What is love?

What is love?

It is very "overloaded" in the English language.

In NVC, there is a big debate: Is love a feeling or a need?
The problem is much worse than that... :)

Emotion: Love is a feeling I receive from others.
Gift or service: I do this work out of love. This is a love offering.
Affect: Love is how I relate to others, w/respect, kindness, generosity, charity, forgiveness, empathy
Affection: I feel such love when I am near you.
Thought: I think I am loved by many. (or) What do you mean, "I love you"?
Need: To be nourished by love is essential to human life.
Lust/Grasping: I am in LOVE with you!!!!!!!
Compassion: Love is caring for the well-being of others.
Sex: Making love is a physical thing with bodies.
Preference: I really love ice cream!
Kindredship: I love you like a brother.
Desire/Craving: I would really LOVE to get some ice cream, right now!
Bondage: If you really love me, you'll stay with me!

The wisdom tradition I study says e.g. "compassion-love" is a good kind of love.

But that craving-love (greed) or even thought-love (delusion) are poisons.
They are closely related to the anger-poison.

Because of this, I have made an effort to avoid the word love from my usage.

BH

--
William Huston            WilliamAHuston@gmail.com
Binghamton NY             Phone: 607-321-7846

SocialNet: http://facebook.com/billhuston
Videos:    http://youtube.com/billhuston         http://vimeo.com/billhuston
Bio/blog:  http://binghamtonpmc.org/bio.html     http://WilliamAHuston.blogspot.com
Binghamton-area discussion; spirituality topics: http://tinyurl.com/STNYlightworkers
Binghamton Public Access TV is Open-To-Everyone! http://www.O2ETV.org