What is the purpose of relationship? … (01/11/12)
As far as Love being a “State of Being” and not a choice, I think we are speaking about two different things entirely here. I agree whole-heartedly that we ARE Love — that Love is what makes us up and that it is Love that unifies us all; and that we remain this Love — this perfect Essence — regardless of the choices we make or don’t make.
That having been said, we ALSO have a choice as to how (or whether) we actualize that State if Being; whether we re-member it via actions that are courageously Caring, or ignore it via choices that are essentially self-centered.
And it is this aspect of LOVE upon which I tend to focus — that even though we are always LOVE itself, this fact means little to our EXPERIENCE of life unless we actualize that Truth.
Yes, the illusion of separateness (which comes from what some call “the mind”) covers over the fact that we are all ONE; that we are all interconnected; that we are all always (& all Ways) Divine.
AND, I have experienced another Truth — that it is a waste to discount this illusion; that our apparent separateness is one of our greatest Gifts — for it allows us to EXPERIENCE our innate Oneness whenever we actively choose to transcend self-centered instincts in order to actively Care for another (especially in those moments when we least wish to do so).
And this is what relationships do for us; they allow us to shatter the illusion of separation (generated by that “mind”) by allowing us to literally become ONE again in all those moments we choose to actively Love “another” (even though we might “know” that the other is merely an extension of the same ALL to which we also belong).
And I have also found it t be True that the more difficult the act of Caring extended, the more potent the EXPERIENCE of our innate Oneness we receive.
This is one of the deeper meanings to Jesus’ reminding us the Divine is present “where two or more are gathered”, as Love is only experienced during those moments when we perceive it to be actively given to another.
If relationship is simply “about seeing oneself more clearly” (as many believe), then I would offer that this is not a relationship at all. In such a situation, the other becomes a mere tool used to expand one’s own self-awareness; a situation where Love is not present at all. And, ironically, it is in such times of self-focus that our vision of True Self is dimmest and most hazy!
Yes, we do see more clearly via our relationships, and yet what use is a “clear” vision of self when that vision is self-fixated, and therefore deluded? Love must be given to be KNOWN … All else is a distraction from that opportunity; that ultimate Gift.
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