WISDOM AND COMPASSION ARE IN SEPARABLY LINKED TOGETHER IN THE BUDDHIST WAY OF LIFE
Buddhism teaches that for a person to perfect, there are two qualities that one should develop equally such as: compassion (karuna) on one side, and wisdom (panna) on the other. Here the compassion represents love, charity, kindness, tolerance and such noble qualities on the emotional side, or qualities of the heart, while wisdom would stand for the intellectual side or qualities of the mind. If one neglects the emotional neglecting the intellectual, one may become a good hearted fool; while to develop only the intellectual side neglecting the emotional may turn one into a hard hearted intellect without feeling for others. There for to be perfect or to lead a virtues balanced life one has to develop both equally. That is the aim of the Buddhist way of life. In it wisdom and compassion are inseparably linked together.
The three factors of Right speech, Right action and Right Livelihood of the Eightfold path aims at promoting a happy and harmonious life both for the individual and for the society. This moral conduct is considered as the foundation for all higher spiritual attainments. No spiritual development is possible without this moral basis.
Next comes the Mental Discipline, in which are included three other factors of the Eight fold Path: namely, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, which are hoped to discuss in the future notes.
Taken From - “What Buddha Taught” By Ven. Walpola Rahula Thero
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