A series of short teachings of the Buddha highlighting the importance of cultivation of wisdom.

AN 1.76

“Loss of relatives, mendicants, is a small thing. Wisdom is the worst thing to lose.”

AN 1.77

“Growth of relatives, mendicants, is a small thing. Wisdom is the best thing to grow.

So you should train like this: ‘We will grow in wisdom.’ That’s how you should train.”

AN 1.78

“Loss of wealth, mendicants, is a small thing. Wisdom is the worst thing to lose.”

AN 1.79

“Growth of wealth, mendicants, is a small thing. Wisdom is the best thing to grow.

So you should train like this: ‘We will grow in wisdom.’ That’s how you should train.”

AN 1.80

“Loss of fame, mendicants, is a small thing. Wisdom is the worst thing to lose.”

AN 1.81

“Growth of fame, mendicants, is a small thing. Wisdom is the best thing to grow.

So you should train like this: ‘We will grow in wisdom.’ That’s how you should train.”

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The Buddha is sharing the importance of cultivating wisdom (discernment) by contrasting it against the worldly conditions of fame, wealth, and relatives. The Buddha shares a variety of teachings that touch the same underlying four noble truths while allowing for a deeper reflection on the mind’s relation to the five aggregates of form, feeling, perception, intention (choices), consciousness.

One is awakening to the truth of enlightenment by gradually letting go of the grasping at the five aggregates and instead cultivating wisdom of the natural law of cause and effect (kamma) and operating in the world based on this cultivated wisdom.

You can read this teaching to understand the five aggregates and the grasping of them: Teaching on living beings and the five aggregates.

You can read this related teaching on the vicissitudes of life ↗️.