Think about the word "beautiful." What comes to mind? A perfect selfie? A stunning celebrity? A shiny new gadget? We hear "beautiful" tossed around constantly, attached to everything from a sunset to a new pair of shoes. But what if real beauty runs far deeper than what meets the eye, or what social media tells you?
Let's dive into something a little different.
The Two Faces of Beauty: Surface vs. Soul
Most of the time, we experience beauty in a dualistic way. This means we only call something beautiful because we can compare it to something else that we deem "ugly" or "less than." Think about it: a "beautiful" song often has less "beautiful" songs to highlight its brilliance. A "beautiful" person is beautiful partly because others don't fit the same mold. This is how our human minds, always keen on comparison and categorization, tend to operate. We differentiate everything – day and night, hot and cold, us and them.
But what if there's another kind of beauty? A non-dualistic beauty, where there's no opposite? Imagine a beauty so complete, so all-encompassing, that the concept of "ugly" simply doesn't exist within its realm. This kind of beauty, some ancient wisdom traditions suggest, is actually Truth. If Truth alone exists, and there's nothing but Truth, then what could you compare it to to make it "not true"? Nothing. In this profound sense, Truth is Beauty, and Beauty is Truth.
Why Surface-Level Beauty Can Leave You Empty
Here's the catch: your eyes, your ears, your mind – they're wired for duality. They see differences, hear variations, and think in terms of "this or that." So, even if that deep, non-dualistic Beauty (Truth, inner peace, whatever you want to call it) resides within you, how do you navigate the messy, external world where "ugly" seems very real?
Too often, we let our conditioning dictate what we label beautiful. Growing up, we absorb countless messages about what's "attractive" based on media, family, and society. Think about it: specific body types, skin tones, fashion trends. We're taught to find certain things beautiful because they please our existing conditioning. And anything that violates or challenges that conditioning? We often label it "ugly."
This is why we see so many people, especially young adults, chasing after external ideals that rarely bring lasting satisfaction. You might call someone "beautiful" because they fit a popular image, but does their presence truly bring you peace or just more excitement, agitation, or even comparison?
This reliance on external, conditioned definitions of beauty is ultimately limiting and often leads to dissatisfaction. It's an "ugly" way of deciding what's beautiful.
Your Heart: The Ultimate Beauty Compass
So, how do you find true beauty in a world full of fleeting trends and superficial standards? The answer, surprisingly, is simple: listen to your Heart.
Not your physical heart, but your inner core – that place of Silence, Truth, and Peace within you. This inner Heart is always beautiful, always the center of all true beauty.
Here's the secret: Whatever takes you towards your beautiful Heart is beautiful. Whatever takes you away from the Beauty in your Heart is ugly.
You read a book that leaves your mind even more scattered and restless? For you, it's an ugly book. (Not universally, but for you, right then, it pulls you away from peace).
You visit a place that makes you feel anxious and disturbed? It's an ugly place for you.
You spend time with someone who constantly leaves you feeling drained, excited, or agitated rather than calm? For you, in that moment, their presence might be less than beautiful.
This isn't about judging the book, place, or person definitively. It’s about subjective labeling – acknowledging how they impact your inner state. If something disconnects you from your inner peace, silence, or truth, then it's justifiable to call it "ugly" for yourself.
Beyond Appearances: The Radiance of True Beauty
This shifts the whole paradigm, doesn't it? A person isn't beautiful just because they look a certain way. They are beautiful if their presence calms you, centers you, or inspires you towards your own inner peace.
Think of figures like Kabir, Jesus, Meera, Buddha, or Mahavira. We call them beautiful or handsome, not because we know their physical attributes, but because of who they were and how they impacted others. It's said that just being near them could quiet the violent tendencies of animals. That's true beauty – something that elevates, pacifies, and brings you closer to your highest self.
Even the eyes of someone you care about deeply. Are they beautiful just because of their color or shape? Or are they truly beautiful if, when you look into them, you're transported beyond your daily worries and find a moment of peace? If they just create more sensory excitement or attachment, then maybe they're not beautiful in that deeper sense.
Reclaiming a Sacred Word
In our modern world, "beauty" has become a cheap word. We use it for fleeting pleasures, for consumer goods, for things that excite our senses rather than calm our souls. We call a new gadget "beautiful," a skyscraper "beautiful," or a song that stirs up superficial feelings "beautiful." This is almost sacrilege when you consider its true meaning.
"Beautiful" is a sacred word, as sacred as "Truth."
So, the next time you're about to utter that word, pause. Ask yourself: "Did this bring me closer to my inner peace, my truth, my silence? Or did it just excite my senses and stir up my restless mind?"
"Beautiful" is that which takes you towards your Beautiful Heart.
That's what Beauty truly is.