Philosophical Sayings About Worldly Matter (LXV65)

Beauty is a relative term, and like everything else, must be kept in balance. A pretty woman, if excessively ornamented and over-dressed, may ruin her natural prettiness. Of this woman people may say, “She doesn’t deserve the finery. Give it to another woman who does.”

(This is a translation of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Wan Ko Yeshe Norbu’s philosophical sayings about worldly matters originally written in Chinese.)

---

Below is not an official translation, just for reference

Beauty and ugliness are relative concepts, and this principle applies to everything. All things must be appropriate and balanced, whether they are people, objects, or forms of art. If any aspect becomes unbalanced, it results in disharmony and a loss of beauty.

For example, consider a beautiful woman dressed in an elegant outfit. If the outfit is overly luxurious, overshadowing the person wearing it, the overall harmony is disrupted. The balance is lost, making the clothing appear beautiful while the person does not. Those with knowledge understand this principle, and some might even say that such a magnificent outfit should be worn by someone even more beautiful.

This tells us that the person's appearance and figure may not suit such an extravagant outfit. Instead, she should choose clothing that complements her, achieving a sense of balance, which is the key to true beauty. If this balance is not maintained, disharmony arises.

Thus, this teaches us that beauty and ugliness are relative. As long as balance is achieved, adhering to proper proportions and appropriateness, true beauty is realized.