This is our second day and today the theme for reflection is Love vs Religion.
Connecting to Love: Day 2 ~ My Religion is LOVE
"Religion is a collection of cultural systems, beliefs, and world views that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality.
Connecting to Love: Day 2 ~ My Religion is LOVE
Religions using the term Love to express the devotion of the follower to a god (or gods). This love can be expressed by either, or all of, prayer, service, good deeds, and personal sacrifice. Reciprocally, a god (or gods) can be described to love their followers and/or the rest of the universe.
The apostle John also wrote, "Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7–8, NIV)
Saint Augustine says that one must be able to decipher the difference between love and lust. Lust, according to Saint Augustine, is an overindulgence, but to love and be loved is what he has sought for his entire life. He even says, “I was in love with love.” Finally, he does fall in love and is loved back, by God. Saint Augustine says the only one who can love you truly and fully is God, because love with a human only allows for flaws such as “jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger, and contention.” According to Saint Augustine, to love God is “to attain the peace which is yours.” (Saint Augustine's Confessions)
The commandment to love other people is given in the Torah, which states, "Love your neighbor like yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).
The Qur'an exhorts Muslim believers to treat all people, those who have not persecuted them, with birr or "deep kindness" as stated in Surah [Quran 6:8-9]. Birr is also used by the Qur'an in describing the love and kindness that children must show to their parents.
Ishq, or divine love, is the emphasis of Sufism in the Islamic tradition. Practitioners of Sufism believe that love is a projection of the essence of God to the universe. God desires to recognize beauty, and as if one looks at a mirror to see oneself, God "looks" at himself within the dynamics of nature. Since everything is a reflection of God, the school of Sufism practices to see the beauty inside the apparently ugly. Sufism is often referred to as the religion of love. God in Sufism is referred to in three main terms, which are the Lover, Loved, and Beloved, with the last of these terms being often seen in Sufi poetry. A common viewpoint of Sufism is that through love, humankind can get back to its inherent purity and grace.
In certain Vaishnava sects within Hinduism, attaining unaldulterated, unconditional and incessant love for Godhead is considered the foremost goal of life. Gaudiya Vaishnavas who worship Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cause of all causes consider Love for Godhead (Prema) to act in two ways: sambhoga and vipralambha (union and separation) - two opposites.
In the condition of separation, there is an acute yearning for being with the beloved and in the condition of union there is supreme happiness and nectarean. Gaudiya Vaishnavas consider that Krishna-prema (Love for Godhead) is not fire but that it still burns away one's material desires. They consider that Kṛṣṇa-prema is not a weapon, but it still pierces the heart. It is not water, but it washes away everything—one's pride, religious rules, and one's shyness. Krishna-prema is considered to make one drown in the ocean of transcendental ecstasy and pleasure. The love of Radha, a cowherd girl, for Krishna is often cited as the supreme example of love for Godhead by Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Radha is considered to be the internal potency of Krishna, and is the supreme lover of Godhead. Her example of love is considered to be beyond the understanding of material realm as it surpasses any form of selfish love or lust that is visible in the material world. The reciprocal love between Radha (the supreme lover) and Krishna (God as the Supremely Loved) is the subject of many poetic compositions in India such as the Gita Govinda and Hari Bhakti Shuddhodhaya. In the Bhakti tradition within Hinduism, it is believed that execution of devotional service to God leads to the development of Love for God (taiche bhakti-phale krsne prema upajaya), and as love for God increases in the heart, the more one becomes free from material contamination (krishna-prema asvada haile, bhava nasa paya). Being perfectly in love with God or Krishna makes one perfectly free from material contamination. and this is the ultimate way of salvation or liberation. In this tradition, salvation or liberation is considered inferior to love, and just an incidental by-product. Being absorbed in Love for God is considered to be the perfection of life."
(Source: Wikipedia)
In conclusion, Love is present in all religions and have a essential role, but more important is what we have in ours hearts.
As Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (was an Afghan Pashtun political and spiritual leader known for his non-violent opposition to British Rule in India) said “My religion is truth, love and service to God and humanity. Every religion that has come into the world has brought the message of love and brotherhood. Those who are indifferent to the welfare of their fellowmen, whose hearts are empty of love, they do not know the meaning of religion.”
DAILY QUOTE:
"I belong to no religion. My religion is love. Every heart is my temple." ~ Rumi
Christianity
Most Christians also believe that God is the source and essence of eternal love, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8 NIV)The Apostle Paul glorified love as the most important virtue of all. Describing love in the famous poem in 1 Corinthians, he wrote, "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, and always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:4–7, NIV)The apostle John also wrote, "Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:7–8, NIV)
Saint Augustine says that one must be able to decipher the difference between love and lust. Lust, according to Saint Augustine, is an overindulgence, but to love and be loved is what he has sought for his entire life. He even says, “I was in love with love.” Finally, he does fall in love and is loved back, by God. Saint Augustine says the only one who can love you truly and fully is God, because love with a human only allows for flaws such as “jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger, and contention.” According to Saint Augustine, to love God is “to attain the peace which is yours.” (Saint Augustine's Confessions)
Judaism
In Hebrew, Ahava is the most commonly used term for both interpersonal love and love between God and God's creations. Chesed, often translated as loving-kindness, is used to describe many forms of love between human beings.The commandment to love other people is given in the Torah, which states, "Love your neighbor like yourself" (Leviticus 19:18).
Islam
Love encompasses the Islamic view of life as universal brotherhood that applies to all who hold faith. Amongst the 99 names of God (Allah), there is the name Al-Wadud, or "the Loving One," which is found in Surah [Quran 11:90] as well as Surah [Quran 85:14]. God is also referenced at the beginning of every chapter in the Qur'an as Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim, or the "Most Compassionate" and the "Most Merciful", indicating that nobody is more loving, compassionate and benevolent than God. The Qur'an refers to God as being "full of loving kindness."The Qur'an exhorts Muslim believers to treat all people, those who have not persecuted them, with birr or "deep kindness" as stated in Surah [Quran 6:8-9]. Birr is also used by the Qur'an in describing the love and kindness that children must show to their parents.
Ishq, or divine love, is the emphasis of Sufism in the Islamic tradition. Practitioners of Sufism believe that love is a projection of the essence of God to the universe. God desires to recognize beauty, and as if one looks at a mirror to see oneself, God "looks" at himself within the dynamics of nature. Since everything is a reflection of God, the school of Sufism practices to see the beauty inside the apparently ugly. Sufism is often referred to as the religion of love. God in Sufism is referred to in three main terms, which are the Lover, Loved, and Beloved, with the last of these terms being often seen in Sufi poetry. A common viewpoint of Sufism is that through love, humankind can get back to its inherent purity and grace.
Buddhism
In Buddhism,
Kāma is
sensuous, sexual love. It is an obstacle on the path to enlightenment, since it is selfish. Karuṇā
is compassion and mercy, which reduces the suffering of others. It is
complementary to wisdom and is necessary for enlightenment. Adveṣa and mettā are
benevolent love. This love is unconditional and requires considerable
self-acceptance. This is quite different from ordinary love, which is usually
about attachment and sex and which rarely occurs without self-interest.
Instead, in Buddhism it refers to detachment and unselfish interest in others'
welfare.
The Bodhisattva
ideal in Mahayana Buddhism involves the complete renunciation of oneself in
order to take on the burden of a suffering world. The strongest motivation one
has in order to take the path of the Bodhisattva is the idea of salvation
within unselfish, altruistic love for all sentient beings.Hinduism
In Hinduism,
kāma is
pleasurable, sexual love, personified by the god Kamadeva. For
many Hindu schools, it is the third end (Kama)
in life. Kamadeva is often pictured holding a bow of sugar cane
and an arrow of flowers; he may ride upon a great parrot. He is usually
accompanied by his consort Rati and his companion Vasanta, lord of the spring season. Stone
images of Kamadeva and Rati can be seen on the door of the Chennakeshava temple
at Belur, in Karnataka,
India. Maara
is another name for kāma.
In contrast to kāma, prema – or prem – refers
to elevated love. Karuna is compassion and mercy, which impels one to help
reduce the suffering of others. Bhakti is a Sanskrit term,
meaning "loving devotion to the supreme God." In certain Vaishnava sects within Hinduism, attaining unaldulterated, unconditional and incessant love for Godhead is considered the foremost goal of life. Gaudiya Vaishnavas who worship Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the cause of all causes consider Love for Godhead (Prema) to act in two ways: sambhoga and vipralambha (union and separation) - two opposites.
In the condition of separation, there is an acute yearning for being with the beloved and in the condition of union there is supreme happiness and nectarean. Gaudiya Vaishnavas consider that Krishna-prema (Love for Godhead) is not fire but that it still burns away one's material desires. They consider that Kṛṣṇa-prema is not a weapon, but it still pierces the heart. It is not water, but it washes away everything—one's pride, religious rules, and one's shyness. Krishna-prema is considered to make one drown in the ocean of transcendental ecstasy and pleasure. The love of Radha, a cowherd girl, for Krishna is often cited as the supreme example of love for Godhead by Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Radha is considered to be the internal potency of Krishna, and is the supreme lover of Godhead. Her example of love is considered to be beyond the understanding of material realm as it surpasses any form of selfish love or lust that is visible in the material world. The reciprocal love between Radha (the supreme lover) and Krishna (God as the Supremely Loved) is the subject of many poetic compositions in India such as the Gita Govinda and Hari Bhakti Shuddhodhaya. In the Bhakti tradition within Hinduism, it is believed that execution of devotional service to God leads to the development of Love for God (taiche bhakti-phale krsne prema upajaya), and as love for God increases in the heart, the more one becomes free from material contamination (krishna-prema asvada haile, bhava nasa paya). Being perfectly in love with God or Krishna makes one perfectly free from material contamination. and this is the ultimate way of salvation or liberation. In this tradition, salvation or liberation is considered inferior to love, and just an incidental by-product. Being absorbed in Love for God is considered to be the perfection of life."
(Source: Wikipedia)
In conclusion, Love is present in all religions and have a essential role, but more important is what we have in ours hearts.
As Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (was an Afghan Pashtun political and spiritual leader known for his non-violent opposition to British Rule in India) said “My religion is truth, love and service to God and humanity. Every religion that has come into the world has brought the message of love and brotherhood. Those who are indifferent to the welfare of their fellowmen, whose hearts are empty of love, they do not know the meaning of religion.”
DAILY QUOTE:
"I belong to no religion. My religion is love. Every heart is my temple." ~ Rumi
Action:
Focus on Religions and its meaning. Why Love have a principal role in all of them?
What means to you God (universe or other force you believe)?
Meditate in the sense of the daily quote and see all human beings like a temple of God, including you. Certainly after some minutes you feel in peace and much more connecting to God (universe or other force you believe).
*Note: The intention of the quote isn't leave your religion, but live the essence of your religion - The Love to God and to the others human beings.
What means to you God (universe or other force you believe)?
Meditate in the sense of the daily quote and see all human beings like a temple of God, including you. Certainly after some minutes you feel in peace and much more connecting to God (universe or other force you believe).
*Note: The intention of the quote isn't leave your religion, but live the essence of your religion - The Love to God and to the others human beings.
Write in a daily journal what you think about Religions and your experience before and after the meditation of the action of today.
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Please take a moment share your experiences and comments below.
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