Harmony of the Inside, Not the Outside
In human relationships, inner compatibility—rooted in true sustainability—is a more essential element than appearance or sensory attraction. Love may begin with the senses, but I believe it is ultimately sustained by inner strength. It’s difficult to precisely define what it means for two people to “go well together” in a relationship. Does it mean their appearances match? If so, we inevitably imagine a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Looking back on my experiences in my twenties and thirties, I often evaluated a person’s worth based on superficial, sensory satisfaction—qualities that appealed to my tastes or were rooted in material aspects such as social status or wealth. But what we really need to look deeper into is “inner compatibility.” Inner compatibility cannot be bought or sold, imitated, or decorated. Of course, someone who possesses both sensory appeal and inner compatibility would be ideal—but meeting such a person is an uncommon blessing. If “sensory satisfaction” ...