The three concepts of Satyam, (truth) Shivam, (God) Sundaram (beauty) are intimately connected. What is beauty ultimately? In the human being it is the facial expression, features of skin and hair. Some people may lack these qualities yet appear beautiful.

When we look at a beautiful man or woman or flower, our body consciousness goes down and we feel happy. Normally, we are full of turbulent thoughts, which keep us away from happiness. As these thoughts reduce, happiness increases. But this is a fleeting happiness as the following story illustrates.

A boy was studying for his exams in the midst of many worries such as his father's retirement, his mother having pawned her jewels to finance his education and his sister's impending marriage. Unable to concentrate, he went to relax in a nearby garden. There he happened to see a beautiful girl. Beauty is a mental concept, developed from childhood. Immediately he became happy and relaxed.

To continue the story, he did well in his exams, got a good job, married the girl, was given a company car and flat and was successful. Exteriorisation of the mind makes you happy - for a time. Rishis say for lasting happiness, you have to go within.

Unfortunately, he committed an error that caused the company loss of money and reputation. His boss asked him to leave the job in front of the whole office. Disturbed and depressed, he went home. His wife tried to console him. But her beauty, which had helped him earlier, had no effect now. It had become familiar and his shock was too great for it to matter.

In the earlier case, it was the phenomenon (of the unexpected) that had made him happy, not just her beauty. Anywhere, anytime that body consciousness goes down, the mind becomes calm and the way we look at the world changes.

We experience real beauty when we find everyone and everything beautiful. We see the beauty in the person, but more importantly, we see the God within. Your outlook makes all the difference. Possessive feelings (such as those between husband and wife), or competitive or envious states kill love.

When real love emerges, the concept of beauty goes towards satya (truth). You go rhythmically from within to without. There is no selfishness.

If you want to reach God you have to go beyond vasana (desire). Vasana is neither good nor bad, but at some point we will automatically shed ill will or hatred. We cannot force it; it must happen automatically, just as a tree sheds dry leaves. This can only happen when the light of gyan (knowledge), the light of 'Who am I?' comes in. The I should not enter the picture for it destroys everything. For example, imagine you are walking along a street and see somebody fall down. The intention and speed with which you go to his help is influenced by factors such as, is he a friend, a close relation, an acquaintance, a colleague, a Brahma Vidya student and so on. In yuthan avasta (wandering mind), we act out of our ego. It is false but it is the centre of our being (ahamkara).

If you wish to attain God or satya, you will see that God is everywhere. Whether the person is a beggar, dirty, or beautiful, should have no bearing on your behaviour. The need of the hour is that some person has fallen down, I can help, I have to help! Nothing more, nothing less. Thus you come into the present tense. Here, you get pradnya (insight), you get into totality's computer and your action unfolds like a lotus. Earlier, you would have got emotional (if the person were a close friend or relative), or worried and not taken action. Action should be taken as per the need of the hour. This can only happen by witness action.

We return to our topic of beauty. There is beauty in every aspect of your life; there is nothing, which is not beautiful, because in every embodiment, even excreta or urine, the functioning aspect is God. So you look at the God within the excreta. It may be foul smelling and not edible, but it is beautiful to the plant for whom it is sustenance.

We tend to see beauty only in the apparent aspect, which is fleeting. What you may find beautiful now you may not tomorrow. Beauty can be the smile of an old man, a child, a dirty woman. It is everywhere. Thus you can see that Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram are all connected. You can reach God through beauty, but conversely, you reach beauty when you reach God. And the same with truth.