What is "The Wisdom Eye"?

So I've been re-reading MCTB lately, and in Daniel's modified 4 path model section he talks about how the "Dharma Eye" opens post stream entry and when one completes 4th Path then the Wisdom Eye opens - he says it closes again but that with continued practice it opens permanently. He also mentions that there are Arhats that have thier wisdom eye open but it closes again and doesn't re-open. (I've always kind of wondered if I might be one of those).

But there doesn't seem to be a good explanation anywhere for what this thing actually is. I've posted about this on other message boards in the past and never gotten a straight answer. Anyone here got a clue?

Apart from what Daniel may refer to, the "wisdom eye" (paññacakkhu) is a term from the commentaries, as far as I know. I read somewhere (when trying to make sense of the same MCTB passage) that there are "five eyes" - the physical "fleshly" eye, divine, and so on, and the "wisdom eye" also figured in that list. It's the ability to perceive/understand abstract and specific characteristics of phenomena, IIRC. Like, "everything will come to an end (abstract) but let's still put out this fire before it kills us (specific)". No longer confusing the planes, that kind of thing. At least, that's what I understand it to mean. I'm pretty sure Daniel had something else in mind when he wrote that, though.

Cheers,
Florian

Chris Marti wrote: My gut tells me the "wisdom eye" Ingram refers to is simply the capacity to see the nature of self-as-process. It does appear at stream entry and can reappear periodically for short periods thereafter but is opened permanently at 4th path. However, my experience is that it can still close at times (sometimes for exptended periods) but the baseline condition, the norm, is that post 4th path the wisdom eye is open.

JMHO, of course.

That's helpful!

So what do you think the difference between the "Wisdom Eye" and the "Dharma Eye" is? Perhaps the Dharma Eye is the ability to see for oneself the truth of the teachings?

Interesting question. I found this-- www.baus.org/baus/library/5eyese.html

-- cited in this blog: knockingfrominside.blogspot.com/2006/08/...yes-of-buddhism.html

as follows:


"Briefly, the five eyes referred to are not actual eyes; rather, they represent levels of understanding, different modes of perceiving reality.

The “physical eye” represents normal perception, which all physical beings share to some extent.
The “heaven eye” is still a purely physical perception, but can see further and deeper; C.T. Shen compares the heaven eye to the use of microscopes and various remote-sensing technologies.
The “wisdom eye” perceives the illusory nature of reality and penetrates to emptiness.
The “Dharma eye” acknowledges the truth perceived by the wisdom eye. However, the Dharma eye also sees that the suffering experienced by beings embedded in the illusion of reality is real to them; the Dharma eye is compassionate. It’s from this compassionate perception that the oath of the Boddhisatva arises: “Though sentient beings are numberless, we vow to save them all.”
Finally there is the “Buddha eye”. This perception is not describable or comprehensible in ordinary human terms; it can only be experienced. "

Thanks Kate, those are very good!

Seems I confused Wisdom and Dharma eyes.

Cheers,
Florian

I'm currently at Pa Auk Tawya and my teacher says wisdom eye is when I'm doing the four elements meditation and I see my skeleton and internal body. Originally I called it imagination but he interrupted me and corrected it to 'wisdom eye' so that's what is meant here at least.