Can beauty be Spiritual?
Spiritualism and beauty?
The problem - Many a times, jealousy is a number ONE enemy amongst women. Women always try to outdo each other on beauty, who has a better body, who has nicer hairdo etc. It is rather crippling and sad as it has torn many friendships apart and made bitter enemies amongst womenfolk. Some say it's just a way of life or it's just how things are. But, Buddhism has a different view on beauty or otherwise known as worldly beauty.
If we were more satisfied and contented with ourselves, this wont happen
According to Buddha, he maintained that if one does not understand the true nature of objects of beauty, it may lead to grief and disappointment. It distorts values and upsets the normal standards of judgemant. When beauty is limited to persons and things, they easily possess greed and pride. If beauty is not common and not easily obtained, those bestowed with it will unwittingly engage themselves in an eternal struggle to safeguard their exclusivity. On the other hand, those who have set unlimited values on their coveted objects of beauty but are not fortunate enough to possess them, will need great strength and courage to resist their feelings of jealousy and envy towards those who are lucky to have them.
Parable of worldly beauty. This could be reflected in the story of Venerable Pakkha. One day, travelling to the village for alms, he sat down beneath a tree. Then he saw a kite, happily found some meat strewn on the ground, flew up into the sky to enjoy his meal. Upon seeing the meat in its beak, a flock of kites started to attack it to snatch its meat away. Thus, the first unfortunate kite drops the meatto the ground upon attack. Another kite swoops down for the fallen meat and was yet again attacked by the others.
Upon witnessing this, the Venerable Pakkha thought to himself: `The meat represents worldly desires, common to all, but full of pain and woe.' And from reflection, he realised how inpermanent worldly beauty and desires are.
The teachings of Buddhism do not avoid objects of beauty nor abhors them. He only refrains from making them the basis for strong and opionated likes and dislikes. Whatever that is pleasant and beautiful in the worldl, we are attached to them and thus, develop a dislike towards their opposites. Philosophically, the Buddhist recognizes beauty where the senses can perceive it. But in beauty, he also sees the transformation that beauty takes and finally its destruction. He remembers what Buddha said with regards to all worldly things: that they come into form, undergo changes and meets its destruction. Therefore an enlightened person will admire beauty but is not fueled with the greed to acquire that beauty or to envy others for what he doesn't have. There is nothing that he is in danger of losing and nothing that he needs to posses and jealously safeguard. He is content with himself and at peace with the world. Bliss, no?
Envy or happiness?Envy and jealousy is just too energy sapping. So, why can't we just celebrate our own unique beauty and be happy with what we have? Why make life unbearable?
If we were more satisfied and contented with ourselves, this wont happen
According to Buddha, he maintained that if one does not understand the true nature of objects of beauty, it may lead to grief and disappointment. It distorts values and upsets the normal standards of judgemant. When beauty is limited to persons and things, they easily possess greed and pride. If beauty is not common and not easily obtained, those bestowed with it will unwittingly engage themselves in an eternal struggle to safeguard their exclusivity. On the other hand, those who have set unlimited values on their coveted objects of beauty but are not fortunate enough to possess them, will need great strength and courage to resist their feelings of jealousy and envy towards those who are lucky to have them.
Parable of worldly beauty. This could be reflected in the story of Venerable Pakkha. One day, travelling to the village for alms, he sat down beneath a tree. Then he saw a kite, happily found some meat strewn on the ground, flew up into the sky to enjoy his meal. Upon seeing the meat in its beak, a flock of kites started to attack it to snatch its meat away. Thus, the first unfortunate kite drops the meatto the ground upon attack. Another kite swoops down for the fallen meat and was yet again attacked by the others.Upon witnessing this, the Venerable Pakkha thought to himself: `The meat represents worldly desires, common to all, but full of pain and woe.' And from reflection, he realised how inpermanent worldly beauty and desires are.
The teachings of Buddhism do not avoid objects of beauty nor abhors them. He only refrains from making them the basis for strong and opionated likes and dislikes. Whatever that is pleasant and beautiful in the worldl, we are attached to them and thus, develop a dislike towards their opposites. Philosophically, the Buddhist recognizes beauty where the senses can perceive it. But in beauty, he also sees the transformation that beauty takes and finally its destruction. He remembers what Buddha said with regards to all worldly things: that they come into form, undergo changes and meets its destruction. Therefore an enlightened person will admire beauty but is not fueled with the greed to acquire that beauty or to envy others for what he doesn't have. There is nothing that he is in danger of losing and nothing that he needs to posses and jealously safeguard. He is content with himself and at peace with the world. Bliss, no?
Envy or happiness?Envy and jealousy is just too energy sapping. So, why can't we just celebrate our own unique beauty and be happy with what we have? Why make life unbearable?
Labels: Beauty Tyrant, Spiritualism
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