How We Represent Ourselves to Others

These beautiful necklaces were made from prayer beads. The focal point on one, the endless knot, represents the endless cycle of life while the lotus, on the other, represents the flowering of enlightenment. Tassels found on most Buddhist prayer beads are reminders of constant change within what appears to be changeless, the illusion of separateness, and the undivided unity of the eternal or divine.

What we choose to wear is an expression of our beliefs about who we are. It conveys a message to people around us. Sometimes it is very straight forward for example a T-Shirt slogan.  I saw a T-shirt the other day on a woman that read, "I'm a Bitch!"  Wow!  That was some message.  Something I see often in my neighborhood are the pants below the underwear.  I keep thinking that it is a fad that will pass away but the fad has lasted for at least a decade now.  The message... available for sex?

Our daily practice should not harm others and cultivate wholesomeness in ourselves.  In Buddhism, this practice extends to the most mundane exercises in our lives including how we dress and how we represent ourselves to others.  These ideas should motivate every thought and every action.

Peace!