Page 40 - The Truth of the Life of This World

porarily conceal these weaknesses and hence remain in good condition
without making other people conscious of these weaknesses. Besides, man
is endowed with intelligence enough to find the best ways to cover his
"weaknesses". If we neglect to apply these methods staying clean and
fresh, we may in a very short time begin to appear repulsive.
Furthermore, one cannot remain clean for a long time. After a few
hours, nothing remains from the refreshment a shower gives: we can only
stay clean for a relatively short time. We need to take a shower at least
once a day. Likewise, we need to brush our teeth regularly: bacteria quick-
ly turn the mouth into its former state. A woman who spends hours in front
of a mirror putting on make-up wakes up next morning with no trace of
that beautiful make-up on her face. Moreover, if she does not remove it
properly, her face may look even worse due to the remains of cosmetics.
A clean-shaven man needs another shave the next morning.
It is important to understand that all these needs are created for a spe-
cific purpose. An example makes this point explicit: when body tempera-
ture rises, we sweat. The odour accompanying sweat is disturbing. This is
an unavoidable process for anyone living in this world. However, this need
not have been the case! For instance, plants never sweat. A rose never
stinks despite the fact that it grows in soil, is fed with manure, and remains
in an environment of dust and dirt. Under all conditions, it has a delicate
fragrance. We need hardly mention that it needs no body-care! However,
no matter which cosmetics are applied to the skin, few human beings can
achieve such a permanent fragrance.
Besides all the needs of the body pertaining to hygiene, nutrition is also
essential for health. There is a delicate balance of proteins, carbohydrates,
sugars, vitamins and various minerals essential for the body. Once this bal-
ance is impaired, serious damage may arise in the functioning of bodily
systems: the immune system loses its protective abilities, leaving the body
weak and exposed to disease. Therefore, the same attention shown to
body-care should also be paid to nutrition.
An even more essential requisite for life is, of course, water. A man can
survive without food for a certain period, but a few days without water will
have fatal consequences. All the chemical functions of the body take place

38 The Weaknesses of Man