 |
I was wondering how one would learn to experience a profound love for all the world? Like Jesus for example (I don't want to hear "because he's god's only son").
I mean it's obvious you can't just immediately choose to, I believe it has something to do with a heightening of consciousness and inner knowing.. that such love already exists within ones self, within the pure nature of the spirit. But what would be a practical way to go about experiencing this?
Volunteer at a hospital, library, nursing home, food pantry, animal or people shelter. Treat each person you meet, not like sick or disabled or old or worthless, but like a special gift that has been given to you.
Yes, you can just immediately choose too. Well, you could if you had no doubts about being able to decide this on the spot.
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
I disagree. Loving unconditionally takes practice.Quote:
Originally Posted by 0EntitY
All one needs do is intend for it to happen and it will happen. I was sitting in an office one day looking out a window and the realization struck me, that I love every sing Being. That is a very Spiritual realization to have...
And then what did you do?Quote:
Originally Posted by 0EntitY
I just thought, how cool...
And that was every "single"Being, a slight error in spelling.
Having and giving unconditional love doesn't work that way.Quote:
Originally Posted by 0EntitY
Like michael jackson said 'heal the world make is a better place for you and for me'. You have to heal yourself first then your neighbour. U don't have to be a rich man, or even a multinational before u can show love. If u know you have something to someone else needs more than you, give it to him/her. Love is sharing.
Love isn't imagining you have it or thinking about it or even talking about it. Love is doing.Quote:
Originally Posted by zimor
It does not work that way for you, if that is what you have decided. It worked very well that way for me...
And how does it work for anyone else in your life, anyone with whom you are in contact? Would they agree you are full of unconditional love?Quote:
Originally Posted by 0EntitY
But it's not about you. It's about the other person.Quote:
Originally Posted by 0EntitY
Well, if you want a Biblical answer read First Corinthians chapter 13. It's pretty clear, "love is" and it goes on to explain.
In the Hebrew language there are 11 different words for love. And they are all different kinds of love.
In the Greek language there are five.
The kind of love you are referring to is called philia (love) in the Greek. It is active love, with no reservations or judgments, and the most commonly referred to love in the Bible.
I don't think that loving unconditionally takes practice, it takes an active choice. There's a difference, however slight. But I can dig your meaning Wondergirl, Love is pointless without acting upon it. Love is more than a feeling, it is an expression of life and goodness in the world around us. No, I am not mistaking love for virtue, although love IS a virtue.
I'm going to stop there before I get all preachy... ;)
Small acts of selflessness are a great way to start showing this kind of love. It takes many forms, can be expressed in many ways. I've always preferred hugs, and smiling to strangers. (Although sometimes I admit I do this just because it creeps out cynical people. Hehehe)
Philia is friendship. The love of God toward us (and the love we are to give to each other) is agape, unconditional love.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chey5782
I pretty much agree with everyone here. But I want to be able to act based off a strong personal desire filled with love. 0EntitY is right about the doubt. I have a subconscious doubt about a lot of things, I'm trying to overcome them, but I don't know how. I've told myself numerous times that I want to overcome this and understand everything necessary to experience this love and know fully the necessity of it (which I feel I already know : /).Quote:
Originally Posted by 0EntitY
Not to judge... but some Christians act out of charity without a sense of joy in doing so, they do so without fulfillment in that they don't truly understand the beauty of it. I mean you can know that there is beauty to be held in doing so, but to experience it can be difficult.
I've actually experienced this level of love twice in my life. The fulfillment I had in helping others was overwhelming, every moment was so joyful it felt as if I was always holding in a laugh of happiness. But after a few months it would go away, my motivation would die. I began to wonder if it was because of a subconscious greed for the fulfillment in giving that eventually outweighed my selflessness. The big problem is how to re-initiate it! It's like looking at the things from your childhood that you used to greatly enjoy and trying your hardest to feel the same way about it again. What do you have to do X_X?
This quote was what enacted it the second time:
“I guess what I'm saying is that this all feels very familiar. But it's not mine to be familiar about. I just know that another kid has felt this. This one time when it's peaceful outside, and you're seeing things move, and you don't want to, and everyone is asleep. And all the books you've read have been read by other people. And all the songs you've loved have been heard by other people. And that girl that's pretty to you is pretty to other people. And you know that if you looked at these facts when you were happy, you would feel great because you are describing 'unity.'”
It hit me like a brick and divine emotion flooded me, I felt oneness. Now when I read this it's as if I only experience the memory of the experience and nothing more. : /
Maybe it's simply because you're human and can sustain overwhelmingly rich experiences only so long.Quote:
Originally Posted by -Seven-
Continue to reach out to others, to volunteer, to give of yourself.
| All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:49 PM. |