The essence of God is love and the Sufi Path is the path of love. Love is to see what is good and beautiful in everything. It is to learn from everything, to see the gifts of God and the generosity of God in everything. It is to be thankful for all of God’s bounties. This is the first step on the road to the love of God. This is just a seed of love. In time, the seed will grow and become a tree and bear fruit. Then, whoever tastes of that fruit will know what real love is. It will be different for those who have tasted to tell of it to those who have not. When you find love, you will find yourself. When you have the knowledge of love, you will then feel peace in your heart. Stop searching here and there, the Jewels are inside you.This, my friends, is the holy meaning of love. ~ The teachings of Rumi.
February 5, 2012 at 22:35
Mystics of many faiths emphasize love as the divines essence. A few quotes on Love from “the greatest achievement in life,” my free ebook on comparative mysticism:
“The soul lives by that which it loves rather than in the body which it animates. For it has not its life in the body, but rather gives it to the body and lives in that which it loves.” St. John of the Cross C
“Love your neighbor like something which you yourself are. For all souls are one. Each is a spark from the original soul and this soul is wholly inherent in all souls, just as your soul is in all members of your body.” Shmelke of Nikolsburg J
“All that is not One must ever suffer with the wound of Absence, and whoever in Love’s city enters, finds but room for One and, but in Oneness, Union.” Jami I
“The lamp is different, but the light is the same. Love alone can end their quarrel. Love alone comes to the rescue when you cry for help against their arguments.” Rumi [Mawlana] I
“Meditate on the divinity within yourself. Drink the nectar of love that continually pours from the heart of God.” Lalla H
“Spiritual love is different. …it leads to unity with the beloved. This unity in love remains forever and ever, always alive, both within and without, and each moment you live in love. It will swallow you completely until there is no ‘you.’ There is only love.” Amritanandamayi Ma [Amma(chi)] H
“Even offering three hundred bowls of food three times a day does not match the spiritual merit gained in one moment of love.” Nagarjuna B
February 6, 2012 at 08:03
Thanks Ron – I will try to download the e-book, any link?
February 6, 2012 at 17:38
Savera, my ebook is at http://www.suprarational.org/gail2012.pdf
After you read it, please let me know your opinion.