Is it a good idea not to love others too much?

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by Honza

Where does the "love of others" fit into the scheme of things? From personal experience I have found that one can actually lose themselves if they love others too much. Has anyone else found this?

I loved others, but the deal breaker was that I forgot myself. I got lost. I know lots of other people who are the same. Somehow loving others can lose you and initiate you to forget yourself.

One needs to remain centred.

Well, the whole idea behind loving others is that you DO 'forget yourself' but if you are aware that "yourself" is being "forgotten", then you haven't really forgotten yourself, have you?

For myself "loving others" does not come naturally...I don't "hate others" either...I feel nothing towards others...and that is fine too.

I don't particularly love myself either - but I love the Divinity within myself (and others) and if that is all I CAN feel, that is more than enough.

[Honza]

Losing ones sense of self can be beneficial but it can also lead to chronic illness. We need a sense of our own self otherwise we can feel very overwhelmed and lost.

I think she means that selfishness within...but for many we have to know ourself first before we can forget ourself

The Buddhists have a saying "To study Buddhism is to study the self, to study the self is to forget the self, to forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand dhammas"....etc.

[Shivani Devi]

Originally Posted by janielee

I think she means that selfishness within...but for many we have to know ourself first before we can forget ourself

The Buddhists have a saying "To study Buddhism is to study the self, to study the self is to forget the self, to forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand dhammas"....etc.

Precisely.

http://www.mother-god.com/ten-thousand-things.html

You are a quick learner...I like that. It makes my job a whole lot easier.

You're a nice presence, SD; I appreciate your help.