Compassion without wisdom is not understood to be true compassion, and wisdom without compassion is not true wisdom.

Masao Abe

Compassion and Wisdom

Topic: Wisdom & Understanding

Compassion without wisdom is not understood to be true compassion, and wisdom without compassion is not true wisdom.

Masao Abe

Masao Abe (1915-2006) was a Japanese philosopher and Buddhist thinker from Osaka. He built on the work started by D.T. Suzuki to bring Zen Buddhism to the West. After studying at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary, he earned his Ph.D. from Kyoto University. He focused on connecting Buddhist and Western ideas.

In the mid-20th century, Abe traveled in North America and Europe, teaching at various U.S. universities. He introduced Western scholars to Zen concepts, like "Sunyata" or emptiness. He believed understanding this could help merge Christian and Buddhist ideas. In the 1950s and 1960s, Abe talked with Buddhist scholar Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki in New York. After Suzuki's passing, Abe continued spreading Buddhist teachings in the West. He also met Christian experts Paul Tillich and Reinhold Niebuhr in New York.

Abe wrote several works, including "Zen and Western Thought", and contributed to other academic series. His writings and efforts in interfaith dialogues made him a key figure in discussions between Eastern and Western beliefs.

(1915-2006) Buddhism
Zen and Western Thought

Abe, Masao. Zen and Western Thought. State University of New York Press, 1985. Print. P. 125.

Masao Abe

Theme: Wisdom

Commentary About This Masao Abe Quote [First Part]

In his book Zen and Western Thought, Masao Abe explores the relationship between compassion and wisdom in Buddhism. He argues that compassion and wisdom are two sides of the same coin, and that neither can be truly understood without the other.

Abe writes that compassion is “the feeling of sympathy and concern for the suffering of others.” It is the desire to help others and alleviate their suffering. Wisdom, on the other hand, is “the ability to understand the true nature of reality.” It is the ability to see things as they really are, without any illusions or preconceptions.

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Commentary About This Masao Abe Quote [Second Part]

Abe argues that compassion without wisdom is not true compassion. If we do not understand the true nature of reality, then our compassion will be misguided. We may try to help others in ways that are actually harmful to them. For example, we may try to help someone who is suffering from addiction by giving them more drugs. This may seem like compassion, but it is actually not. It is not understanding the true nature of the problem, and it will only make the problem worse.

Similarly, wisdom without compassion is not true wisdom. If we do not have compassion for others, then our wisdom will be cold and detached. We may be able to understand the true nature of reality, but we will not be able to use that understanding to help others. We will be like a scientist who can explain the laws of physics, but who does not care about the suffering of others.

Abe concludes that compassion and wisdom must go together. They are two sides of the same coin. Without both, we cannot truly understand reality or help others.

In the context of the theme of wisdom and understanding, Abe’s quote suggests that wisdom and compassion are essential for understanding the world around us and for helping others. Wisdom allows us to see things as they really are, and compassion motivates us to help others. Without both, we are limited in our ability to make a difference in the world.

Abe’s quote is also a reminder that compassion and wisdom are not always easy to come by. It takes time and effort to develop both qualities. However, the rewards of compassion and wisdom are great. They allow us to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives, and they help us to make a positive impact on the world.

Compassion and Wisdom

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