Beauty (Inner Beauty vs. Outer Beauty)

 "A thing of beauty is a joy forever;
its loveliness increases;
it will never pass into nothingness."
- John Keats

"Beauty is not in the face;
beauty is a light in the heart."
- Kahlil Gibran

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Simply put, Beauty can be
different things to different people. There are probably as many
ways to judge Beauty as there are people in the world.

However, if we were to categorize beauty, we would eventually
come to the conclusion that there are basically two kinds of
Beauty: Outer Beauty and Inner Beauty.

Outer Beauty: In the strictest sense Outer Beauty is a type
of physical appearance, based solely upon external features,
which society has conditioned us to accept as being desirable,
fashionable, reliable, and trustworthy.

Some people are born with the natural features of Outer Beauty
while others find that it is necessary to create this outer
Appearance, to some degree. For most people, Outer Beauty is
easily created by means of a temporary camouflage of creams,
scents, ointments, styles, and various kinds of outer wrappings.

And although each one of us is entitled to look and feel as
attractive as we Choose, it is important to also understand that
Outer Beauty, by itself, is only one minuscule aspect of our
Divine Nature. If we rely upon Outer Beauty alone when we
present ourselves to others, this amounts to nothing more than
creating a false and temporary illusion of who we truly are.

Furthermore, those who rely upon the Appearance of Outer Beauty
alone in their interpersonal relationships, usually have very little, if
anything else, to bring into their relationships. And once their
temporary and fleeting illusion of Outer Beauty finally vanishes,
their unfulfilled and limited true character is all that they have left.

Inner Beauty: While Outer Beauty is but a temporary and
fleeting illusion, Inner Beauty is an Untarnishable and permanent
Truth. It is the purest expression of Beauty that the soul has to
offer.

And while Outer Beauty can be used to gain instant and temporary
gratification in the physical realm, Inner Beauty is Spiritual Magic
which enables the person who possesses it to enjoy permanent
contentment in all realms: physical, mental, and spiritual.

Inner Beauty is a warm and hypnotic "glow" which radiates from a
magical ember that burns deep within the person who possesses
it. Inner Beauty is a Divine Essence which cannot be manufactured.
And, it is amazing how Inner Beauty can make an "average looking"
person radiate with a magnetic glow and a heart-stopping presence.
It is a permanent Quality which makes this individual interesting,
desirable, trustworthy, and welcome.

Persons who possess Inner Beauty have positive and forward-
looking personalities. They are well-read and have a wide variety of
interests. These individuals are genuinely polite in their interactions
with others and harbor an Awareness, Insight, Intuition, Empathy,
and Radiance not found in the average person. In other words, this
person has a sincere interest in life.

When we encounter someone who possesses Inner Beauty, Time
seems to stand still as we gaze in wonder at this special person who
is standing before us. The sparkle in their eyes and their soft,
sincere, and innocent smile remind us of someone who is looking at
all things, and all people, with the same wonder, enthusiasm,
curiosity, and interest that we see in The Face Of A Child.

And just as Outer Beauty can be manufactured from without,
Inner Beauty can be created from within. The big difference
between these two is that while Outer Beauty is temporary and
fleeting, Inner Beauty is permanent and radiant.

So, how do we create Inner Beauty within ourselves?

The ember of Inner Beauty is lighted and stoked by a genuine
interest in Self-Instruction and Self-Improvement. These are the
same disciplines which were embraced by the Ancient Initiate.
Self-Instruction enables us to become well-read, well-informed,
and Aware. Self-Improvement is the cultivation, development, and
harvesting of our Inner Spiritual Self.

In closing, it is important to remember that we have been sent
into our Current Incarnation to experience this realm both
physically and Spiritually. Therefore, although it is important to
cultivate our Inner Beauty, thereby expanding our Inner Temple,
it is also important to respect, appreciate, and maintain, the
Outer Beauty of our Outer Temple. In doing so, we enable
ourselves to enjoy our Current Incarnation to its fullest
material and Spiritual measure.

(See also: "Appearances and Perceptions" and
"Masquerade - The Masks We Wear")

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2011

The Face Of A Child

When we look into the Face of a Child, what do we see?

The first thing we notice is a look of Peace and Contentment.
A Child's Face exhibits no worry or frustration. A Child's Face
displays no fear. A Child's Face is void of deception. We see no
"secretiveness" or "defensiveness" in the Face of a Child. To the
contrary, a Child's Face is full of Trust and the features on a
Child's Face display Peacefulness, Contentment, Openness,
Honesty, Curiosity, and Excitement.

A Child views everything, and everyone, in this world as a
New Experience: a New Adventure. And, this Child cannot get
enough of all the New Experiences, and New Adventures, that
surrounded it.

Although a Child may still be physically "clumsy" this Child
continually volunteers to help adults gather firewood, plant
flowers, sort laundry, bag groceries, and pay the cashier at the
checkout stand. A Child gets a thrill simply from the opportunity
of being able to assist an adult in all sorts of "ordinary tasks".
And, to top it off, a Child neither asks for, nor expects, anything
in return.

A Child simply enjoys participating in a New Adventure,
regardless of what that New Adventure is. The participation in
this New Adventure is the Child's reward. What "adults" might
consider as boring and mundane chores, a Child views as
Exciting New Experiences.

When we look into a Child's Face, or listen to a Child's Voice, we
are experiencing the living proof that the Qualities of Peacefulness,
Contentment, Excitement, and Honesty are still alive and well in
this world. These are the same Qualities that many of us have
abandoned in our mad rush to "grow up".

A Child's Face is a reminder from Divinity that these Higher
Qualities actually do exist, and are continually being re-born
into this world every single day!

This is why we worship and admire a Child as much as we do.
A Child's Face reminds us of who we were before we "grew up",
and who, deep down inside of us, we long to re-Become.

The Lessons and experiences of Peace, Contentment, Honesty,
and Curiosity are right before our eyes. These Lessons and
experiences are being re-born into our world each and every day.
These lessons and experiences are presented to us each and every
time we look into The Face Of A Child!

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009