Beauty and Possibility

Beauty and Possibility

We often come to the conclusion that beauty is in thought, or that our thoughts can create the beauty we are seeking.  No matter if we find it in the woods or come to it after a long series of conclusions, there is the recognition of a presence that makes us act and feel a certain way.  

What we recognize, however, is always to the detriment of what we do not see; the surest insult is usually the greatest praise.  Like Lao-Tzu said, 'All the world knows beauty, but when that becomes beautiful, this becomes ugly'.  Why do we call the ancient tree rooted in the ground beautiful?  Calling it nothing may mean that we have not noticed it; it may take away from the happiness and convenience it has given to others, but in defining it thus, it brings about the possibility of understanding our cause and purpose.  Whether we admit it or not, when we look for what is beautiful, we are not searching for an object but for a reason; and we cannot help but find it because when we look into our hearts, there is only this imperceptible movement in the unseen realm of possibility.  Sometimes it is just too big for us, but in leaving those distinctions behind, we begin to see the whole picture.

Douglas Thornton