I hardly read flooded emails. But, I got one flooded email from my papa yesterday. It had very interesting subject line, “Love is Beautiful”. I read that email. He specially mentioned that He wanted me to publish thoughts of Love by Swami Vivekananda on my blog, which are as below.
Swami Vivekananda once had a friend who grew to be very close to him. Once when they were sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filled the palm of her hand with some water and held it before him, and said this: “You see this water carefully contained on my hand? It symbolizes Love.”
Swamiji told that this was how he saw it. As long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there, it will always be there. However, if you attempt to close your fingers round it and try to posses it, it will spill through the first cracks it finds.
This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love. They try to posses it, they demand, they expect and just like the water spilling out of your hand, love will retrieve from them.
For love is meant to be free, you cannot change its nature. If there are people you love, allow them to be free beings. Give and don’t expect. Advise, but don’t order. Ask, but never demand.
It might sound simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice. It is the secret to true love. To truly practice it, you must sincerely feel no expectations from those who you love, and yet an unconditional caring.
Passing thoughts: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; but by the moments that take our breath away. Love is beautiful. Live it.
Swami VivekanandaI am happy that I read one flooded email from my papa. I certainly believe that what ever told my Swamiji is truth; but It takes lifetime to truly practice it.
The idea of the open hand vs. the clenched hand is similar to one that I have heard about love being symbolized by holding a beautiful but tender dove. If you hold onto it too tight it, you will kill it. Unconditional love that gives honor and a higher position to others is a key of life!