The Four Aspects Of Love In Buddhism
The four aspects of love in Buddhism were described by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh in a short book entitled True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart. In this book, the author talks not only about romantic love, but also all kinds of loving relationships, including the kind you should have with yourself.
The qualities of love are truths that are so simple that they often go unnoticed. They talk about essential elements that you should identify, cultivate and protect in all your relationships, whether they are with relatives, partners or friends. Ideally, these elements also extend to the relationship you have with yourself and with the world.
Buddhism often defines love as a universal feeling that you should bestow on all that exists. If you fill yourself with true love, you will achieve balance and spiritual peace.
The four aspects of love in Buddhism
Happiness
Happiness is the manifestation of inner joy. It means that you are happy with reality and that it brings it joy and enthusiasm. This does not mean that you feel happy 100% of the time, or that your happiness will never vary in intensity. It’s more like an outline, a way of meeting your inner life and the things that are happening to you.
People who are happy make other people happy. Just as anxiety and sadness are contagious, joy and happiness will radiate to others.
Compassion: The second aspect of love
Compassion does not mean that one feels sorry for someone or that one sees them as inferior or limited. As the word indicates, it is about sharing passion (passion means suffering in this context) with others. It means understanding your pain and feeling it as if it were your own. It is basically an act of empathy.
Compassion is fundamental because it helps you understand other people’s feelings. It also enables you to accept and acknowledge the weaknesses and limitations of others. Without compassion, you would criticize and question other weaknesses and mistakes. With compassion, you are able to understand them and feel them as your own.
Mutual joy means that happiness is multiplied
When two people enjoy each other’s company, it means love. Both will spend time together and truly be present during this ten. When you spend time with someone you love, give them all your attention while you talk or share experiences.
This also involves the ability to listen and be open to what the other person is thinking, saying and doing. According to Zen Buddhism, mutual joy is not only a quality of love but also a clear sign of its presence. Without mutual joy, there is no love.
Freedom: The basis of everything
Buddhism says that you can not be free without inner peace and balance. People with inner peace are calm and stay together in all situations. This means that if you want to love yourself and others, you must first calm down the inner turmoil that prevents positive emotions from flourishing.
Anger and fear capture you and take away your freedom. Only by working through these feelings and processing them will you be completely free to love. If you do not, you can direct your fears and aggression towards other people. If, on the other hand, you achieve inner harmony, you will be free and also let others be free.
Zen Buddhism believes that it is very important to limit yourself to your own inner balance. You should also help others grow and achieve inner peace. Buddhists believe that love is an emotion that is active, not receptive. Each person is a support and reference for the people they love, so cultivating these aspects will have a positive impact on those around you and encourage them to do the same.
