Kalos, Eros & Buddhism

Kalos (καλος): The beautiful. Also carries an added dimension of nobility.

Buddhism: Advocates detatchment from the material world in order to transcend suffering. One should be able to let go of the feelings that grip us and the material that attract us.

From the 2 definitions above, it would appear that they cannot be reconciled. This is a problem for me since I am strongly moved by beauty and yet I am still a Buddhist. The beautiful/noble invokes in me passions that motivates me towards perfection. It makes me pass over the crass and vulgar while I strive towards that end in all I do. The Nietzschean concept of the beautiful is exactly the same as what the ancient Greeks expounded - beautiful and noble at the same time. It is also what I have adopted. But what is it about this Καλος that attracts me so? I believe central to my desire for Καλος is my Ερος. Much like Cyrus, I'm very moved by the abstract, metaphysical forms of beauty that exists. Never mind what the eye sees. It's what the mind perceives that matters. As such I understand that nobody can ever meet that kind of standard. One has to be the Platonic form of beauty in order to satisfy me.

So maybe I satisfy one part of being a good Buddhist - no strong attachment to the material. But I'm still, essentially, an erotic man. Καλος moves me. I can't help but have my innermost feelings roused by it. Buddhism asks for a person who is able to let go. I still cannot do it. In this respect I can fully empathise with Anakin in Starwars. The only way I can reconcile these 2 at the moment is that Nirvana is the most beautiful thing that can ever exist. Does this imply that in trying to achieve Nirvana I have to be the most erotic person? In achieving true beauty, I might have reached the point when it doesn't matter anymore. Maybe Hegel can explain this up to a certain extent. In trying to know something I must be able to conceive of its opposite. I must know of its negation. Only then will I fully understand what is. Presently, this seems to be the most plausible way of reconciling both.