2. The Beauty of Human Beings

World Scripture

Confucius said, “It is goodness that gives to a neighborhood its beauty.”
Analects 4.1 (Confucianism)

The perfume of flowers blows not against the wind, nor does the fragrance of sandalwood, tagara and jasmine, but the fragrance of the virtuous blows against the wind; the virtuous man pervades every direction.
Dhammapada 54 (Buddhism)

Whether in village or in forest, in vale or on hill, wherever monks dwell—delightful, indeed, is that spot.
Dhammapada 98 (Buddhism)

Purified, for spiritual might, by God’s impulse, we think of all beautiful things.
Rig Veda 5.82.6 (Hinduism)

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61.10

Let not yours be the outward adorning with braiding of hair, decoration of gold, and wearing of fine clothing, but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable jewel of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
1 Peter 3.3-4

Indeed there are three types of music. The first type is the music of the universe (musica mundana), the second type that of the human being (musica humana), and the third type is that created by certain instruments (musica instrumentis constituta)… producing melodies.
Now the first type, the music of the universe, is best observed in those things which one perceives in heaven itself, or in the structure of the elements, or in the diversity of the seasons… Thus there must be some fixed order of musical modulation in this celestial motion.
Now one comes to understand the music of the human being by examining his own being. For what unites the incorporeal existence of reason with the body except a certain harmony and, as it were, a careful tuning of low and high pitches in such a way that they produce one consonance?
Boethius

When anyone, having the right kind of love, mounts up and begins to see the beauty present in the beautiful person, he is not far from the final goal. For the right way of love, whether one goes alone or is led by another, is to begin with the beautiful things that are seen here, and ascend ever upwards, aiming at the beauty that is above, climbing as it were, on a ladder from one beautiful body to two, and from two to all bodies, and from beautiful bodies to beautiful actions and from beautiful actions to beautiful forms of knowledge, till the last from these one reaches that knowledge which is the knowledge of nothing else but Beauty itself, and so knows at last what Beauty really is.
Plato, Symposium (Hellenism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

People appear beautiful when they receive God’s grace, when God loves them. They are beautiful because they radiate light. In a world where all things radiate love’s light, no one would discriminate between beauty and ugliness.
(33:88, August 9, 1970)

What is original beauty? It is to become embodiments of beauty, to express our beauty through laughter, dance and song, and with it to glorify God. This was the beauty God intended for the original Garden of Eden.
(2:245, June 9, 1957)

If you look at people with the glasses of love, there is no one who displeases you. Even an ugly woman looks beautiful; even a misshapen man looks handsome.
(162:47, March 22, 1987)

There is nothing attractive about a lake filled with muddy water. Yet if a lotus blooms in the midst of the mud, it makes the lake truly amazing. One flower can make a lake come alive. One flower can transform an ugly lake into a beautiful lake. From this point of view, evil human beings, if they have even an ounce of love in their hearts, can be beautiful.
(354:21, September 16, 2001)

A woman may have great beauty, but if there is no purpose to her beauty, does it have meaning? Would any of the women here like to be a beautiful doll that stayed all day in a glass box? None of you could tolerate it. Beauty is not a passive thing just to be admired; it is active, pursuing a goal. Some think that the purpose for a woman’s beauty is to attract a husband. If that were all, would she be happy? No. In her beauty a woman dreams of something more than merely securing a man; she dreams of finding something within that man—love. The goal of beauty is love. Beauty’s dream comes true in the happiness of love.
(116:10-11, December 1, 1981)

Looking with a genuine heart of love, who is more beautiful, the smiling face of a woman who has artfully adorned herself with makeup or the smile of a woman who suffers and works hard to care for her family? The hard-working woman has the more beautiful smile. Although she is busy day and night with laundry, cleaning the house and looking after her children, she has a most noble appearance.
(129:176, October 30, 1983)

How serious we are to live for others in this world determines the beauty of our character in the next world. It does not matter if a person is plump or slender; his or her heart to live for others is the supreme beauty of all beauty, because it is the way to perfect love.
(307:166, November 8, 1998)

The major topic in the spirit world is harmony. It is balance and unity. What is the center of harmony? Could you say, “Since my face is beautiful, the harmony of the universe should revolve around me?” In the spirit world, though you may boast of your beauty, you will meet many who are more beautiful than you. The environment there is exceptionally beautiful. You should learn to appreciate it; nevertheless, because you tend to see only one dimension you are likely to miss its multidimensionality.
(217:143, May 19, 1991)