Thus those who feel one's appearance defines who one is or who mistake the self to be but a mental image, rarely appreciate that wisdom does not arise due to such appearances. Whether it be called wisdom or sophia or vijnana, when wisdom comes it arises within one's own direct experience that cuts far beyond appearances. That, after all, is how the scientist as well as the spiritual aspirant determines what obtains. Did you know that he asks sincere students to NOT speak of him to those without interest or who are busy in other labs. Rarely does one find Direct Personal Experience detailed online.
Identity comes from one's own direct experience.
That is the means to gain wisdom. Wisdom arises directly from one's own experience, introspection, and realization. The image shown above symbolizes the universality of righteousness as a lotus, the petals of which are the religions of Man. The Sarvadharma is a circle of faith, each petal equal and yet distinct, the center of which is illumination. This symbol is meant to say without words that the radiance of divine truth, pictured in the center, is at the core of all religions, and manifests as the illumination of spiritual wisdom in each culture and milieu as time and place require.