Love seems to me to be the most perplexing of emotions...what does it really seem to signify? We yearn for the wisdom of spiritual leaders who preach this language of love...that it should be unconditional, that we should grow in love and give of ourselves no matter how harsh situations seem, that it is the only vital thing which keeps us rooted, gives meaning to the radnomness of existence...yet, this is an emotion which most of us are cautious and careful with...we reserve the intensity of this feeling for those who we deem worthy of it...or we invest in those from whom we are quite assured of reciprocal returns...when somebody hurts us we find it difficult to tolerate, let alone like, and least ever, to love them...so how do we cope with the harsh realities of the present world? Why is there this feeling of disconnect between the 'real' and the 'spiritual?' Why do we always pay deep respect to virtues such as mercy, charity, sacrifice, forgiveness, but in reality we are willing to renounce all or at least some of the above, at the altars of success and survival, which so often overlap in today's realm of cut-throat competition?
It is necessary to defend oneself and one's interests...that is very true...but how do we reconcile spiritual and moral teachings with this language of self-protection? Should we speak to the people who are being unfair to us in a language which they can comprehend, i.e., by giving them a potent dose of their medicine? But then how true are we being to the spiritual promises which we readily make, to love and forgive no matter what? Being human is hard, and all these lofty and meaningful aspirations which we acquire or start out with in all earnestness, get trampled under the ruthless circumstances of this complex world...and this is but natural, because we are an amalgam of emotions , we are sensitive, we have feelings...But if everyone and no one is right and wrong, simultaneously, can we ever reach the elusive path where all these multiple perspectives can walk hand-in hand and not cause so much pain and grief...
When one is gripped by the feeling of injustice, of being treated unfairly, of being subjected to behavior which one doesn't think one deserves...one might proceed to do many things...to return the treatment he/she receives, in the spirit of tit-for-tat, wallow in self-pity and depression, or perhaps, if one is lucky enough to have a pair of ears to vent to, they might empty their hearts to one who doesn't judge, and then move on with life...but the world values those who are pro-active and assertive...which nowadays implies being tough and defensive...is there value in quiet resilence, in the world today?...the ideas of tolerance, patience and deliberate passivity in the face of provocation, have amalgamated into an indistinguishable heap.
It is necessary to defend oneself and one's interests...that is very true...but how do we reconcile spiritual and moral teachings with this language of self-protection? Should we speak to the people who are being unfair to us in a language which they can comprehend, i.e., by giving them a potent dose of their medicine? But then how true are we being to the spiritual promises which we readily make, to love and forgive no matter what? Being human is hard, and all these lofty and meaningful aspirations which we acquire or start out with in all earnestness, get trampled under the ruthless circumstances of this complex world...and this is but natural, because we are an amalgam of emotions , we are sensitive, we have feelings...But if everyone and no one is right and wrong, simultaneously, can we ever reach the elusive path where all these multiple perspectives can walk hand-in hand and not cause so much pain and grief...
When one is gripped by the feeling of injustice, of being treated unfairly, of being subjected to behavior which one doesn't think one deserves...one might proceed to do many things...to return the treatment he/she receives, in the spirit of tit-for-tat, wallow in self-pity and depression, or perhaps, if one is lucky enough to have a pair of ears to vent to, they might empty their hearts to one who doesn't judge, and then move on with life...but the world values those who are pro-active and assertive...which nowadays implies being tough and defensive...is there value in quiet resilence, in the world today?...the ideas of tolerance, patience and deliberate passivity in the face of provocation, have amalgamated into an indistinguishable heap.
