Pondering the Permanent Presence of Love in Life?
In the complex tapestry of human emotions, love stands out as a beacon of hope and connection. However, love is not just a fleeting emotion, but a state of being that can be cultivated and nurtured.
In the Christian tradition, universal love is seen as the principal message of Jesus, and compassion is viewed as the method for enacting this love as part of our responsibility to alleviate human suffering in the world. This perspective emphasizes love as an active verb, a way of being that demands engagement beyond passing feelings.
Similarly, in Buddhism, compassion is interpreted as the desire to relieve sentient beings of suffering, while love is the desire to bring happiness to sentient beings. In Hinduism, all love for others is considered self-love as brahma (universal soul) manifested in the individual (atman), while seva (selfless service) is a central theme of life, practical compassion in action, and our duty to humanity.
Love, as a state of being, is independent of outside circumstances. It is not just a fleeting feeling but a consistent way of perceiving oneself and others—a stable, conscious presence of love that influences actions and relationships moment to moment.
To move from experiencing love as temporary feelings to living love fully in each moment, one can cultivate awareness, choose love as action and intention, practice presence and connection, and develop emotional maturity. Cultivating awareness helps distinguish passing emotions from the deeper state of love, while choosing love as action and intention treats love as something you actively do—through kindness, compassion, and presence—not merely as something you feel when emotionally stirred. Practicing presence and connection involves being fully present with yourself and others, seeing and accepting without needing performance or perfection. Developing emotional maturity allows transient states like infatuation or limerence to give way to calm, stable love rooted in understanding and commitment.
Love is not equal to the sum of its parts. It is far more powerful than transient emotions. Love evokes a large colony of feelings and commands basic emotions. The power of love to dissolve negativity is significant, acting as a close ally in removing emotional blocks. Compassion, one of love's ambassadors, is considered to be a universal virtue.
Love's ambassadors enrich our life experience and increase our range of perception. Love's ambassadors are compassion, joy, kindness, wisdom, peace, gratitude, equanimity, appreciation, pleasure, acceptance, intimacy, benevolence, grace, generosity, respect, sympathy, among others.
As human beings, we experience many emotional states under love's vast umbrella, yet each one of them fails to convey the totality of what love is. Love is an integral state of being waiting to be rediscovered. As Ram Dass famously said, "I'm not interested in being a 'lover.' I'm interested in only being love."
For more love quotes, visit www.LoveQuoteOfTheDay.com. Living life through the interactive and colorful kaleidoscope of love is one of the highest human experiences. Toni Emerson, author of "The Love Dialogues," provides insights into this journey on her website, www.TheLoveDialogues.com.
- In the Christian tradition, universal love and compassion are seen as essential components of Jesus' message, with compassion being viewed as the method for enacting this love and alleviating human suffering.
- Similarly, in Buddhism, compassion is interpreted as the desire to relieve sentient beings of suffering, while love is the desire to bring happiness to them.
- Love, as a state of being, is independent of outside circumstances and influences actions and relationships moment to moment.
- To live love fully in each moment, one can cultivate awareness, choose love as action and intention, practice presence and connection, and develop emotional maturity.
- Love's ambassadors enrich our life experience and increase our range of perception, with compassion being considered one of love's ambassadors and a universal virtue.
