The concept of Satyam (Truth), Shivam (Goodness) and Sundaram (Beauty) is one of the most wonderful ones in Indian Philosophy. In three words, this gives a wonderful philosophy of life for people of diverse pursuits.
Life is expressing and experiencing. When we express and experience, and enable everyone else also to express and experience these three, it becomes a fulfilling life.
Seeking Beauty is not wrong. But we should remember the priority. Beauty should not take precedence over Goodness. And Goodness should not take precedence over Truth. This is the concept of the popular Samskrit saying “Speak the truth. Speak the pleasant. Never tell untruth to be pleasant. Avoid speaking an unpleasant truth.”
Then comes the domain where we can express and experience these – physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual. Intellectual beauty is to be prefered more than physical beauty; Emotional beauty is to be prefered more than intellectual beauty; and so on. Similarly about Goodness and Truth.
12 Responses to Satyam Shivam Sundaram