In English, we use the word "Love" in all sorts of ways. For example:

1. I love my fiance.

2. I love sweet potatoes.

3. I love my dog, Lady.

4. I love summer.

5. I love my Grandmother.

6. I love a good movie.

7. I love God.

8. I love my best friend, Sandy.

8. I love baseball.

10. I love others.

11. I love my country.

I guess you can see what I mean- we say the word "Love", but we may actually be describing different feelings, all of which mean we gain pleasure in some way when we interact with other people or things or even ideas.

I looked up synonyms for love at Thesaurus.com, and here are some of the words listed there:adulation, affection, allegiance, amity, amorousness, appreciation, ardency, ardor, attachment, cherishing, crush, delight, devotedness, devotion, enchantment, enjoyment, fervor, fidelity, fondness, friendship, hankering, idolatry, inclination, infatuation, involvement, like, lust, mad for, partiality, passion, piety, rapture, regard, relish, respect, sentiment, soft spot, taste, tenderness, weakness, worship, yearning, and zeal.

I guess I never thought about it, but the word "Love" actually means a lot of different things.

Is this true? Or is love just plain love?

Blessings, Jai

asked 13 Nov '11, 11:26

Jaianniah's gravatar image

Jaianniah
37.8k13129610


As humans I think we tend to throw the word love around at times and use it in a context where it's not really applicable. I can say I love chocolate or ice cream but love is not really the applicable word to be used.

Undoubtedly I love my family and friends but is that because they are preceded by that little word my? I think love in it's purest essence requires laying aside that my or mine and embracing all sentient beings for what they are ( and this doesn't mean that we have to hang out or become buddies with those we perceive as unconscious... we just have to love them - no conditions attached ).

Love then is a word that really can't be quantified or described by mere words... it's really only something we can Be. I think this is what all the great teachers (including Jesus and Buddha) tried to show us. They weren't teaching us to adopt their beliefs but rather to Be like them because they knew they were the examples not the exceptions. We can all Be Love but sometimes it requires putting aside the small self conceptualized version of oneself and having faith in that greater power ( whatever you deem to call it ) to orchestrate our lives.

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answered 13 Nov '11, 14:23

Michaela's gravatar image

Michaela
35.0k22677

There are many truths in the absolute Truth. in the same way, there are many things in the feeling of love, but love is still love. experience and enjoy.

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answered 13 Nov '11, 15:10

white%20tiger's gravatar image

white tiger
21.9k116117

edited 14 Nov '11, 04:38

Jaianniah's gravatar image

Jaianniah
37.8k13129610

I like this short and sweet answer.

(14 Nov '11, 23:03) Paulina 1

thank you Paulina Giao

(14 Nov '11, 23:27) white tiger

how is it that i understand love,
what if it does not fit in with the mental molds of popularity,
do i choose to want more to love or to be loved?

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answered 14 Nov '11, 01:42

fred's gravatar image

fred
19.7k176

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