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.
I am the kind of person who does not like to carry baggage. In fact, I don't go back and listen to my own music. I believe in closing chapters and moving forward. That's what gives me peace.
I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.
The worst pain a man can have is to know much and be impotent to act.
The world is his who can see through its pretension.
In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.
We usually know what we can do, but temptation shows us who we are.
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