What Is Knowledge?
Knowledge refers to what is acquired through learning, meaning:
- Knowledge from books, schools, and research.
- What is gathered from the outside, taught by others.
- It can be learned through reading, listening to lectures, and skill development.
For example:
- A person who reads many books and knows many things → Is considered to have knowledge.
- A person who dresses neatly, wears glasses, and speaks fluently → Appears intellectual.
But knowledge is simply education; it does not ensure that a person has deep understanding or correct behavior in life.
What Is Wisdom?
Wisdom is not gained through learning, but through:
- Deep thinking, contemplating phenomena and events.
- Careful consideration, understanding the essence of life.
- Practice, experience, and realization of right and wrong.
For example:
- A person may be quiet, not eloquent, but their actions and behavior are wise.
- They don’t boast about their knowledge, but when they speak, others can only bow down in admiration.
Wise individuals have deep insight, an understanding of life, not just theory, but real-world experience and internal realization.
The Difference Between Knowledge and Wisdom
| Knowledge | Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Acquired through learning | Gained through practice |
| External knowledge | Deep understanding from within |
| Can be skilled in theory | Speaks little but acts wisely |
| Creates an intellectual appearance | Earns respect from within |
| Can be lost if not updated | Never lost, because it is eternal insight |
Is Knowledge Necessary? Is Wisdom More Important?
- Knowledge is necessary, because without it, we lack the foundation to understand the world.
- But knowledge is just a tool, and without wisdom, knowledge remains empty theory.
To attain wisdom, we must:
- Learn – But not stop at empty knowledge.
- Reflect and contemplate – Understand the depth of issues, not just believe in books.
- Practice – Apply it to life, gain real-world experience to transform knowledge into wisdom.
Final Thought
- Knowledge comes from learning, wisdom comes from practice.
- Knowledge can help us speak intelligently, but wisdom helps us live rightly and wisely.
- A wise person may be simple and humble, but their words and actions command respect.
Therefore, don’t just stop at knowledge – practice to develop wisdom!
This article is compiled based on a sermon by Venerable Thích Pháp Hoà
The Original Dharma Talk
Knowledge vs Wisdom Buddhist perspective explain
Below is his original lesson:
Trí thức & trí tuệ – Khác Biệt Giữa Học và Tu
