Some Words About Divine Love

The first thing to say here is that Divine Love exists, the second, you can become aware of Love. I have been holding off writing about Love because I feel that the word “love” means too many things, namely romance, sex (these two almost exclusively in popular culture), family love (between parents and children), brotherly love, and self-love. These loves all have an independent word and definition in the Greek language, but there is one more; Divine Love. In Greek the word for this is “Agape,” it refers to an unending, unconditional Love that encompasses all life and creation. I know from my own experience as a former toxic young man that this love will awaken eventually. Of course, it’s not asleep, but a person needs invite it for it to come. It is unconditional, but if you swear away your childhood wonder, it might take some coaxing to bring God into your life again.

Any writing about true stillness is invariably about Agape, especially my writing. This deep stillness is the product of a loving God and human willingness combined in a practice of patient silence. This practice takes on many forms throughout the history of the various world religions, especially Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism. I'm not sure about Islam or Sikhism because I don’t know much about them, but I suspect so. Some of the more sheltered westerners would have a problem with adding Eastern cultures to that list, but I am sure that the heart of faith, in general, is a heart of peace. For me, the practice of Zen Mindfulness was the path I followed. I did not know what I was looking for, but nevertheless found Agape.

The truly unique thing about Agape is that it is utterly impossible for a human person to display. It is only that Divine Figure (God, Tao, Om, etc.) that can exhibit the truth of Agape. We humans try to love, some of us do a pretty decent job, but as soon as we feel legitimately “burned” we lose it. How many times in our lives has a little misstep brought serious kick-back from someone we felt close to? It’s no one’s fault, we’re human, they’re human, but as we get close to people in life we learn that our youthful fantasies about romance and family life get trounced by the reality of what is. So how do we behave? Jesus is recorded as saying that in the future, the law would be written on human hearts. To that I say we should follow our conscience, personally and collectively. If you have a tradition that keeps to a moral code, stick to it the best you can, and when you can’t, try again. This Divine Love knows that humanity is in its infancy.

Is there a way to spread this love? Well, of course, there is always loving action, so be natural and remember your silent practice. Open yourself to Divinity and deal with what is right in front of you first. I want to remind you of your meditation practice from part 7, it is the essence of meditation as I practice it.  Don’t be afraid to set aside time everyday to practice stillness. It is a realization to awaken to the Love that has been so near, but hidden, all along. Patience is key.

A little should be said to my SPMI friends. We have a very hard time with love, because our minds are particularly troubled. We get to a point, a desperate point, where we barely believe love is even possible for us anymore. The beautiful thing about this Divine Love is that it is particularly compassionate toward us. That compassion for the suffering is a key feature of God. Our desperation is like powerful fuel for Him. I keep saying things about this silence, this still practice; it is the desperate prayer of slowing down to the pace of God because we have learned that our mind is incapable of making us happy. Simple "prayers of words" don't get us to the point of stillness. Stillness is Zen. Stillness is the heart of God. Stillness is the essence of living well. Don't forget your meditation practice. It will serve you well.

I have an experience to share in this... Some years ago, my mental health had become tragic, I was on medication for my diagnosis, but you can't cure SPMI diseases, so there was still suffering. When I had finally lost my faith as a common Christian, I turned to the only thing that I knew was a good path. A friend of mine had introduced me to mindfulness a few years earlier, and he had been an influence of mine throughout those years. Out of sheer desperation I began to practice mindfulness from the perspective of the Zen teacher I mentioned in my part 7 post, Thich Nhat Hahn (someone my mindfulness friend had introduced me to).

Thich Nat Hanh almost exclusively taught mindfulness and non-violence, so I thought those were the best options at the time. I was not disappointed. I practiced breathing with a calm focus on my breath, just sitting and breathing every morning for some few months, not knowing what I was even looking for. Of course, simple mindfulness has its own reward, but one day I was practicing at about ten in the morning and falling asleep. Without warning I heard an insistent voice that called my name. It woke me up and said my name again, three times in total. The voice used my childhood nickname like it knew me personally. It inspired much calm and peace. I knew at that moment that the stories and the claims of so many of the faithful, from all sincere peoples, were true. We can become aware of the fact that our pain is recognized and relieved. There are still the daily struggles of life and health issues, and occasional barren times in meditation, but this Divinity hasn't been far away since. There was peace to be had.

I can't say that anyone who practices silence and stillness will have this peace, simply because of the plague of insincerity in our world today. If you practice for a "prize" without being a student of peace and loving kindness also, you may not get anywhere more than "quiet time." Patience, sincerity, peace, non-violence, and loving kindness are imperative to this awakening. These principles are foundational to all the honest religions I know of. Virtues are important, because if you're "faking it" The Divine will know. Please look back on the part 7 meditation practice. Knowing this might make it more helpful.

Peace to you and yours.