PureInsight | August 29, 2005
[PureInsight.org] Everyone wishes to be beautiful. What constitutes real beauty? It seems that very few people have given the question any serious thought. Most people think young people are more beautiful than the old and thus they hope to retain their youthful looks for as long as possible. But no one can escape the fate of getting old. Youth cannot be permanent. The natural circle of birth, old age, sickness and death is inescapable.
A friend of mine is very fond of going to beauty salons. No matter how much money she spends, her dyed hair soon shows gray roots. She got a face lift, but soon wrinkles reappeared on her tightened skin. But she won't give up pursuing beauty. One day I told her: "Cosmetics can only solve superficial problems temporarily. Since you want to be beautiful, why don't you go practice cultivation of mind and body? Cultivator are the most beautiful people in this world." Unable to comprehend what I said, she asked: "I wish to become more beautiful; but you are practicing 'Truthfulness Compassion Forbearance.' It doesn't include beauty. How can I become more beautiful by practicing that?"
I asked her further: "If two people appear in front of you. One is sincere and honest and the other is hypocritical and lying all the time. Which one do you think is more beautiful?" She replied: "Of course it is the honest one." I said, "So truthfulness is beautiful. Once again, you face two people. One is kind and the other is sinister and full of bad thoughts. Which one is more beautiful?" "It goes without saying! Of course the kind one is beautiful." That is to say kindness is beautiful. Again, when you face two people, one has an open mind and treats things with patience and the other is without forgiveness. Which one is more beautiful? "The one with more patience." I then said, "So the forbearance is beautiful. 'Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance' is the cosmos' highest realm of beauty. People who cultivate 'Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance' are the most beautiful people in this world!"
Worldly people only recognize the surface appearance. Only those who are out of this world can recognize the essence of things. People in this human world only think handsome men and beautiful women are beautiful. But if they do not have the inner essence of "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance," they only have the beautiful outer shell. A beautiful soul is the true beauty. The body of a true cultivator is light; their complexions are fair with a rosy glow. Their appearances are more youthful than their true age. By knowing the truth of the cosmos, they truly understand what beauty is. The vision and the mind of a cultivator are pure. The cultivators of "Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance" are the most beautiful people.
Translated from: http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2005/8/17/33498.html
