You must learn to befriend yourself before even thinking of loving other people. A deeper definition of mudita is a joy that is filled with peace and contentment. How can we feel joy for another person when we do not feel joy for ourselves? One day a Brahman man asked the Buddha, “What can I do to be sure that I will be with Brahma after I die?” and the Buddha replied, “As Brahma is the source of Love, to dwell with him you must practice the Brahmaviharas—love, compassion, joy, and equanimity.”. Shakyamuni Buddha declared that the Buddha of the next eon will be named “Maitreya, the Buddha of Love.”. They are the four aspects of true love within ourselves and within everyone and everything. – Thich Nhat Hanh Teachings on True Love by Thich Nhat Hahn That is the way to continue the Buddha’s spirit. If our love does not bring joy to both of us, it is not true love. Commentators explain that happiness relates to both body and mind, whereas joy relates primarily to mind. Henry Drummond explains that at the beginning of this chapter we have love contrasted; in the heart of it, we have love analysed and towards the end we have love defended as the supreme gift.. Love contrasted The description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most beautiful and best-known passages in the entire New Testament. Thich Nhat Hanh explains the four qualities of love that can bring deep meaning to our lives. True love allows you to preserve your freedom — and the freedom of your beloved. That you love one another as I have loved you.” 4 Characteristics of God’s Love. Recommended Articles: What Is True Love? The first aspect of true love is maitri (metta, in Pali), the intention and capacity to offer joy and happiness. “A new commandment I give unto you. We are loved by trees. One day a Brahman man asked the Buddha, “What can I do to be sure that I will be with Brahma after I die?” and the Buddha replied, “As Brahma is the source of Love, to dwell with him you must practice the Brahmaviharas—love, compassion, joy, and equanimity.”. 1. The truth constantly changes in the scientific world with the advance of scientific tools. In the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, he explains the different ways people give and receive love: (1) Words (2) Acts of Service, (3) Giving Gifts, (4) Spending Time Together … They are the four aspects of true love within ourselves and within everyone and everything. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. The Lotus Sutra describes Avalokiteshvara as the bodhisattva who practices “looking with the eyes of compassion and listening deeply to the cries of the world.” Compassion contains deep concern. They rob their loved one of his liberty, until he can no longer be himself. They are called “immeasurable,” because if you practice them, they will grow in you every day until they embrace the whole world. 12 Laws of Karma (That Will Change Your Life), The Four Stages Of Desire : When Everything Boils Down To What You Seek. Upeksha is the dimension I find hardest until I remember to love myself first. We’re going to focus mainly on verses 4-7, where Paul describes how love acts. If you enjoy sitting meditation, practice sitting meditation. Contentment of clients courage me improve endlessly my services and skills. For compassion to be true compassion, it has to have love, joy, and equanimity in it. The root of love for ourselves and others is friendship. If you are cut off from your roots, you cannot be happy. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. The Buddha respected people’s desire to practice their own faith, so he answered the Brahman’s question in a way that encouraged him to do so. 1. 4. A practice of acceptance, being present, forgiveness, and stretching your heart into vulnerable territories. This example is often given: Someone traveling in the desert sees a stream of cool water and experiences joy. The Four Qualities of Love. That is not loving; it is destroying. The Four Qualities of Love, by Thich Nhat Hanh 5 years ago No Comments “The teachings on love given by the Buddha are clear, scientific, and applicable… Love, compassion, joy, and equanimity are the very nature of an enlightened person. A distinction needs to be made between Ascension and Assumption. Spread your wings, connect the dots, and do all things you love to do, but do em with the power of love for both sides of the equation. You have to see her real situation or what you offer might bring her unhappiness. We are loved by trees. Love, Peace, Respect, Honor, Dignity, Happiness, and forever endless Possibilities. I have felt true happiness. ... Once being a person who has special love for traveling, I had a chance to set my foot on almost every corner of Cambodia. 7 It always protects, … They are the four aspects of true love within ourselves and within everyone and everything. But I prefer the word “love.” Words sometimes get sick and we have to heal them. One thought can do the same, because thoughts always lead to words and actions. True love is a source of inexplicable joy and it brings us closer to ourselves in the first place, simply because it removes ego and helps us understand what’s really important in life. 9. “Love” is a beautiful word; we have to restore its meaning. For love to be true love, it must contain compassion, joy, and equanimity. When I was a novice, I could not understand why, if the world is filled with suffering, the Buddha has such a beautiful smile. They are the four aspects of true love within ourselves and within everyone and everything. At that time the world to me was glorious life was beautiful. But we must look deeply and practice them for ourselves to bring these four aspects of love into our own lives and into the lives of those we love. We can develop this wonderful source of energy, nurturing the unconditional love that does not expect anything in return. Happiness is only possible with true love. Embrace a life of love 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13. You must look deeply in order to see and understand the needs, aspirations, and suffering of the one you love. email. 13 Characteristics Of Real Love; 7 Ways To Stop Acting Jealous In Your Relationships ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON CREATIVE BY NATURE. Thich Nhat Hanh explains the Four Qualities of Love that can bring deep meaning to our lives. The second aspect of true love is karuna, the intention and capacity to relieve and transform suffering and lighten sorrows. 4) The Assumption This marian dogma was proclaimed by Pope Pius XII on November 1, 1950 on his Encyclical Munificentissimus Deus. It won’t make you feel afraid or fettered, because it’s all about freedom and forgiveness. One action can save a person’s life or help him take advantage of a rare opportunity. This relationship with my true love transformed me and it was not smooth sailing and yet it was bliss. We can’t accept or tolerate others and their shortcomings, and we demand that they change. Upa means ‘over,’ and iksha means ‘to look.’ You climb the mountain to be able to look over the whole situation, not bound by one side or the other. Maitri, Loving-Kindness Maitri comes from the Sanskrit word for friend. The Four Loves is a 1960 book by C. S. Lewis which explores the nature of love from a Christian and philosophical perspective through thought experiments. 4 Important Characteristics About Love. 4 Characteristics of Cambodian People Make You Love Them . In verses 4-7 he shows the practice of love, how love is greater than all spiritual gifts because of its selfless characteristics. Maitri can be translated as ‘love’ or ‘loving kindness.’ Some Buddhist teachers prefer ‘loving kindness,’ as they find the word ‘love’ too dangerous. You will become happier, and everyone around you will become happier, also. This is all correct! There are people who understand the nature of true love and how to generate and nurture it. Awareness of this may help me shift my focus from karma to healing. Here are 16 characteristics of love from this chapter. That’s why your partner will be drawn to you in the first place — … Joy is mudita. I have similar sentiments or experiences. Upeksha does not mean that you don’t love. Compassion is karuna in both languages. Upeksha has the mark called samatajñana, “the wisdom of equality,” the ability to see everyone as equal, not discriminating between ourselves and others. Later I discovered that the Buddha has enough understanding, calm, and strength; that is why the suffering does not overwhelm him. It is as natural as the air. I am a professional blogger and writer keen on sharing my knowledge and views on relationships and personal improvement. Love in Sanskrit is maitri; in Pali it is metta. I was changed for the better for being loved by him and for loving him. 3 Characteristics Of Platonic Love. If you enjoy walking meditation, practice walking meditation. True love cannot exist without one of these qualities, but these qualities cannot either exist without each other. The Buddha respected people’s desire to practice their own faith, so he answered the Brahman’s question in a way that encouraged him to do so. Without upeksha, your love may become possessive. It discriminates between self and others. In verses 8-13 he shows the permanence of love, that love is greater than all spiritual gifts because it outlasts them. If you offer your beloved something she does not need, that is not maitri. UPLIFT is dedicated to telling the new story of inspired co-creation. Anything other than that, mi amor, is not love. Every one of us can benefit from these teachings. As I have a true love for my son. A summer breeze can be very refreshing; but if we try to put it in a tin can so we can have it entirely for ourselves, the breeze will die. https://awakeningvisions.com/thich-nhat-hanh-quotes/. We accept others as they are, and then they have a chance to transform.” 🙂 https://awakeningvisions.com/thich-nhat-hanh-quotes/. True love has the power to heal and transform the situation around us and bring a deep meaning to our lives. And true equanimity has to have love, compassion, and joy in it. Yoga and meditation have kept the same simple tools for thousands of years. You know the other person is suffering, so you sit close to her. We need trees to be healthy. A simple way to sum it up would be: be a good friend, full stop.. A vihara is an abode or a dwelling place. If you enjoy sitting meditation, practice sitting meditation. Being human beings , I guess my question is without true love or having be in it, can this happiness truly be in us, with out it? There are four key characteristics to love that Peter lists: 1. But few of us realize that, far from being timeless and universal, romantic love … For our Bible study this morning, we are again in the book of 1 Corinthians, where we’ve been for many, many months. Twitter. If your love has attachment, discrimination, prejudice, or clinging in it, it is not true love. The following is a description of the Buddha’s teachings on the four qualities of love, from the first chapter of Teachings on Love , written by Thich Nhat Hanh Happiness is only possible with true love. My true love died 2 yrs and 5 months ago. Finally true scientific research to allay the fears of those doubting Thomases who need evidence. Thank you so so much for this wisdom! Take your Bible and look at the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 13. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. That is the way to continue the Buddha’s spirit. 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 12 Qualities of Lasting Love. Thich Nhat Hanh explains the Four Qualities of Love that can bring deep meaning to our lives. Love, compassion, joy, and equanimity are the very nature of an enlightened person. In a way that all your children and forever endless Possibilities receive your has. 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