Teachings on Love

The fourth awareness is also a basic teaching of the Buddha. Where there is understanding, there is love. When we understand the suffering of someone, we are motivated to help, and the energies of love and compassion are released.

How can we live in a way that brings a smile, the eyes of love, and happiness to everyone we encounter?

As we learn to see with the eyes of love, we empty our mind of anger and hatred.

True love contains respect.

Once you understand the roots of your suffering — your anger, your hurt, your frustration — your heart becomes peaceful, calm, and light. The roots of anger in you are transformed, and it becomes easy to accept and love.

Relying on the Dharma can also be called “taking refuge in the island of self,” the island of peace in each of us.

much. In the Visuddhimagga, Buddhaghosa advises us to start with someone we like, because it is easier to offer our mind of love to such a person. He uses the example of lighting a fire. First we ignite some straw. Once the straw is burning, we add small sticks. Once the small sticks have caught fire, we add small logs. Once those have caught fire,

The moment you see how important it is to love yourself, you will stop making others suffer.”15

If you want your life to be more solid each day, take refuge in things that are solid. If you lean on something that is not solid, you will fall. The Three Jewels — Buddha, Dharma and Sangha — are very solid; if you take refuge in the Three Jewels, you will be solid also.

Arguing with others only waters the seeds of anger in us.