily dependent
upon the knowledge of names and forms.

Bowl of Saki, February 13, by Hazrat Inayat Khan




Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan:

Often people confuse the two terms intellect and wisdom; sometimes they use the
word intellect for wisdom, sometimes wisdom for intellect. In point of fact
these are two different qualities altogether. The knowledge which is learned by
knowing names and forms in the outside world belongs to the intellect; but there
is another source of knowledge, and that source of knowledge is within oneself.

The words 'within oneself' might confuse some people. They might think 'within
oneself' means inside one's body; but that is because man is ignorant of
himself. Man has a very poor idea of himself, and this keeps him in ignorance of
his real self. If man only knew how large, how wide, how deep, how high is his
being, he would think, act, and feel differently; but with all his width, depth,
and height, if man is not conscious of them he is as small as he thinks himself
to be.

The essence of milk is butter, the essence of the flower is honey, the essence
of grapes is wine, and the essence of life is wisdom. Wisdom is not necessarily
a knowledge of names and forms; wisdom is the sum total of that knowledge which
one gains both from within and without.

Intellectual knowledge has much to do with the brain, while wisdom comes from
within the heart. In wisdom both head and heart work. One may call the brain the
seat of the intellect, and the heart the throne of wisdom; but they are not
actually located in the brain or in the heart. Wisdom may be called spiritual
knowledge but the best definition of wisdom would be perfect knowledge, the
knowledge of life within and without. How does one pursue the wisdom which is
within? By first realizing that intuition exists within oneself. ...

It is not meant by this that everyone should become a kind of super-being. It is
not meant at all that people should be able to perform wonders or miracles; it
is only intended that they should live a fuller life and become real human
beings, in order to bring about better conditions in the world. What do we want?
We want human beings. It is not necessary that everyone should become religious,
or exceedingly pious, or too good to live. We want wise men in business, in
politics, in education, in all walks of life; those who do not live only on the
surface and those who do not believe only in matter, but who see life both
within and without. It is such souls who will produce beauty; it is such souls
who will harmonize the world, who will bring about the conditions we need today.