We do all kinds of things to remain beautiful. Yet, we spend surprisingly little time taking care of what matters most - the way our mind functions.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of mental well-being over superficial beauty.
Matthieu Ricard points out the irony in how people often dedicate significant time and resources to maintaining their physical appearance while neglecting their mental health. The quote urges us to reflect on our priorities and focus more on nurturing our minds, which is crucial for overall well-being and happiness.
In practice
This quote can be used in a mental health awareness campaign.
Happiness is the result of inner maturity. It depends on us alone, and requires patient work, carried out from day to day. Happiness must be built, and this requires time and effort. In the long term, happiness and unhappiness are therefore a way of being, or a life skill.
Happiness is the main object of our aspirations, whatever name we give to it: fulfilment, deep satisfaction, serenity, accomplishment, wisdom, fortune, joy or inner peace, and however we try to seek it: creativity, justice, altruism, striving, completion of a plan or a piece of work.
True freedom means freeing oneself from the dictates of the ego and its accompanying emotions.
Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment.
Knowledge does not mean mastering a great quantity of different information, but understanding the nature of mind. This knowledge can penetrate each one of our thoughts and illuminate each one of our perceptions.
Empathy is the faculty to resonate with the feelings of others. When we meet someone who is joyful, we smile. When we witness someone in pain, we suffer in resonance with his or her suffering.
You know people just assume, 'Well, all my life I'll be a worrier.' That doesn't have to be true. There's a way to drink from God's presence so much that worry begins to dissipate.
Who ever converses among old books will be hard to please among the new.
Since things are moving faster and faster, we cannot afford the amount of stupidity that we used to be able to tolerate.
Humility is not disgraceful, and carries no loss of true pride.
Strength is Happiness. Strength is itself victory. In weakness and cowardice there is no happiness. When you wage a struggle, you might win or you might lose. But regardless of the short-term outcome, the very fact of your continuing to struggle is proof of your victory as a human being.
Repentance and desires after holiness never be separated.
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