Editorial»
Comparing beauty
DEC 12 - Man’s perception of beauty has been questioned from ages. Some may give importance to outer beauty while some may consider inner beauty far more important. Man’s judgement is always limited by his own prejudices. More often than not, he adorns his outer appearance to cover the inner chaos. He devises numerous ways to bring transformation on the surface. All the while the inner beauty remains unchanged.
Some, on the contrary, may strive to cultivate inner beauty neglecting outer beauty. What happens then? The outer seeps into his soul like rainwater into a mud house. But can one separate the inner and the outer like the flesh of the nut from its shell? Is not the outer the expression of the inner? Is not the inner influenced by the outer? Is not there one single beauty - that which cannot be dissected into pieces?
A consummate beauty is what captivates and transforms a sensitive heart. This does not imply that beauty is sentimental. Sentiments are still fragments of the mind. True beauty cannot be fragmented, nor can its exact location be specified. The beauty of a flower does not reside solely in the petals, the pistil, the stem or the leaves. Take out any of these and the flower is no more beautiful. Beauty is the expression of the whole. Only such beauty can have an everlasting effect on man.
Man’s awareness of beauty is limited. Ironically, animals are much more aware. They may not care much for external polishes but your inner beauty touches them instantly. Their sixth sense allows them to map your fears, anger, joy or kindness - all of which are reflected outside. Similarly, for a Buddha, your gross outer sheath may be insignificant. But he captures your essence in a flash and sees the same beauty, the same light burning in each of us. He sees the beauty of diversity among individuals and at the same time, the uniqueness that binds us. Is this not awareness of beauty?
Undoubtedly, nature in its simplicity succeeds to remain truly beautiful. Nature is beautiful for the very reason that it does not try to be beautiful. Take for example, the mountains. Mountains are landmarks of beauty. Are they aware of their beauty? Flowers are nature’s beautiful blooms. Does one flower want to be more beautiful than the other is? Birds and animals are beautiful creations of nature. They may compete for food, shelter or a mate, but do they ever compete for beauty?
Only man compares. Only man competes to excel among his lot. He even holds beauty contests where the contestants are judged one by one. Competition breeds jealousy, hatred, and this finally leads to fighting. Some may fight for power, some for prestige and some for wealth. Is fighting for beauty any different? Is there any beauty in all this?
The human mind thrives on comparison, thus on the ethics of competition. Remove comparison and the foundation of the mind’s fortress crumbles away by itself. There can be silence only when the mind and its demands for the better cease to exist. Silence provides space for creativity. The beauty of such creativity does not know the limits of comparison.Posted on: 2003-12-12 03:03
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