What is Love ? My Opinion

What is Love ?

1 John 4:8
"8 Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love."

So The Scripture Beg question How is God Love? Think About The World He Created for Adam and Eve. A paradise Earth With an Abundance of Delicious Food (Gen 1:29,30) and The Conditions to Live Forever. If we shall just for a moment take a step back just to think about the universe. Jehovah created the universe in perfect order to sustain life on earth. if you change the smallest fraction of anything in this universe life isn't possible. for Example:

Earth’s perfect tilt and spin: Earth’s tilt of about 23.4 degrees causes the annual cycle of seasons, moderates temperatures, and allows for a wide range of climate zones. “Our planet’s tilt axis seems to be ‘just right,’” says the book Rare Earth—Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe. Also “just right” is the length of day and night, a result of earth’s spin. If the speed of rotation were substantially slower, the days would be longer and the side of the earth facing the sun would bake while the other side would freeze. Conversely, if the earth were to spin much faster, the days would be shorter, perhaps just a few hours long, and earth’s rapid spin would cause relentless gale-force winds and other harmful effects.

Now Think about thing neccessary to Sustaining life like water, air, sunlight and so on. Now think about things "nonessential" to sustaining life like the ability to taste so many amazing flavors and to see colors or hear beautiful music. imagine a world without those "nonessential" aspects to life. Clearly a gift from Jehovah to improve our quality of life. Love isn't selfish, Jehovah did all these amazing things for us but what are we able to do for him? let that sink..

1 John 4:19 "
19 We love, because he first loved us."

Remember Jehovah is Love and he set the ultimate example in creating us in the 1st place. There is nothing we can do to repay him or give him back of equal or even close to equal value. Love is Selfless Jehovah is Love. Do you know what the greatest act of Love in Human history?

John 3:16
"16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."

Adam Disobeyed God and lost the prospect of living forever on a paradise Earth, did this mean Jehovah original purpose was lost for man forever? Remember God is Love, so ofcourse not. Jehovah is called a righteous Judge (Psalms 7:11) and in this legal case a perfect man sinned and we inherited death so a perfect human life was needed to ransom back that original purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:45
"45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living person.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

What does Jehovah do he Sacrifice his Son Jesus christ perfect life to buy back something we as imperfect human lost and frankly due to our constant historical disrespect towards God something we dont deserve.

Imagine giving birth to a beautiful baby boy you spend everyday of his childhood teaching loving and building a beautiful bond. Then sending him on death row to free every criminal in the prison after he killed! Could you sacrifice him to free criminals??? That's what Jehovah Did.His Son reflected him so much he willing gave his life. Opening up a provision that one day soon we will get a chance at living on a perfect paradise earth forever.

Psalms 37:9
"29 The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it."

When it comes to different aspects of Love I certain can Point out in God Word the Bible of how Jehovah is Love...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails"

in my opinion btw

The (Buddha) Dharma talks about love via love and kindness and compassion. It doesn't talk about romantic love so far I know but it does for spouse and parents and friends.

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This is what should be done By one who is skilled in goodness, And who knows the path of peace: Let them be able and upright, Straightforward and gentle in speech, Humble and not conceited, Contented and easily satisfied, Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful, Not proud or demanding in nature. Let them not do the slightest thing That the wise would later reprove. Wishing: In gladness and in safety,...Lost in samsara SN 1.8

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Metta cetovimutti — universal love leading to liberation of mind — signifies the attainment of samadhi, absorption based upon meditation on metta. Since metta liberates the mind from the bondage of hatred and anger, selfishness, greed and delusion, it constitutes a state of liberation. Every time one practices metta, for however short a period, one enjoys a measure of freedom of mind. Measureless freedom of mind, however, is to be expected only when metta is fully developed into samadhi.Metta: The Philosophy and Practice of Universal Love

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Our actions are all led by the mind; mind is their master, mind is their maker. If one acts or speaks with a defiled state of mind, then suffering follows like the cart-wheel that follows the foot of the ox. Our actions are all led by the mind; mind is their master, mind is their maker. If one acts or speaks with a pure state of mind, then happiness follows like a shadow that remains behind without departing.

— Dhammapada vv. 1, 2
Nothing Higher to Live For: A Buddhist View of Romantic Love
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When we train our minds we have room to show compassion and love. When we don't have attachments such as anger, love will automatically express itself. It's not named as love since I think that's a Greek concept of the word. I don't know the Indian definition. But, in context, they seem about the same. The sources are different.

Love for ones parents

Mother & father, compassionate to their family, are called Brahma, first teachers, those worthy of gifts from their children. So the wise should pay them homage, honor with food & drink clothing & bedding anointing & bathing & washing their feet. Performing these services to their parents, the wise are praised right here and after death rejoice in heaven. — Iti 106 The Lessons of Gratitude

There are many teachings on love say over s thousand suttas. It's part of the main Dharma doctrine. The word love is an English translation but the context, love is more than unconditional.

Thought this nice since you have this in interfaith.

LiveByFaithNotSight said:

What is Love ?

1 John 4:8
"8 Whoever does not love has not come to know God, because God is love."

So The Scripture Beg question How is God Love? Think About The World He Created for Adam and Eve. A paradise Earth With an Abundance of Delicious Food (Gen 1:29,30) and The Conditions to Live Forever. If we shall just for a moment take a step back just to think about the universe. Jehovah created the universe in perfect order to sustain life on earth. if you change the smallest fraction of anything in this universe life isn't possible. for Example:

Earth’s perfect tilt and spin: Earth’s tilt of about 23.4 degrees causes the annual cycle of seasons, moderates temperatures, and allows for a wide range of climate zones. “Our planet’s tilt axis seems to be ‘just right,’” says the book Rare Earth—Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe. Also “just right” is the length of day and night, a result of earth’s spin. If the speed of rotation were substantially slower, the days would be longer and the side of the earth facing the sun would bake while the other side would freeze. Conversely, if the earth were to spin much faster, the days would be shorter, perhaps just a few hours long, and earth’s rapid spin would cause relentless gale-force winds and other harmful effects.

Now Think about thing neccessary to Sustaining life like water, air, sunlight and so on. Now think about things "nonessential" to sustaining life like the ability to taste so many amazing flavors and to see colors or hear beautiful music. imagine a world without those "nonessential" aspects to life. Clearly a gift from Jehovah to improve our quality of life. Love isn't selfish, Jehovah did all these amazing things for us but what are we able to do for him? let that sink..

1 John 4:19 "
19 We love, because he first loved us."

Remember Jehovah is Love and he set the ultimate example in creating us in the 1st place. There is nothing we can do to repay him or give him back of equal or even close to equal value. Love is Selfless Jehovah is Love. Do you know what the greatest act of Love in Human history?

John 3:16
"16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."

Adam Disobeyed God and lost the prospect of living forever on a paradise Earth, did this mean Jehovah original purpose was lost for man forever? Remember God is Love, so ofcourse not. Jehovah is called a righteous Judge (Psalms 7:11) and in this legal case a perfect man sinned and we inherited death so a perfect human life was needed to ransom back that original purpose.

1 Corinthians 15:45
"45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living person.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

What does Jehovah do he Sacrifice his Son Jesus christ perfect life to buy back something we as imperfect human lost and frankly due to our constant historical disrespect towards God something we dont deserve.

Imagine giving birth to a beautiful baby boy you spend everyday of his childhood teaching loving and building a beautiful bond. Then sending him on death row to free every criminal in the prison after he killed! Could you sacrifice him to free criminals??? That's what Jehovah Did.His Son reflected him so much he willing gave his life. Opening up a provision that one day soon we will get a chance at living on a perfect paradise earth forever.

Psalms 37:9
"29 The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it."

When it comes to different aspects of Love I certain can Point out in God Word the Bible of how Jehovah is Love...

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5 does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. 6 It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails"

in my opinion btw

Click to expand...

The best promises of the Bible are reserved for those who love God
but in the end it is a gift. A new heart in place of the old fallen nature heart
We tend to do many good looking things but wrongly motivated... to look good... to avoid troubles.. but
not selflessly out of the love of God or to give him thanks

There is a good book called 'the difficult doctrine of love by DA Carson'
and a talk on it is here
Ezekiel spoke on a new heart
Ezekiel hard words for hard times

Ahhh...love...
Warmth of a cuddly hug, a kiss on the cheek.
Nestling in another's arm while sleeping.
Stroking of one's hair while napping on a lap.
A sliding stroke along one's arm in a loving touch.
Tender kisses in close holding of another's warmth.
Butterflies sipping nectar from beautiful flowers.
A puppy's sloppy tongue across one's cheek.
To feed my fish in my pond, they think I'm god.
I think in your mind, that `God` is responsable,
maybe your right !