ABSTRACT
Ancient wisdom must be made responsive to contemporary concerns, ancient folly must be challenged in its modern forms, and, as one may also discover from such forays, it’s a good idea to pause from time to time to be sure one knows which is which. The perceived skill of that behavior and its products assures us of the wisdom of certain behaviors, which prompts us in turn to adopt related behaviors, as if this or that were known to be an accurate (re)presentation of the real. The closest term to wisdom in Buddhism and Hinduism would be prajna, again etymologically a compound of knowledge and a prefix indicating something higher or greater than knowledge, often rendered discernment. Basic knowledge is of what is best for oneself and one’s progeny, but the ability to endure is the fruit of wisdom.
