Comments on: A Post-Valentine’s Day Thought http://www.swadharma.org/2009/02/16/a-post-valentines-day-thought/ The voice of Dharma Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:48:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Ameya http://www.swadharma.org/2009/02/16/a-post-valentines-day-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Ameya Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:43:17 +0000 http://www.swadharma.org/?p=1067#comment-101 Yes, the key here is the nature of the relationship. One must learn to love without expecting to receive anything. Easier said than done, I know. But I am not so sure that the lack of expecting something in return necessarily makes  someone free from attachment. I think that it is still possible to unselfishly love someone but still be attached/dependent in an emotional sense. Does such love move someone closer to God? Thoughts? Yes, the key here is the nature of the relationship. One must learn to love without expecting to receive anything. Easier said than done, I know.

But I am not so sure that the lack of expecting something in return necessarily makes  someone free from attachment. I think that it is still possible to unselfishly love someone but still be attached/dependent in an emotional sense. Does such love move someone closer to God?

Thoughts?

]]> By: aneesh http://www.swadharma.org/2009/02/16/a-post-valentines-day-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-96 aneesh Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:37:09 +0000 http://www.swadharma.org/?p=1067#comment-96 If you can love someone without expecting anything in return, then I feel you are free from the bonds of attachment & dependence.  But I don't know whether I can love unconditionally.  I think this ties into Saketh's earlier post on unselfishness (http://www.swadharma.org/2009/02/03/vivekananda-on-unselfishness/).  A relationship where you expect affection from someone else is somewhat selfish.  I feel like we are not truly free to recognize the God within us when we retain such strong dependence on worldy things & people. If you can love someone without expecting anything in return, then I feel you are free from the bonds of attachment & dependence.  But I don’t know whether I can love unconditionally.  I think this ties into Saketh’s earlier post on unselfishness (http://www.swadharma.org/2009/02/03/vivekananda-on-unselfishness/).  A relationship where you expect affection from someone else is somewhat selfish.  I feel like we are not truly free to recognize the God within us when we retain such strong dependence on worldy things & people.

]]> By: madhura http://www.swadharma.org/2009/02/16/a-post-valentines-day-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-95 madhura Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:21:02 +0000 http://www.swadharma.org/?p=1067#comment-95 In response to Aneesh: If Hinduism preaches that God is within all of us(correct me if I'm wrong?), attaching yourself emotionally to someone else doesn't take you away from your goal of becoming one with God. Our pursuit for meaningful relationships is a way to invest in the people of the world and become closer to the God that lives inside each one of them. Isn't that what Hinduism teaches us? Our path towards spirituality does not have to be separate from learning to love another human being. In response to Aneesh: If Hinduism preaches that God is within all of us(correct me if I’m wrong?), attaching yourself emotionally to someone else doesn’t take you away from your goal of becoming one with God. Our pursuit for meaningful relationships is a way to invest in the people of the world and become closer to the God that lives inside each one of them. Isn’t that what Hinduism teaches us? Our path towards spirituality does not have to be separate from learning to love another human being.

]]> By: aneesh http://www.swadharma.org/2009/02/16/a-post-valentines-day-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-94 aneesh Mon, 16 Feb 2009 07:20:45 +0000 http://www.swadharma.org/?p=1067#comment-94 But, on a spiritual level, is attraction to someone because you have similar philosophies & goals really any different than physical attraction to someone? The way I see it, bringing yourself close to God means freeing yourself from all attachments.  So the very act of loving someone & becoming emotionally attached to them doesn't move you closer to God, independent of what that attraction is based on. So, I feel like I am pursuing two contradictory goals, in my search for meaningful relationships, and for spiritual fulfillment.  How do you balance these?  Or do you feel they are not conflicting goals? Also, someone else please comment!  I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself. But, on a spiritual level, is attraction to someone because you have similar philosophies & goals really any different than physical attraction to someone?

The way I see it, bringing yourself close to God means freeing yourself from all attachments.  So the very act of loving someone & becoming emotionally attached to them doesn’t move you closer to God, independent of what that attraction is based on.

So, I feel like I am pursuing two contradictory goals, in my search for meaningful relationships, and for spiritual fulfillment.  How do you balance these?  Or do you feel they are not conflicting goals?

Also, someone else please comment!  I feel like I’m having a conversation with myself.

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