Vanity vs Enlightenment

by L. J. Williamson

I was watching Pema Chodron on Bill Moyer's show. She's a Buddhist nun and as one would expect of a Buddhist nun, she wore no makeup and had her hair cut very short.

That made me wonder -- could I become a Buddhist nun, but instead of Chodron's typical attire, have styled hair, wear sexy clothes and lipstick? A hot nun who gets to have sex and flirt?

Would letting go of my vanity and my desire to be considered attractive launch me further along the road to enlightenment? Or do I have it backwards: becoming more enlightened is supposed to make me stop caring about how I look?

I'm stuck on this conundrum that says you can't be enlightened and hot at the same time. The underlying concept is, I suppose, that meditation takes up all of your valuable eyebrow tweezing time. And vice versa. I know, I've never been hit with an epiphany while tweezing.

I've always had a tumultuous relationship with that whole appearance thing. I don't typically wear a lot of makeup or spend a lot of time on my hair, partly because I'm lazy, and partly because I've got this belief that it's more virtuous not to bother. Then I show up at a party and all the chicks are totally tricked out and I have an insecure attack: Oh jeez, why didn't I wear more makeup?

Appearances do matter. Even Pema Chodron wears robes, which send out a signal about her life and path. Now I just have to figure out what signal I want to send.

| 11/30/06 | Love and Sex

The most important thing is that you FEEL GOOD. If wearing make-up and doing your hair brings you joy, then do it. Don't judge why, just be happy and grateful in the feelings it brings you (assuming they are positive feelings).

Don't judge yourself - thinking that you're not as good as someone who is wearing more eyeshadow than you is sending a negative message to your subconcious.

Relax in your allowing of joy and know that you are beautiful and unique. If "looking nice" brings you joy, then do it and be joyful without worrying.

Check out information on the Law of Attraction. "The Secret" is an awesome introductory DVD to this Law. The Teachings of Abraham (w/ Esther and Jerry Hicks) are also very good.

Comments

A beautiful part of Buddhism is the teaching on the Middle Way, to not be too tight or too loose. As we practice more, our perception and priorities change. Of course Buddhists can be beautiful, flirt, and have sex. Yet I think that the outlook of what is "beautiful" changes. An important thing to remember is nonattachment, learning to let go. Be beautiful inside, and the beauty is going to radiate outwards. If the beauty is makeup and tweezed eyebrows, well, that's not beauty. It can compliment the beauty within, but it won't create it. I think confidence (not arrogance) is extremely sexy, and source of real beauty.

Comments

Oh my buddha... that is one of the funniest things that I have ever read... keep tweezing... Pema looks great in her robes... and I am sure that you look great in your heels... we all have something to offer! Just remember the folicles come from within and it is important to embrace them. What does it matter really... isn't really about being nice to oneself and to one another...