Love: A Wordless, Timeless, and Boundless Force

ZENTAO sixth principle. Love is the nature of the spiritual energy that guides our lives and accounts for the inner balance that maintains physical health and emotional well-being.

Photo by Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash

Dying through love is living; I give thanks to my beloved that she has held this out for me. For whoever does not die of his love is unable to live by it. ~Ibn Al Faradh, Sufi Poet

Love is the sixth core principle of ZENTAO, and a term we often use, yet it remains an enigma, defying the confines of language. It’s a profound feeling that echoes deep within our souls, refusing to be captured by words. This elusive sentiment is, in fact, a knowing – an intuitive sense that emanates from the heart’s core, where our essence and divinity meet.

In the stillness, I catch glimpses of joy when I discern truth from illusion. It’s as if the veil of deception lifts, and I’m granted a fleeting insight into the authentic nature of reality. This epiphany awakens me to the realization that I inhabit two worlds: an inner realm of depth and wisdom and an external manifestation of my inner world.

In this dichotomy, I oscillate between the tangible and the intangible, the seen and the unseen. The inner world, with its whispers of love and truth, beckons me to explore its mysteries, while the outer world, with its complexities and illusions, tempts me to engage with its ever-changing landscape.

And yet, I’m coming to understand that these two worlds are not mutually exclusive. They’re intertwined, with the inner realm informing and shaping the outer. Love, in its purest form, is the bridge that spans this divide, connecting the depths of my soul to the world around me.

Yet, love remains a wordless, timeless, and boundless force that transcends the limitations of language and rational understanding. It’s a mystical experience that can only be felt, not described – a gentle whisper that echoes through the corridors of my heart, reminding me of the beauty, wonder, and magic that lie just beyond the reaches of my mundane existence.

The written words of the poet Rilke come to mind: “For one human being to love another, this is the most difficult of all our tasks, the work for which all other work is but preparation. It is a great, exacting claim upon us, choosing us out and calling us to vast things.” In these few words, Rilke addresses the totality of what an intimate relationship presents us with: the most difficult work of all and, at the same time, a calling to vast things. A deep, loving connection with another being always leads in both directions, bringing up challenges and inspiring us to expand in new, unforeseen directions. We cannot separate the difficulties from the vast things- they go hand in hand.

“I Love You,” what are we really saying?

What are we genuinely conveying when we utter those three profound words, “I love you,” to someone? Are we simply expressing a fleeting emotion or revealing a deeper, more complex sentiment?

In essence, when we say “I love you,” we are saying:

I see you, truly see you, beyond the façade and the masks we wear. I behold your essence, your soul, and your heart. I acknowledge your strengths, weaknesses, triumphs, and struggles. I accept you unconditionally for who you are and who you are becoming.

I value you, cherish you, and honor you. I recognize the inherent worth and dignity that resides within you. I celebrate your uniqueness, individuality, and contributions to the world. I am grateful for your gift in my life.

I am committed to you, to supporting you, to encouraging you, and to being present for you. I promise to stand by your side through life’s joys and challenges, to hold your hand when the road ahead is uncertain, and to offer a listening ear when you need someone to hear your heart.

I trust you, we, and the journey we embark on together. I have faith in our bond, in our connection, and in the love that we share. I trust that our love will be a sanctuary, a refuge, and a source of strength for both of us.

“I love you” is a declaration that transcends words; it is a promise, a commitment, and a sacred vow. When we say “I love you,” we are speaking directly to the heart of another and revealing the depths of our own heart and soul.

Unwavering Love

The poem below has been my faithful companion for more than three decades, reminding me of the transformative power of Divine love. The sacred verses illuminate the depths of unwavering love, embracing me with unconditional acceptance.

It is a love that transcends boundaries, seeing beyond our limitations and recognizing our true nature. Each time I reflect on the poem’s wisdom, I dive deeper into my connection with the Divine.

I invite you to read it and experience the profound impact this timeless poem can have on your heart.

A poem. God is Love: a timeless contemplation

God is Love,
And Love must love.
And to love there must be a Beloved.
But since God is Existence, Infinite and Eternal,
there is no one for Him to love but Himself.
And in order to love Himself,
he must imagine Himself as the Beloved
whom He as the Lover imagines He loves.

Beloved and Lover implies separation.
And separation creates longing,
and longing causes search.
And the wider and the more intense the search-
the greater the separation and
the more terrible the longing.

When longing is most intense
separation is complete and
the purpose of separation is fulfilled,
which was that Love might experience Itself as
Lover and Beloved, and Union follows.

And when Union is attained,
the Lover knows that He Himself was all along
the Beloved Whom He loved and desired Union with;
and that all the impossible situations that He overcame
were obstacles which He Himself had placed in the path to Himself.

~M. Baba

Thank you for reading.

May the flow be with you now and always! 🙏🏽

With love,

Yoli

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