When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
Anthony De MelloRead
Perfect love casts out fear. Where there is love there are no demands, no expectations, no dependency. I do not demand that you make me happy; my happiness does not lie in you. If you were to leave me, I will not feel sorry for myself; I enjoy your company immensely, but I do not cling.
Interpretation
True love is free from fear and dependency, fostering happiness without demands.
This quote emphasizes that genuine love should be unconditional and liberating, devoid of fear and expectations. It highlights the importance of self-sufficiency in happiness, suggesting that one's well-being should not rely on another person, but rather on personal fulfillment and joy in the relationship without clinging or possession.
In practice
This quote can be shared at a wedding to emphasize the importance of unconditional love.
When the sage points at the moon, all that the idiot sees is the finger.
The master never seemed to have his fill of gazing at his firstborn child. "What do you want him to be when he grows up?" someone asked. "Outrageously happy," said the master.
The genius of a composer is found in the notes of his music; but analyzing the notes will not reveal his genius. The poet's greatness is contained in his words; yet the study of his words will not disclose his inspiration. God reveals himself in creation; but scrutinize creation as minutely as you wish, you will not find God, any more than you will find the soul through careful examination of your body.
What is a loving heart? A loving heart is sensitive to the whole of life, to all persons; a loving heart doesn't harden itself to any persons or things.
Problems only exist in the human mind.
Those who make no mistakes are making the biggest mistakes of all - they are attempting nothing new.
Love is simple to understand if you haven't got a mind soft and full of holes. It's a crutch, that's all, and there isn't any one of us that doesn't need a crutch.
We think love is noble, and in some ways, it is. But in some ways, it isn't. Love is just love. And sometimes people do terrible things because of it.
We should practice by showing one another love and helping one another. It is a mistake to pursue happiness and to seek to the avoid suffering by deceiving and humiliating other people. We must try to achieve happiness and eliminate suffering by being good-hearted and well-behaved.
From suffering I have learned this: that whoever is sore wounded by love will never be made whole unless she embraces the very same love which wounded her.
In loving one another through our works we bring an increase of grace and a growth in divine love.
And in this passion for understanding her soul lay close to his; she had him all to herself. But he must be made abstract first.
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