What Is the True Meaning of Love?

Summary

In this heartfelt dialogue, a PhD student from the Netherlands, who is researching depression, expresses gratitude for a community's support and its profound perspective on love. The conversation delves into the nature of love, distinguishing between 'big love'—a universal connection to humanity—and the more common, individualized affection. Sage offers insights on the spiritual aspect of love as the dissolution of the individual self, emphasizing the oneness of being. The discussion also touches on the challenge of communicating these lofty ideas to those who perceive love through a more personal lens, suggesting the use of metaphors like 'perforated circles' to illustrate the concept of interconnectedness. The dialogue concludes with advice on introducing these ideas gently to avoid resistance, highlighting the importance of love as a natural state of unity beyond personal relationships.

Takeaways

• 🙌 The speaker expresses gratitude for the community and its approach to handling depression.
• 🌐 The speaker is from the United States, living in the Netherlands, and working on a PhD focused on depression.
• ❤️ The concept of 'big love' is introduced, which is the love for all of humanity and is tied to the idea of oneness.
• 🔗 The speaker discusses the challenge of communicating the spiritual level of love to those who perceive love in a more personal and specific manner.
• 🧠 Sage explains that love, from a spiritual perspective, is the dissolution of the individual and the experience of oneness.
• 🌟 Human beings are seen as parts of a whole, and true love is the recognition of this unity, not an action or feeling of separate individuals.
• 📜 Sage suggests using metaphors, like the sheet of paper with circles, to help others understand the concept of oneness and love.
• 💔 There is a distinction made between 'liking' someone, which is based on resonance and shared interests, and 'loving' someone, which is recognizing the shared being.
• 🤔 The speaker is advised to be skillful in introducing these concepts to others, to minimize resistance and open doors to new understandings.
• 💑 Sage recommends that intimate partners express love without need, emphasizing the freedom within true love.

Q & A

What is the speaker's background and current occupation?

The speaker is an American living in the Netherlands, working on their PhD, with a focus on studying depression.

What did the speaker appreciate about the community and its response to a question about depression?

The speaker appreciated the community's response to a question about turning towards and loving depression, which they found to be beautiful and moving.

How does the speaker define 'love' in the context of their studies and personal beliefs?

The speaker defines 'love' as a broader concept, associating it with the love for all of humanity and tying it to the idea of oneness.

What is the common understanding of love that the speaker encounters in their personal relationships?

In the speaker's personal relationships, love is commonly understood as specific and individual, such as love for family or a pet, rather than a broader, universal love.

What is the difference between 'liking' someone and 'loving' someone according to the transcript?

Liking someone is about resonating with their character or interests, while loving someone is the recognition of shared being, irrespective of personal characteristics.

How does the concept of love relate to the idea of oneness as discussed in the transcript?

Love, in the context of oneness, is the dissolution of the individual and the realization that there is no separation between beings, as there is only one infinite, indivisible whole.

What advice does Sage give for communicating the concept of universal love to those who have a more individualistic view of love?

Sage advises stepping down one's understanding to make it manageable for others, using metaphors like the sheet of paper with circles to illustrate the concept of oneness and interconnectedness.

What metaphor does Sage use to explain the concept of individuality and oneness?

Sage uses the metaphor of a sheet of paper with individual circles drawn on it to represent the illusion of separateness, while the white paper underneath symbolizes the underlying oneness.

How does the speaker feel about the community's approach to love and relationships?

The speaker appreciates the community's approach to love as a natural condition of all apparent relationships and the idea of sharing being with everyone.

What does Sage suggest as a way to express love in intimate relationships without implying need?

Sage suggests expressing love by saying 'I love you deeply but I don't need you,' which emphasizes the freedom and lack of dependency in true love.

What is the speaker's area of study for their PhD, and how does Sage wish them?

The speaker is studying depression for their PhD, and Sage wishes them the very best with their thesis, acknowledging it as interesting work.