If there were no love in a person, his life would be worthless, and he would become a destructive being. If there were no love between people, the world would soon come to an end. Therefore, before starting the spiritual path, let love be first cultivated; let there be love, and the journey will be smooth.
Time must be spent in contemplation on the benefits of cultivating and generating love. This is the foremost virtue which gives rise to all the other noble qualities that a cultivator must develop. The most awesome and destructive non-virtue of hatred can only be conquered by love. With love in the heart, all other virtues can be developed. With love one will resist harming others, and one is able to destroy ill-will, miserliness, and greed; with love one easily forgives and lends a helping hand to others; and with love one easily develops understanding, kindliness, friendship, and patience. With love one develops energy and devotion.
Devotion provides the energy for one to expand his love to others. “Others” include both visible and invisible beings, human, animal, and even the tiniest of creatures. Devotion is like the oil that helps the wick of a lamp to burn continuously. Love is often misunderstood to be cravings; it is also often given with selfishness, with conditions, and with possessive intentions. This makes love a painful affair both for the one who gives and the receiver. Worldly love is not pure in nature.
When one has purity of heart, his giving is total, without conditions, without discrimination. Many people think that they are capable of loving and that they have understood what selfless love is. Upon deeper reflection, they will soon realise that Universal Love is not easy to practise, and it will take lifetimes for great practitioners to attain it. It is easy to love oneself, one’s own family members, one’s friends and acquaintances. It is not difficult to feel strong love for neutral persons and even for animals. But when one is faced with repulsive creatures such as rats, worms, and mosquitoes, when one is bitten by an animal or louse, would there be love in the heart, or would thoughts of fear, anger, and destruction arise instantly?
Not until one has learned to love and respect the lives of even the most repulsive creatures will one be able to practise the love that is required of him. Not until one has the desire to protect, rather than harm, has he embarked on the lessons of love. Examples of pure love are often displayed by great ones in every age. It is not meant for others to marvel and praise but to emulate. Since love has the power of bestowing happiness upon others and oneself, why not practise it? It is the duty of every human being to learn to show love and understanding to others. It is the duty of every Buddhist to practise this virtue, not just talk about it. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are not concerned with clever Buddhists who can expound what love is; they are wishing that all will put into practice that which brings happiness to the world.
The Buddha’s message is love, and all other religions too require their followers to practise it. In order for oneself to be happy in this lifetime and in future lives, always think of the benefits of cherishing others. There is no excuse for not knowing how to be kind and loving to others. How this is practised is found in Dharma teaching. A person is lonely and miserable because he has no love for others or himself!
Thursday, 8th September 1988 (7th Moon 28th Day)