Which tree are you standing under?

We governed ourselves through a social contract (silver rule) or by compassion and love (golden rule). Which one rules you? If you are like most people, love is just an abstract concept that is hard to define.

If love is the thread that holds the golden rule together, what is the thread that holds love together? Love has many interpretations but does it share a common root within every relationships? How do we uphold the golden rule when we don't even have a universal definition of love?

When offering a definition of love, many people will not address what love is, but rather what love does and what love feels like. In other words, people tend to offer the result of love but fail to explain the substance of love. Much like defining rain, people will limit their answer to 'it feels wet' and 'it makes plants grow.' Seldom do we hear a meteorological explanation of rain. We are looking for a causal answer to love and not the effectual explanation. Love is the cause, and emotions along with actions are its effects. Love must have a common thread between one relation to another. What is it?

A good place to start is by analyzing love's nemesis – its evil counterpart; hate. Is it not ironic that hate is much easier to define than love? What does that say about us?

“If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” `Albert Einstein

Hatred fears, it destroys, it deceives, it plots evil, it exploits, it frets, it's self-promoting, it's selfish, it's unsure, it's impatient, it's partial, it's power hungry, it's heartless, it's unforgiving, it's chaotic, it's deadly, it's faultfinding, and its dishonourable. A person with hate is governed through the 'social contract' system in which the fear of punishment and the want for rewards keeps the individual in check. Albert Einstein, arguably one of this planet most brilliant mind in history stated that “If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.”

Since love is hatred's adversary then we can reason that love holds diametric traits from hate:

Love has faith, it co-operates, it edifies, it forgives, it's honourable, it's courageous, it's steadfast, it's self-sacrificial, it's peaceful, it's compassionate, it's honourable, it's has integrity, it's patience, it's impartial, it's inspiriting, it's relentless, and it enjoys life. A person with genuine love is governed by the 'golden rule', where the individual benefits from altruistic acts of benevolence. “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” ~Mother Teresa

Short Definition of Love
Love is a contract to continuously edify everyone.

Longer Version
Love is an agreement of faith to honourably commit to the well-being and edification of every person with impartiality and with perseverance. It recognizes and respect all life.

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” ~Mother Teresa

Ultimately there are two ways to keep this world in check; the letter of the law (rules) or the spirit of the law (love). Which tree will you eat from?

© 2009-2012 Copyright Unlimited Harmony - Tricotomas. All rights reserved.
No part of this website or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise)
without the prior written permission of the site owner.
SHORT EXCERPTS ARE PERMITTED