Understanding Love

Understanding Love

By Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani

The Lord created us and loves us; that is why everyone loves love. No one complains of love or wants it to be taken from him, but all want to be loved more. Where are you seeking love? Are you taking pure water from the gushing source, or muddy, slimy water from the ditch? You love people, but they will die. Perhaps your love will be unrequited, or because of a small error or indiscretion on your part that person’s heart will harden to you and love will be no more you say that you love him or her, but do you love him or her unconditionally? Is your love permanent – love for the real immaculate divine essence living in that person, or temporary, as a result of some desirable attributes: beauty, youth, wealth, station or wit? When that beautiful, young, wealthy, clever, amiable socialite becomes ugly, old, penniless, senile, grumpy outcast will you still love her? Is your love of the spirit or of the world?

Oh people, seek real love, a love that cannot go astray. That love is the love of God and the love of his creatures for the sake of his love for them. That love emanation may bind a receptive hearts. There is a common saying: “the friend of a friend is a friend”, so love people if you love God, for you must know that He loves them. It is not always easy to love people, even good people, so what about the Korahs of this world?

Love pertaining to the ego is not love, as all the ego knows is to love itself, and what is commonly called love is but mutual understanding to support each other’s egoism. Don’t trust your ego, nor is anyone else’s, for the ego disloyal by nature. When the spirit gains ascendancy the ego may be harnessed and put to good use, as the Holy Prophet said:

“Your ego is your mount”, but left to its whims it will take you many miles from your path in search of herbage.

This discourse is an Ocean, its summary is: what is of the world beware of, and pay attention to the dose. When crossing that ocean embark on a sturdy ship with well – maintained lifeboats and life-preservers, and if you swim in it keep your head above water!

As for the Ocean of Divine Love, dive in and drown – that is eternal life in the Ocean of Unity.

Source: Oceans of Unity, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani, p36- 37