Love: What is it??

[rapunzel77]

What is Love, exactly? We talk about it. Dream about it but what is Love and why is it the most powerful force? I believe we were made for love. That is why were are here. Love induces us to do the extraordinary. It also is very painful. It hurts. It takes us out of ourselves.

There are different types of love. The most powerful is self-sacrificial. It is what compels a man or a woman to do everything to save their child who might be in a burning building, drowning, or dying of some terrible disease. It can compel someone to do awful things. That is when love can become perverted (we see that so much now).

Love forms lasting and very strong bonds. The strongest that there is in the universe. The love between parents and children, between lovers, between friends.

In order to love, one must love themselves. Not in a narcissistic kind of way, but in a respectful way. The sort of way that wants the best for oneself. No self-loathing. Then and only then will there be any love to give. It is self-donating. It is patient and kind and not given to anger.

We all yearn for love. Some don't find it because they don't give enough of themselves. The reason why is because love is very painful too. It hurts to be rejected, to open one's heart and then to see it abused and mistreated. The pain can last a lifetime.

Love seeks to understand even when you can't. It seeks to See the other person for who and what he/she is.

Love is truth. Love is beauty. This is why we seek it. We all seek love. It is extremely important and very crucial, in these dark days, that we love more. We must. This is the only way that the tide of evil that sweeps through every country with the hatred and disregard for each other and our environment can be stemmed. Only through Love.

[Stanley_9875]

Very well said! I too think that love is the most powerful force, without it what are we? Its also a tough subject, ones view on love might be something different to another, but in those two viewes there are simularities. I meditate on love and its definition every day. What exactly is it? What drives me to it? Why do I want it? Why can't I find true love? What is true love? We should practice love everday, and I'm sure we all do at one point or another throughout the day.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.


Great post Rapulzel77

[rapunzel77]

Thank you Stanley . I thought about starting some threads on love and beauty. We talk about them but I wanted to know what everyone thought about them philosophically and how they relate to our everyday lives. Its just stuff that has been on the mind .

Great quote. I know it is used at a lot of weddings (I believe its from 1st Corinthians?).

[Stanley_9875]

You're welcome Yup, First Corinthians 13:4-8. I'll have to write whats on my mind about love and beauty as the day progresses because I'm at work and I don't feel I gave my full insite on it, I usually need to be alone to mediate on this sort of stuff... I find it very important in life. And you're right, I hear people all the time talk about love and such, but what does love mean to them? How do they define it?

[Dreamwalker]

Originally Posted by Stanley_9875

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.


Great post Rapulzel77

Great verse!
Had to memorize that for school once and it's stuck with me ever since

I don't like how people just say "I love you!" without even really thinking about what it means. I'm not pointing fingers, though, since I know I'm guilty of it. But I think that it's overused. :/

[rapunzel77]

Originally Posted by Dreamwalker

Great verse!
Had to memorize that for school once and it's stuck with me ever since

I don't like how people just say "I love you!" without even really thinking about what it means. I'm not pointing fingers, though, since I know I'm guilty of it. But I think that it's overused. :/

It is very sad but true Dreamwalker. Many don't understand truly what love is. It isn't fuzzy feelings. It is the act of the will. It can even be called duty. We have a duty to ourselves and to each other to love, to show compassion, kindness, and respect. This is the kind of love that accepts the person as they are, not what you want them to be. It is not pity. That will never become real love. The feeling of being "in love" to often becomes the basis of many marriages (or convenience), etc. It doesn't last. Love ultimately gives, sometimes with no expectation of anything in return.

There is another problem when we hear the term "love." At least in the English language, it is the only term we have for what is a wide variety of meanings. We love pizza. We love our dog/cat. We love Avatar. We love our mom/dad. We love our hometown. We love our car. We love our deity. Etc, etc. Obviously there are many different meanings. We don't love pizza the same way we love our parents or our girlfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband. We don't love our hometown the same way we might (for those of you that do) love your deity. So, there is a problem of language as well. At least for us English speakers .

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[rapunzel77]

Originally Posted by Shatnerpossum

Sorry, couldn't resist.

LOL , Funny, funny Shatnerpossum.

[Fkeu'itan]

A great post rapunzel and I agree with what you said completely. A true love is something you're willing to fight for, even to die for.