What is dry wisdom?

Dry wisdom (乾慧): "乾" means dry, meaning without water. Dry wisdom is wisdom not moistened by the water of meditative concentration (samādhi), a parched wisdom. Such wisdom has no actual function, just like soil without water—it cannot become proper earth; without the stickiness of earth, it cannot be used for wall plaster, cannot pave the ground, cannot be used for construction. Dry wisdom is the same: wisdom that leaves one's mouth dry from talking, which in fact is not drawn out from one's own inner being, not realized through personal verification, but learned by the conscious mind, deduced, and analyzed. This is merely the stream of those who parrot words, not true wisdom. This is the very first stage of cultivation; if one only remains at this stage and takes it to be ultimate, then one will come to a standstill and be unable to enter the true treasure mountain.