7/23/2008 - Unconditional Love

I have noticed lately that I have been "nicer" than usual. The other day at Costco I helped two people load heavy items into their carts. I have been opening more doors for people, cutting less people off while driving and even seem generally more friendly to everyone I meet.

The other day I was walking with a group of co-workers. One of them turned to me and said "Would you mind doing me a favor?"

I replied "Yes anything;" I told her jokingly "I would walk to the end of the earth for you lady!"

Her response was "Yeah right!"

At that moment I realized that I meant it and expanded "No really, I would. In fact I would walk to the end of the earth for anybody."

I was not really sure why this came out the way it did and what it truly meant, but I went on with my day and did not think much about it.

I was reading something today that I found a very interesting:

"Only the outer ego, the individuality, seeks to 1) coerce; 2) judge; 3) flatter; and/or 4) threaten or frighten the outer self or selves of others. On the other hand, the Inner Self, the Master Within, offers unconditional love...We know that our outer ego-self is but an instrument for unconditional love. This unconditional love is tempered with a universal wisdom that is tolerant—being a harmonium which is balanced and equitable for all concerned."

I know that this sounds like a statement that the Dali Llama might say or something the relative that calls you brother no mater how you are related and insists on enthusiastic grace at absolutely every meal (even when dining out) would say, or what my wife called "hippy-dippy," but when I read this and compared it to my personal journey to enlightenment it really hit home. It reminds me of lessons one might be taught out of the bible (like love they neighbor/enemy).

I feel that love/respect/acceptance for everyone regardless of their appearance, background, nationality or attitude is something that if we all strive to do, could change the entire Universe. The only caveat to this theory is that in order to love unconditionally, one must love one's self unconditionally. This means getting over all the preprogrammed self esteem sucking dispositions you have developed throught your life and realizing that you are worthy of absolute self-respect.

Directly after writing this entry I came across this quote from Nelson Mandela in The Power of Flow:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."