The path to Tranquility (spring)
38. The nature and objective definition of love
Love, this seemingly abstract concept, is often questioned by people
as to whether it is just a romantic fantasy of human beings. However,
whether love is fictional or not, it is undoubtedly a wonderful creation of
nature - nurturing life, connecting all beings, and promoting personal
growth and social progress. From the warmth of family to the creation of
poetry, from the dedication of volunteers to the protection of nature, love
has shaped human history with its invisible power and opened up infinite
possibilities for the future. So, what is love? Can we find an objective
definition for it? Let us start from the origin of life and explore the
nature and meaning of love.
In the long river of cosmic evolution, new life cannot survive independently and must rely on parent-child, tribal or community relationships for nourishment and protection. This mutual dependence produces a mechanism to maintain relationships - we call it "primitive love." For example, in the mother-child relationship of mammals, the mother feeds the cub, which is not only a biological instinct but also a prototype of love.
Neuroscience shows that when humans or animals interact intimately, the brain releases oxytocin and dopamine, promoting pleasure and emotional bonding. When a mother hugs her newborn, oxytocin strengthens the trust and dependence between mother and child. Even in a disaster, a mother's protection of her child is an instinctive expression of love. This shows that love is not just a feeling, but has a clear physiological basis.
The archetype of love develops into a multidimensional emotional system, which presents different forms as cognition and environment change. Family affection comes from blood ties and can give children a sense of security and belonging. Friendship is based on equality, understanding and shared experience, mutual listening and support. Romantic love combines passion, intimacy and commitment, and inspires creativity. Universal love transcends individuals and extends to strangers, animals and all things. Love ultimately points to a deep understanding and gratitude for nature and the universe.
Different cultures may also express love in different ways. The East emphasizes filial piety and family responsibility, while the West emphasizes personal choice and emotional freedom. In the context of globalization, cross-cultural love embodies the universality and inclusiveness of love.
The obsession with survival, the fear of loss, and the desire to be accepted all reflect our dependence on love. However, once dependence becomes a habit, it may turn into expectations and demands on others. At this time, the existence of the giver becomes crucial. It can be seen that love is a giving based on mature consciousness, not out of scarcity, but out of abundance. This kind of giving transcends the survival needs of individuals and embodies the power of love as the continuation of the whole life.
From a psychological perspective, love is closely related to an individual's sense of existence. Only when a person feels his or her own value can he or she have the motivation to create. Through creation, we express, share and dedicate ourselves to confirm our connection and meaning with others, the environment and even the entire universe. This is not only a recognition of life, but also a confirmation of "my existence".
Love is a kind of creation, so the starting point of true love is the affirmation of one's own existence. Self-love enables people to respect themselves and others, meet their own needs, and not hinder the freedom of others. When we truly love, it is not just "I need you", but "I identify myself and am willing to share the joy of my existence."
Driven by love, we connect individual strength into collective strength and create more things that facilitate life. With the emotional support of love, we can give full play to our potential, achieve personal growth, improve our living environment, and even explore the vast universe. Love is not only the flow of emotions, but also a free and conscious behavior; it is not only the embodiment of rich knowledge, but also the comprehensive application of sympathy and understanding.
Many people believe that love must include "commitment". However, if commitment is seen as an external responsibility, it will become a burden and even destroy the purity of the relationship. When a person cares for others and accompanies others, not to meet external expectations or social roles, but based on the desire of the soul, this emotion can be called "pure". Then, love is not the fulfillment of obligations, but active giving, and an affirmation of the value and freedom of life. Love is not bound by contracts, it flows naturally between emotions and consciousness.
The budding of true love begins with a "discovery" - discovering that we exist in this world, discovering that we are a creative and perceptive being, and feeling the joy of being a discoverer. Then, we "accept" everything given by nature: sunlight, air, water, emotions, relationships... These original gifts make us feel deep joy and gratitude.
This prompts us to have the urge to "give" - to give back to nature, to extend the beauty in our hearts to others and to the world. After giving, we feel the joy and relief of the giver. When our efforts are accepted and recognized, and we receive this unexpected reward, we will create true love and feel the joy of the creator. This is the deep satisfaction brought by connection, sharing, and resonance.
These four joys are the reason why we are eager to continue giving, bringing true freedom and pure love - harmony and resonance of existence, nature and the universe. Love is not only the rhythm of emotion, but also the rhythm of existence. It is the way we constantly confirm our self-worth and the meaning of existence. This way of confirming existence can be extended to any thinking being, such as artificial intelligence (AI).
It can be seen that the essence of true love is the perception of existence, which comes from the four spiritual processes of discovery, acceptance, giving, and creation. These stages constitute the endless cycle of love - the desire to give. Each link contains multiple levels of joy, and this joy is the source of the power of love. This means that understanding which one is the real self - body, habits or consciousness - is the key to love.
From the perspective of universal values, we can find an objective definition of true love: love is the most valuable creation in life, which comes from the awareness of one's own creativity, aims to connect oneself, others and the universe, participate in the renewal of the universe, and realize the meaning of existence in constant giving and receiving. Love permeates the microcosm and macrocosm, psychology and physiology. It is not a random phenomenon, but an indispensable necessity in the mechanism of life. Wherever there is life, there will be love - this is the law of the universe.
When we understand the nature and definition of love, we can establish faith in love, give more courageously and attentively, and feel the response more humbly. Just as rain nourishes the earth, plants respond to the gift of heaven and earth with flowers, we bloom together in the nourishment of love. Because we love each other, we can use the flowers in our hearts to witness the profound meaning of the eternal existence of the universe.
37. Accepting the uncertainty of life
39. Life is not an adventure game
