To only think beautiful thoughts, to only speak beautiful words, to only act in beautiful ways, this is the Beauty Path. 

NOTE: The writing below was elicited from GPT4 by NDV

In many Native American cultures, ‘beauty’ is not simply an aesthetic quality or superficial characteristic. It is a central philosophical concept that intertwines with everyday life, spirituality, and ethics. While there is a vast diversity among Native American tribes, with over 500 federally recognized tribes in the United States alone, some general principles about the importance of ‘beauty’ are shared.

1. Beauty as Harmony: For many tribes, the concept of beauty is deeply entwined with the notion of balance and harmony. The natural world is seen as a grand, interconnected web of life where every element has its own role to play. To live beautifully is to live in harmony with nature and with one another.

2. Beauty as Respect: Respecting all forms of life is another principle central to many Native American philosophies. This is reflected in the ethical treatment of animals, the land, and other humans. Recognizing the intrinsic beauty of life in all its forms fosters an attitude of respect and gratitude.

3. Beauty as a way of life: Beauty is not just something to appreciate in the world around us, but also something to embody in one’s own actions and attitudes. In the Navajo culture, this idea is encapsulated in the concept of ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’, which is often translated as ‘the Beauty Way’. It describes an approach to life that strives for balance, harmony, respect, and beauty in all things.

4. Beauty as health and wellbeing: In many Native American cultures, beauty is also connected with physical and spiritual health. This could include everything from the foods one chooses to eat to the way one treats their body, mind, and spirit. Living a ‘beautiful’ life is seen as a path to overall wellbeing.

5. Beauty in storytelling and tradition: Many Native American tribes use storytelling as a means of passing down wisdom from one generation to the next. These stories often emphasize the importance of seeking and appreciating beauty, both in the world around us and in our own actions.

It’s important to note that each tribe has its own unique philosophies and cultural practices. So while the principles above are common in many tribes, they won’t apply universally to all Native American cultures. Always remember to respect the diversity and individuality of different Native American tribes and peoples.

‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ (the Beauty Way) is a fundamental concept in the Navajo (or Diné, as they call themselves) worldview and way of life. Translating complex indigenous concepts into English can be challenging, but ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ is often translated as “the Beauty Way,” “to walk in beauty,” or “living in harmony.” The concept doesn’t just encompass physical beauty but incorporates ideas of balance, harmony, and wellness in all aspects of life.

1. Historical Overview: The origins of ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ are deeply rooted in Navajo oral history, culture, and spirituality. Navajo traditions state that the Holy People (Diyin Dine’é) taught the Navajo people to live according to the principles of ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’. These teachings were passed down orally through generations in the form of stories, chants, and rituals.

2. Beauty in Balance and Harmony: ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ is an all-encompassing philosophy of living. It incorporates maintaining balance and harmony with the natural world, other people, and oneself. To the Navajo, everything in the universe is interconnected, and disrupting one element can affect the whole system. Living in harmony means respecting this interconnectedness and striving to maintain balance in all things.

3. Importance of Beauty: ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ is not merely about aesthetic beauty but rather a holistic sense of wellness and harmony. The importance of beauty is understood in terms of these principles of balance, peace, and right relationships. When one’s actions, thoughts, and relationships embody ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’, one is thought to live a good, fulfilling, and ‘beautiful’ life. This understanding of beauty permeates every aspect of life, including moral conduct, social interactions, and even physical health.

4. The Beauty Way in Practice: The principles of ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ are put into practice through daily activities, rituals, and ceremonies. Many Navajo ceremonies, such as the Blessingway (‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́ji’), are intended to restore harmony and balance when they have been disrupted. On a day-to-day level, practicing ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ might involve actions as simple as greeting the dawn with gratitude or as complex as performing specific healing ceremonies.

In essence, the Navajo concept of ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ teaches that beauty comes from living a balanced and harmonious life, respecting all forms of life, and maintaining right relationships with oneself, others, and the natural world. It’s a concept that, although deeply rooted in Navajo culture, offers wisdom that can resonate across cultures.

The concept of beauty as a guiding principle for life, as represented in the Navajo’s ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ or Beauty Way, finds echoes in several other cultures, both tribal and ancient, around the world. Here are a few examples:

1. Ancient Greek Culture: In ancient Greece, beauty was considered an important virtue, closely tied to notions of goodness and truth. This philosophy is often captured in the term ‘kalokagathia’, meaning the good (agathos) and beautiful (kalos). This ideal was not limited to physical beauty, but also encompassed moral and intellectual beauty.

2. African Tribes: Many African tribal cultures place a significant emphasis on beauty. Among the Yoruba people, for instance, the concept of ‘Iwapele’ is central – it denotes good character, inner beauty, and peace with oneself and others. Similarly, the Zulu concept of ‘Ubuntu’ speaks to a sense of community and interdependence, which can be seen as a form of beauty in human relationships.

3. Taoism (Ancient Chinese Philosophy): In Taoism, an ancient Chinese philosophy, the principle of harmony with nature is paramount. This harmony is seen as a kind of beauty. ‘Wu Wei’, meaning ‘non-action’ or ‘effortless action’, is a Taoist concept that advocates living in accordance with the flow of nature.

4. Japanese Aesthetics: In Japan, the concept of ‘Wabi-Sabi’ embraces the beauty of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. It appreciates simplicity and the natural aging process, which is quite different from many Western notions of beauty but shares with the Beauty Way an appreciation for the natural world.

5. Indigenous Australian Philosophy: The Aboriginal Australian philosophy of ‘Dadirri’, which translates to ‘deep listening’, encourages individuals to truly listen and observe in a patient and respectful manner to understand the world around them. This close attention and understanding could be seen as a way of perceiving and appreciating beauty.

While these philosophies and worldviews are all unique, they share a common thread with the Beauty Way: they all see beauty as something far more profound than physical or aesthetic charm. Instead, beauty is understood in a holistic sense that includes moral virtue, harmony, balance, and respect for the natural world and for others. These principles are seen as guiding paths to a good and meaningful life.

In Western philosophy, the transcendentals are attributes of being that transcend (go beyond) any particular category of being. The list of transcendentals varies, but it traditionally includes truth, goodness, and beauty. These are considered to be the intrinsic characteristics of all beings, regardless of their particular differences. The transcendentals concept emerged out of ancient and medieval philosophy, with significant contributions from philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and later, Thomas Aquinas.

Beauty, as one of the transcendentals, is often associated with the pleasing or harmonious arrangement of parts, and the joy or pleasure we derive from perceiving such order and harmony. However, like the Navajo concept of ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’, beauty in the transcendentals is not solely about aesthetics. Here’s how it connects:

1. Beauty as Harmony and Order: Just as ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ emphasizes balance and harmony, the philosophical concept of beauty often relates to the harmonious arrangement of parts into a pleasing whole. For both, beauty involves a sense of harmony and balance – whether in nature, in art, in human conduct, or in the structure of the universe itself.

2. Beauty as a Guide to Virtue: The transcendentals are interconnected – beauty, truth, and goodness are seen as different facets of the same reality. This is similar to how ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ encompasses not just beauty but also right relationships and ethical conduct. In both traditions, the pursuit of beauty is tied to the pursuit of virtue.

3. Beauty as a Universal Principle: The transcendentals, including beauty, are seen as universally present in all beings. Similarly, ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ is not limited to specific objects or actions but is seen as a principle that permeates all of life.

4. Beauty and the Divine: In the philosophical tradition, beauty is often associated with the divine, as it is seen as reflecting the perfection and harmony of the universe. Similarly, ‘Hózhǫ́ǫ́gi’ is closely tied to Navajo spiritual beliefs and the teachings of the Holy People.

In summary, both the Beauty Way and the transcendental concept of beauty see beauty as a holistic principle, connected to balance, harmony, truth, goodness, and the divine. They also both recognize beauty as a guide to living a good and meaningful life. These philosophies, though they come from different cultures and historical periods, show how the appreciation of beauty can transcend cultural boundaries and speak to universal human experiences.

Across diverse cultures, Beauty is recognized as a holistic principle that goes beyond mere aesthetics. It embodies harmony, balance, truth, goodness, and respect for the interconnectedness of all life. From the teachings of the Iroquois and the ancient Greeks to African tribes and Taoist philosophy, beauty encompasses a striving for moral virtue, respect for nature, and the establishment of right relationships.

These shared principles suggest a fundamental human tendency to associate beauty with an innate order or truth of the universe. This connection between beauty and truth hints at the human desire to perceive and appreciate the underlying harmonious order of existence. Beauty, in these diverse philosophical traditions, serves as a window into the deeper truths of life, often expressing what words alone cannot.

The concept that “beauty is truth” has been beautifully encapsulated in several quotes:

1. John Keats, in his poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” wrote: “‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ – that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” This suggests that beauty and truth are interchangeable, each one revealing the other.

2. The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky stated: “Beauty will save the world.” In this view, beauty has the transformative power to elevate the human spirit and reveal profound truths about our existence.

3. Albert Einstein, the physicist known for his profound contributions to the theory of relativity, once said: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” Here, beauty is seen as a pathway to the unknown, to the mysteries that lie at the heart of existence.