God is Love
Attendees: Nandini-didi, Chandra, Neelam, Laxmi, Sneha, Tara
Why does the title of this chapter (in the book The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol III) begin with the words "The God of Love...."? It is easy to get it mixed up with "Love of God"!
The preceding chapter (The Triangle of Love) is about love, and the essence of this chapter is built on the understanding of the nature of the Para-Bhakta.
In the previous chapter, Swamiji says, "That ideal which men and women commonly worship is what is in themselves; every person projects his or her own ideal on the outside world and kneels before it." Swamiji explains this by taking the relationship of husband and wife as an example - "None, O beloved, loves the husband for the husband's sake, but it is for the sake of the Self who is in the husband that the husband is loved; ....". I would like to add that in the above sentence, "husband" can be interchanged with any other worldly relationship such as "child", "father", etc. and the example would still apply. Rarely do we love others for other's sake. We love them because of the Self that we see in them. This is not an easy thought to grasp or even admit. The Para-Bhakta's ideal has no narrowness, no limits and bonds, and no fear. His ideal "becomes one of perfect love".
How do we reach this ideal, then? Personal growth happens somewhat like this: In the beginning our quest begins with our Ishta. At this stage, we worship our Ishta as a name and form. Our love initially has to go through the Triangle of Love above. Then slowly with Sadhana and Guru Kripa our knowledge expands, and the ideal of Ishta takes on a bigger idea, and takes on bigger concepts. For example, we grow from worshiping Krishna to worshipping and loving the Vishwaroopa. Eventually we progress to learning, loving, knowing Virat.
Our true litmus test, as devotees in this journey, is that we must look back and check on ourselves often, to see if we are growing in terms of bhakti, wisdom, goodness and happiness.
Tara
Why does the title of this chapter (in the book The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Vol III) begin with the words "The God of Love...."? It is easy to get it mixed up with "Love of God"!
The preceding chapter (The Triangle of Love) is about love, and the essence of this chapter is built on the understanding of the nature of the Para-Bhakta.
These are the three angles of the triangle of love.
The Para-Bhakta is not an ordinary man. He/She is one who has "passed beyond the idea of selfishness, of bartering and bargaining, and who knows no fear". What is the ideal of the Para-Bhakta?
In the previous chapter, Swamiji says, "That ideal which men and women commonly worship is what is in themselves; every person projects his or her own ideal on the outside world and kneels before it." Swamiji explains this by taking the relationship of husband and wife as an example - "None, O beloved, loves the husband for the husband's sake, but it is for the sake of the Self who is in the husband that the husband is loved; ....". I would like to add that in the above sentence, "husband" can be interchanged with any other worldly relationship such as "child", "father", etc. and the example would still apply. Rarely do we love others for other's sake. We love them because of the Self that we see in them. This is not an easy thought to grasp or even admit. The Para-Bhakta's ideal has no narrowness, no limits and bonds, and no fear. His ideal "becomes one of perfect love".
How do we reach this ideal, then? Personal growth happens somewhat like this: In the beginning our quest begins with our Ishta. At this stage, we worship our Ishta as a name and form. Our love initially has to go through the Triangle of Love above. Then slowly with Sadhana and Guru Kripa our knowledge expands, and the ideal of Ishta takes on a bigger idea, and takes on bigger concepts. For example, we grow from worshiping Krishna to worshipping and loving the Vishwaroopa. Eventually we progress to learning, loving, knowing Virat.
Our true litmus test, as devotees in this journey, is that we must look back and check on ourselves often, to see if we are growing in terms of bhakti, wisdom, goodness and happiness.
Tara
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