' The Whole Picture '...

Buddha ascetically turned in disgust from the human body.

He could see it only as an assemblage of loathsome elements.

Plato artistically turned towards it in joy.

He received inspiration through its beauty.

Neither Indian nor Greek was quite right nor quite wrong.

Each deliberately unveiled only a part of the picture.

Whoever wishes to see the whole picture must put together both the bright top part and the dark lower part.

He must comprehend that the body is doomed to decay and die but that its informing life is destined to grow into grandeur.

Thus the finite form becomes a portal to the infinite reality.



-- Notebooks Category 5: The Body > Chapter 2:
The Body > # 1 Paul Brunton