Why is admitting "I am a fool" actually the highest form of intelligence?

"Everyone around me seems so excellent, yet I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t have the answers..." This is a common anxiety in the modern workplace known as Imposter Syndrome. Buddhist philosophy, however, offers a surprising answer to this fear: "True intelligence is not about knowing the answers, but accurately understanding your own 'ignorance' and 'limitations'."

In this episode, we explore a mindset based on Buddhist perspectives that frees you from the pressure to overinflate your image and helps you overcome failure constructively.

【Topics】

• A Modern Interpretation of "The Wisdom of Ignorance" "A fool who knows they are a fool is a wise person." Admitting your limits isn't about giving up; it is a form of "strategic self-awareness" that keeps you from drowning.

• The Parable of the Cormorant and the Hawk A cormorant is built to dive, but if it tries to mimic a hawk and fly, it will drown. We discuss the dangers of copying someone else's success model (career path) and the importance of understanding your own "type."

• The Difference Between "Regret" and "Zange" (Repentance) When we make mistakes, we often blame ourselves emotionally ("I'm so sorry"). However, Buddhist Zange is not about emotion; it is a "structural vow" to change the system so the error never happens again.

【Key Takeaways】

• Why the courage to admit what you don't know ultimately builds trust.

• How to discard emotional "guilt" and shift to logical "redesign."

• The mindset of ditching perfectionism and making realistic "correction" the goal.