The Buddha outlines the four lights: the light of the moon, the light of the sun, the light of fire, and the light of wisdom.

PTS 2.139

AN 4.143 Āloka sutta - Light

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, ālokā. Katame cattāro? Candāloko, sūriyāloko, aggāloko, paññāloko Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro ālokā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ catunnaṁ ālokānaṁ yadidaṁ paññāloko”ti.

“There are|, bhikkhus,::::| these four lights. What four? The light of the moon, the light of the sun, the light of fire, and the light of wisdom—these|, bhikkhus,::::| are the four lights. The foremost among these four lights is this: the light of wisdom.”

Qualities:

Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on September 12, 2026

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