The Stepping Stones of Love...Part II

You’ve probably read my previous post, The Stepping Stones of Love Part I. 

In Part II, I share my personal interpretation of love and its deep significance for growth along the spiritual path.

On the spiritual path, I have found that love is the greatest challenge. Not because loving is hard, but because learning how to love is harder.

Love is not just an emotion. It is manifested as an extension of consciousness and a genuine expression of goodwill toward others. It is an appreciation for life and the wish for the same good for others that you would want for yourself and your loved ones.

It's not always easy. With so much upheaval in the world, causes one to question the value of wishing goodwill to others. Especially those who harm others and ruin lives. How can you love such people?

If you grasp that love is more than just an emotional feeling, then you can see how loving humanity as a whole is possible. Emotional love causes attachment, demands reciprocation, and creates limits and separation. Unconditional love is intelligent, wise, and liberating. 

For example, it is easy to love someone who loves you in return or acts according to your wishes. However, loving someone who does not do those things is more challenging. Nonetheless, you can love them by following God’s wisdom. Otherwise, you harm yourself when you fail to love through God’s love and wisdom.

Many people believe that loving another, especially one who wrongs them, means dismissing abhorrent behavior or accepting their menacing behavior no matter what. 

One must be willing to let others go if their behavior becomes intolerable. It does not mean that you have stopped loving them. Love does not require someone to be in your presence; rather, it allows them the space to grow.

Without initially recognizing God's unwavering love, it is impossible to fully comprehend how to love. Thus, in the absence of wisdom, one destroys love rather than genuinely embracing it. 

Many people mistakenly believe that love means trying to change others into what they want them to become instead of changing themselves. 

For example, because God loves us unconditionally, He allows us to use our freewill to love Him but He doesn't try to change us or force us to love him. 

No matter what you may have done, if you are sincere about changing, God is always there for you. However, this type of reciprocity is only possible because God loves us first. God's love is unconditional it is we who condition our love.

Persons who are bewildered and unfamiliar with their true self remain in the eros phase of love throughout their life. Even when they cause unpleasantness to others, such people may still feel that they are acting out of love.

In its purest form, authentic love embodies beauty, joy, freedom, and wisdom. 

Let me explain:

Sometimes, saying no to someone you love may be necessary. This may cause them hurt or despair. However, due to your growth in wisdom, you understand that this may be the best course of action to take. 

The saying "this is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you" has never been more appropriate. Love is kind but firm, all-embracing but detached, agreeable but perceptive. Love is not each of these things separately; it encompasses all of them intuitively. 

Still, the person on the receiving end of your words or actions may not understand at that moment. Nonetheless, later - if they grow in understanding - they will appreciate your reaction even if they were in despair at the time. 

Whether they are your spouse, children, or friends, spiritual love—known as agape—requires the deeper realization that we belong to no one, and no one belongs to us.

We must free those whom we love, because only then can they choose to love us in return. You can't force anyone to love you.

Once you employ the spiritual aspect of love, you can truly enjoy others and give your love unconditionally because that's who you are. You then embody universal love. The kind of love that encompasses all humanity.

LOVE IS...

Love is pure like the love of a child. Children naturally love because they are love and totally unaware of it. They simply give, and we love them in return. We take joy in nurturing them and watching them grow. 

We want the best for them, we want their happiness. That is love in action. Though it can be hard to let them go, we are assured and know that love looks after its own. 

God is Love, and once you sincerely come to know this great Spirit, you naturally love because that is the Creator's nature. You will find that God's love brings joy even in times of sorrow, because you understand.  

Love is omnipresent. It heals the mind, body, and soul, however, recognizing this truth requires significant inner growth.