REAL BEAUTY

There is a story I once read about a painter who found a magic that enabled him to sketch into life a world he so longed for. He painted the most beautiful scenery he had in his imagination which was almost like heaven. As part of the magic, he could make himself and whoever he wished to dwell in his painted canvass.

One day, he invited his beloved to stay and live with him in this heavenly place he created for the two of them. He told her that they could stay there forever and be happy. His beloved accepted his invitation. After sometime, his beloved felt sad and displeased so he asked, “My love, are you not happy with all the wonderful things around us?”

His beloved replied, “At first, I felt bliss. But no matter how beautiful this is, it is still not real.”


Sometimes we can make great things happen and then succeed in getting what we want:

We can have more than the basic needs in life.
We can acquire a great amount of wealth.
We can get hold of those that fancy our sight.
We can taste the most delectable menu on the table.
We can wear the most expensive clothes.

But still there will come a point that we will feel something is missing and nothing seems to matter.

Is it human insatiability? I guess not. Perhaps it is because living in a perfect world diminishes what reality is.

We may have all the riches in the world, but these could be meaningless if we are the only one enjoying them. That is why when we do an act of charity and generosity to the less fortunate ones, we feel a sense of ecstatic feeling and relief that even the strongest amphetamine could not equal.

We may have all the expensive possessions in the world, but these could be useless if we have not worked hard to get them. That is why when we do an act of labor and sacrifice to whatever goal we have, we feel a sense of great accomplishment. We begin to value the experience and the tangible prize that signifies it.

We all can weave in our imagination a perfect world we dream of and make it real in life. But if we don’t exert a great deal of effort in achieving it, then it is nothing. If we don’t have people to share it with, then it is useless.

From this angle, we can all say that real beauty is not defined by the eyes, but by the heart that feels its essence.