The need for a greater comprehension of what real Love is. 1 of 2

The word, love is so widely used today? It is defined as not only a strong liking but an ardent attachment, with reference to persons or things that arouse the deeper or higher emotions. The real meaning of the word, love, is lost today primarily because it is used for trivial things. For example, "I love candy," or "I love to go to the theatre." It replaces the words, like and enjoy. For things which are merely pleasing, but evoke no great warmth of feeling or desire. Love is also used for, enjoy. This habitual use of the word, love, to express other feelings minimizes the real potential of love in its true sense. Love is also interwoven with sacrifice in the sense of denying oneself for the sake of someone or something else. The habitual use of the word, love, in our society is distorting its real content through misuse and misguidance. The basic meaning of love is understood primarily in relationships between persons, but it is expressed in its best quality through devotion, loyalty, intimate knowledge and responsibility.

What is the source of love from a Western perspective?

The Greek word that refers to the love of God, one of the kinds of love we are to have for people, is agape. Agape is the very nature of God, for God is love, for a full description, you may want to read (1 John 4:7-12, 16).  The big key to understanding agape is to realize that it can be known from how one acts. People are accustomed to thinking of love as a feeling, but that is not necessarily the case with agape love. Agape is love because of what it does, not because of how it feels.

In the New Testament we read, "God is Love" and that human beings are made in the image of God, who is Love. Every person is able to practice love and give himself to God and others (agape) and then receive and experience God's love in contemplation.

The third word for “love” is phileo, which means “to have a special interest in someone or something, frequently with a focus on close association; have affection for, like, consider someone a friend.” friendship.

There are other expressions about love, "Love conquers all" to The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love". St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle, defines love as "to will the good of another."Bertrand Russell describes love as a condition of "absolute value," as opposed to relative value. Philosopher Gottfried Leibniz said that love is "to be delighted by the happiness of another."

We can see, that Love is described as a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection, love for one’s mother, to pleasure, I loved that meal. It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection, "the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals.

When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, John 8:28. Lifting up the son of man implies giving up one’s ego.

A person who walks the path of devotion destroys his egoism through self-surrender to God. He says: “I am Thine”. All is Thine, Thy will be done. He feels he is an instrument in the hands of God. He feels that there is nothing but God and that everything is done by Him. Even an atom cannot move without Him and that all live, move and have their very being in Him alone.

Eastern religious thought has always fascinated, and often confused, the Western mind. It emphasizes values the West has forgotten. It celebrates the self, and yet it's the opposite of selfishness. It shows us a reality that goes beyond our world, yet it is not otherworldly. Far from being impractical, disengaged, and indifferent Eastern religions offer the physical, mental, and spiritual tools to enable a person to live life more fully and deeply. They lead the way not off into some weird, indefinable ether, but a path deep down into the truest self.

Let’s take a look at Divine Love.

Divine love makes no demand. It is spontaneous and constant. It is unlimited in every way. It is like the sun. The sun is for everybody. Everybody enjoys the sunlight, but if we keep our doors and windows shut, what can the sun do?

It is God’s divine Love that expresses through our human love. But if we do not open ourselves to this love that is flowing around us and wants to flow in us, then the divine love cannot express in and through us.

Human love binds, Divine love illumines. Divine love starts with our awareness of a higher reality. It represents the highest truth. Divine love at every moment illumines us, and in this illumination we find total fulfillment.

God loves unconditionally each and every human being.