love is incapable of challenging, it is about unconditional service even in moments of supreme crises, says SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
love may be symbolised by a triangle. The first angle is, love questions not. It is not a beggar. Beggar’s love is no love at all. The first sign of love is when love asks nothing, when it gives everything. This is the real spiritual worship, the worship through love. Whether God is merciful is no longer questioned. Whether God is omnipotent and almighty, limited or unlimited, is no longer questioned too. If He distributes good, all right; if He brings evil, what does it matterIJ All other attributes vanish except that one — infinite love.
There was an old Indian emperor who on a hunting expedition came across a great sage in the forest. He was so pleased with this sage that he insisted that the latter come to the capital to receive some presents. At first the sage refused. But the emperor insisted, and at last he consented. When he arrived at the palace, he was announced to the emperor who said, “Wait a minute until I finish my prayer.” The emperor prayed, “lord, give me more wealth, land, health and children.” The sage stood up and began to walk out of the room. The emperor said, “You have not received my presents.” The sage replied, “I do not beg from beggars. What can you give meIJ First satisfy your own wants!”
love never asks; it always gives. When a young man goes to see his beloved, there is no business relationship between them; theirs is a relationship of love, and love is no beggar. In the same way, we understand that the beginning of real spiritual worship means no begging. We have finished all begging: “lord, give me this and that.” Then will religion begin.
The second is that love knows no fear. You may cut me to pieces, and I will still love you. Suppose one of you is a weak woman and see a tiger in the street snatching your child. I know where you will be; you will face the tiger. Another time a dog appears in the street, and you will fly. But you jump at the mouth of the tiger and snatch your child away. love knows no fear. It conquers all evil. The fear of God is the beginning of religion, but the love of God is the end of religion. All fear has died out.
The third angle of the love-triangle is that love is its own end. It can never be the means. The man who says, “I love you for such and such a thing”, does not love. love can never be the means; it must be the perfect end. What is the end and aim of loveIJ To love God, that is all. Why should one love GodIJ There is no why, because it is not the means. When one can love, that is salvation, that is perfection, that is heaven.
What else can be the endIJ What can you have higher than loveIJ
I am not talking about what every one of us means by love. little namby-pamby love is lovely. Man rails in love with woman, and woman goes to die for man. The chances are that in five minutes John kicks Jane, and Jane kicks John. This is materialism and no love at all. If John could really love Jane, he would be perfect that moment. His true nature is love; he is perfect in himself. John will get all the powers of yoga simply by loving Jane, although he may not know a word about religion, psychology, or theology. I believe that if a man and woman can really love, they can acquire all the powers the yogis claim to have, for love in itself is God. That God is omnipresent, and therefore you have that love, whether you know it or not.
Excerpts from Vivekananda’s discourses