Oh yes, I have known love and again love,
And many other kinds of love
But of that tenderness I felt then,
Is there nothing I can say?
- Andre Gide, Fruits Of Earth
Love- this ‘four-lettered’ word ignites everything in this world. Hearts, bodies, and souls. As you read this, it has ignited my brain too (not my heart, dear reader). I am aware of one quality about love. It is a very positive emotion, which can save this planet. (from hatred, enmity, falsehood). Love is something that has many faces and phases: It is also an emotion/energy that is always focussed on someone or something. In order to love we need an ‘Other’. It can be our mother, father, next-door girl, our own body, street car, ice cream, first birthday gift, your Barbie doll, your GI toy, bicycle, laptop, sports icon… (I will leave the task of completing the inventory to you).Everybody is born with this innate quality. If you see an old man begging and if you feel sad - then you are exercising some part of this human capability. For me the so-called boy-girl relationship is nothing but the culmination of the all the ‘so-called’ love exchanges that is scattered in one’s life. Let me end with a quote from - The Monk who sold his Ferrari. ‘Unless you love yourself, you cannot love your friend’.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when?
Hillel (Ancient Hebrew Sage)
And many other kinds of love
But of that tenderness I felt then,
Is there nothing I can say?
- Andre Gide, Fruits Of Earth
Love- this ‘four-lettered’ word ignites everything in this world. Hearts, bodies, and souls. As you read this, it has ignited my brain too (not my heart, dear reader). I am aware of one quality about love. It is a very positive emotion, which can save this planet. (from hatred, enmity, falsehood). Love is something that has many faces and phases: It is also an emotion/energy that is always focussed on someone or something. In order to love we need an ‘Other’. It can be our mother, father, next-door girl, our own body, street car, ice cream, first birthday gift, your Barbie doll, your GI toy, bicycle, laptop, sports icon… (I will leave the task of completing the inventory to you).Everybody is born with this innate quality. If you see an old man begging and if you feel sad - then you are exercising some part of this human capability. For me the so-called boy-girl relationship is nothing but the culmination of the all the ‘so-called’ love exchanges that is scattered in one’s life. Let me end with a quote from - The Monk who sold his Ferrari. ‘Unless you love yourself, you cannot love your friend’.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if I am not for others, what am I?
And if not now, when?
Hillel (Ancient Hebrew Sage)
