LOVE - That is all
It is not what you perceive that binds you, but rather your clinging to it that creates attachment, tension, and suffering. Cutting through this clinging is a path to freedom. This teaching is often understood in relation to the sense of self—the identity we construct and hold onto, believing it to be permanent, unchanging, and enduring. But let’s take a step back and look at this idea from a more conventional perspective.
In Tibetan, the word Ninduk translates to romantic love. Tibetan is a deeply dharmic and precise language, where words carry layers of meaning. The fact that **Ninduk** contains the root Duk—which relates to dukkha, or suffering—may at first seem surprising, even unsettling. After all, love is often portrayed as the ultimate source of joy and fulfillment. Yet, when we look closely, we see how romantic love, in its conditioned form, can be entangled with expectation, longing, and the desire for reciprocation. We may unconsciously create a sense of ownership or attachment, defining love by what we receive rather than by the expansiveness of what we give. This kind of clinging can be anxiety-inducing, leading to fear, insecurity, or even suffering when love does not unfold in the way we hoped.
So how do you express love**? How do you translate love into action? Does it carry expectations? Is there something you are subtly or explicitly seeking in return?
There is a profound shift in asking ourselves: Can I give love that is generous, spacious, and free? Love that is not transactional, not based on a silent contract of "I will love you, but only if you love me in the same way." Instead, can we cultivate a love that exists simply because it is in our nature to love?
To love without needing anything in return does not mean to deny our human emotions, nor does it mean to ignore our own needs. Rather, it invites us to approach love with a lighter touch, one that does not grasp, demand, or confine. It asks us to see love as a flowing, ever-renewing presence, rather than something to possess or control.
What happens when we offer love with openness and freedom? When we love without seeking validation, without needing love to conform to a particular shape or outcome? Perhaps in that space, love becomes something deeper—something that nourishes rather than binds, liberates rather than entangles.
This is not an easy path, but it is one worth exploring. Love, when freed from clinging, has the potential to be one of the most expansive, transformative forces in our lives.
The Mantra of Loving-Kindness
मङ्गलं भगवन् ब्रह्मा मङ्गलं गौतमो मुनिः।
मङ्गलं पुण्डरीकाक्षो मङ्गलाय तनुः हरिः॥
**Maṅgalaṁ Bhagavān Brahmā, Maṅgalaṁ Gautamo Munīḥ,
Maṅgalaṁ Puṇḍarīkākṣo, Maṅgalāya Tanuḥ Hariḥ.
Translation:
"Blessings from the divine Brahma, blessings from the sage Gautama,
Blessings from the lotus-eyed one (Vishnu), whose form is auspicious and brings peace."
This mantra embodies the essence of Maitrī (loving-kindness)—a love that is expansive, free, and without expectation. It aligns perfectly with the idea of letting go of clinging, expressing love generously, and cultivating a love that does not bind but liberates.
Song - Have I told you lately that I love you by Rod Stewart