Go to the truth beyond the mind. Love is the bridge.
Stephen LevineRead
I have seen many die, surrounded by loved ones, and their last words were ‘I love you.’ There were some who could no longer speak yet with their eyes and soft smile left behind that same healing message. I have been in rooms where those who were dying made it feel like sacred ground. (26)
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the profound impact of love during moments of death and dying.
Stephen Levine's quote reflects on the power of love as a healing force in the face of mortality. It highlights how the final expressions of love, whether spoken or silently conveyed through gestures, create a sacred atmosphere in the presence of dying individuals. The presence of loved ones holds significant meaning, underscoring the importance of connection and emotional bonds at the end of life.
Themes
LoveDeathRelationshipsHealingConnection
In practice
Example use cases
During a eulogy at a funeral, one might share this quote to emphasize the importance of love in life.
More from Stephen Levine
All quotes →In Chinese, the word for heart and mind is the same -- Hsin. For when the heart is open and the mind is clear they are of one substance, of one essence.
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If there is a single definition of healing it is to enter with mercy and awareness those pains, mental and physical, from which we have withdrawn in judgment and dismay. (48)
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I have seem even those who have long since abjured God die in grace. . . . Atheists don't use their drying to bargain for a better seat at the table; indeed they may not even believe supper is being served. They are not storing up 'merit.'; They just smile because their heart is ripe. They are kind for no particular reason; they just love.
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Gratitude is the state of mind of thankfulness. As it is cultivated, we experience an increase in our "sympathetic joy," our happiness at another's happiness. Just as in the cultivation of compassion, we may feel the pain of others, so we may begin to feel their joy as well. And it doesn't stop there.
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