nn 1,2

1.4.8 spirituality in practice

The topic of tonights discourse is the science of love. So, yes, yes I will discuss, but first let me say devotion and love are not precisely the same topic. Tonight I will speak of love.

Human beings may love one another, may become enamored with their fellow beings and enjoy a deep bond which is commonly called love. What is this word love? To love another human being, to enjoy the companionship of another, to adore that one, this is said to be love. When two people love each other in a mutual bond, they become fast friends, husband and wife or some other mutually identified relationship insues. It is out of love that these relationships are formed. But what is this thing called love? Yes, what is this love, this experience of mutual adoration? Many things are involved but first and foremost there must be a similarity, an attraction between those that adore each other, a like-mindedness. You see that which we feel close to, which we adore, is that which is nearest and dearest to our hearts. So you may ask yourself, 'what is it that I love?' and in the answer to this question you will find out a great deal about yourself. For what you love, what you adore is a reflection of your innermost longing. If you love another, what is that you love in them, what is that you are attracted towards? Do you see in that person a reflection of your most beloved entity or do you simply see your own desire. Love is a most important part of human expression. You know, if you love the Supreme, if you adore Him, you will be drawn to Him. But if you love money and power you will likewise get attracted in that direction, but you will not get your Lord.

If you love people and serve them as expressions of Divinity, you will likewise get a due reward, you will become kind-hearted and you will learn to think of others beside yourself. The seeds of selfishness will get smashed and you will find a real happiness. So to love others with all of your heart and to serve them is very good. If ideation upon Brahma is also done then this love will become still greater. So you see to love human beings is not a waste of time, is not useless. To love others is a part and parcel of spiritual awakening. To be a hermit and think only of one's own welfare, of one's own attainment is to become a hungry ghost, ever craving for oneself and never able to fulfill one's desires. So I think to love others and serve others is very good. If their true nature is understood and this love gets transformed to spiritual love, if you are able to see your Lord in those you love, then it is altogether a spiritual experience to love another.

When Love for the Supreme develops, then all can be loved as one's own expressions, as the forms of your Lord and you can sing, "Oh Lord show me the path to pure love. Oh Lord show me your arms, take me to you in love. Oh Lord let me become Thy Beloved." When these feelings occur you may be sure you are headed in a right direction. So what is the key to spiritual success? It is to love, to love others, to love your Lord, to love His Expressions and to love His pure stainless Beatitude. It is to love all things, all beings as Him. When such love is achieved, forms become irrelevant. So what are you to do? You are to love Him and to love His creation. Do not become a hermit seeking detachment from this world. It is a dry and lonely path. Seek instead to open your heart in love for Him and for His living beings. Never turn your back on others in the name of detachment. True detachment is not or does not come from killing desire, it is not to become numb and non-feeling and uninvolved with this world. True detachment comes when the heart is truly open and the eyes unclouded by illusion. When love fills the heart and all expresses His Divinity then true detachment can be found. So you don't think to love another is not spiritual. Love is the beginning and the end of the spiritual journey.