Love is a Spiritual Practice
Reflections after 11 years of marriage...
Today marks my 11th wedding anniversary, and I’ve grown so much.
I’m wiser,
my thoughts clearer
my patience deepened
in the quiet moments
I find myself smiling more
embracing each experience
with newfound understanding
the years have shaped me,
and love has guided my path,
leading me to see and be
in ways I could not imagine before.
the more I nurture the love within myself,
the more my heart unfolds in love for my partner.
The wiser I become, the more I learn that love is a spiritual practice.
Love is a transformative force that transcends affection or attachment. As a spiritual practice, love is a journey toward inner growth, self-realization, and a deeper connection with higher consciousness.
Love as Self-Realization
To view love as a spiritual practice is to see it as a journey of self-discovery. When we delve into love's deeper dimensions, we find it is about loving others, understanding, and nurturing ourselves. This internal exploration requires us to confront our fears, insecurities, and limitations, enabling us to transcend the ego's boundaries. As we practice self-love, we engage in a spiritual discipline that fosters inner peace and acceptance. This process involves acknowledging our worth and cultivating compassion towards ourselves, which ultimately reflects in how we relate to others.
Love as a Pathway to Connection
On a spiritual level, love is a profound connector. It bridges the divide between individuals, communities, and even disparate aspects of ourselves. When we approach love as a spiritual practice, we acknowledge that our connections with others are not interpersonal but transcendental. This perspective is deeply rooted in many spiritual traditions, where love is seen as the force that unites us with the divine and each other. In Christianity, love is central to the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized loving one’s neighbor as oneself. In Hinduism, love is considered a divine attribute of Krishna, and in Buddhism, the practice of loving-kindness (Metta) is essential for cultivating compassion.
Love as an Expression of Higher Consciousness
Love as a spiritual practice also means recognizing it as an expression of higher consciousness. When we love selflessly, we move beyond the constraints of personal gain and enter a realm where our actions and intentions align with the greater good. This higher perspective shifts love from being a mere reaction to an intentional practice. It involves embracing the divine aspect of ourselves and others, seeing each person as an embodiment of the universal spirit. This shift in consciousness allows us to act with empathy, kindness, and understanding, qualities that are fundamental to spiritual growth.
Love and the Practice of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a crucial aspect of love as a spiritual practice. Holding onto grievances and resentments obstructs our spiritual progress, whereas forgiveness liberates us from these emotional shackles. From a spiritual perspective, the act of forgiving is a profound demonstration of love. It requires us to transcend our ego’s need for justice and retribution and embrace a higher state of compassion. By practicing forgiveness, we align ourselves with the spiritual principle of letting go, which facilitates healing and fosters deeper, more meaningful connections.
Love as a Practice of Presence
Love as a spiritual practice involves being fully present. This means engaging with others without distraction or preoccupation, offering them our undivided attention and heartfelt presence. Spiritual traditions often emphasize the importance of presence in connecting with the divine. When we practice love through presence, we create space for authentic interactions and deepen our connection with others and ourselves. This practice cultivates mindfulness and awareness, essential components of spiritual development.
I don’t have all the answers to love or the perfect definition, but through my years of growth and being in relationship with my partner, I’ve come to understand that love is, at its heart, a profound spiritual practice.
Cheers to witnessing one another grow and learn in love.
