Fo Guang Shan Chicago Buddhist Temple hosted a Buddhist lecture on August 2, featuring BLIA Lay Lecturer Lydia Chao, Chief Devotee Representative of Fo Guang Shan Ancestral Temple Dajue Temple, who spoke on the topic “The Wisdom of Being ‘Foolish.'” Drawing from Buddhist wisdom, life stories, and personal spiritual insights, Lydia Chao encouraged the audience to reflect on the true values of tolerance, letting go, and inner ease.
Using classic literature, movie plots, and everyday examples, Lydia Chao explained that being “foolish” in Buddhism is by no means ignorance, but rather the wisdom of practice—knowing how to be tolerant, patient, and form wholesome affinities. She encouraged the assembly to face family relationships and life’s adversities with an attitude of “transforming mindsets into wisdom.”
She also cited Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “Philosophy of Being Second,” the decade-long construction journey of the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, and stories of Albert Einstein to inspire attendees to settle into the present moment and unlock their potential. Illustrating the spirit of practice through the Six Paramitas, she shared: “Giving is love, precepts are education, patience is letting go, diligence is achievement, meditative concentration is blessing, and wisdom is fulfillment.”
With characteristic humor, Lydia Chao remarked, “Giving others a break is compassion; giving oneself a break is wisdom.” Quoting Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s teaching that “suffering is strength,” she encouraged everyone to face life’s challenges with courage.
In her spiritual address, Abbess Venerable Yong Han noted that the rare wisdom of being “foolish” is not about being muddle-headed, but is instead a manifestation of high wisdom. She reminded practitioners to continuously reflect inwardly, maintain a pure mind, and avoid being misled by external circumstances.
BLIA Elder Advisor Yu-Wen Huang shared that her greatest takeaway was understanding that being “foolish” is actually an expression of tolerance and wisdom. Professor Yi-Min Wu from Western State University also expressed that the lecture helped him discover the deeper meaning behind being “foolish,” realizing that “with one less attachment comes one more degree of inner ease; true wisdom lies not in dissecting every detail, but in keeping the mind free from attachments.”