Pure Love

The book "Pure Love" by Dada Bhagwan, as presented in the provided German translation, delves into the spiritual understanding of love, differentiating it from worldly attachments and infatuations. The core message is that true, pure love is divine, unchanging, and originates from the Self (the Soul).

Here's a comprehensive summary of the key themes and teachings presented:

The Nature of Pure Love:

• Unchanging and Divine: Pure love is defined as something that neither increases nor decreases. It is constant, unconditional, and unwavering, regardless of circumstances or the actions of others. This is contrasted with worldly "love," which is characterized by attachment, delusion, and expectations.
• Originates from the Self: Pure love is not found in the external world. It resides within the Self (Atman) and is experienced when one understands and realizes their true nature. It is the love of the highest soul.
• Motiveless and Selfless: Pure love has no ulterior motives, expectations, or self-interest. It is selfless and flows naturally without seeking reciprocation or reward.
• Sees No Faults: Pure love perceives no faults in others. It looks beyond imperfections and mistakes, remaining constant in its affection.
• Beyond Dualities: Pure love transcends dualities like attraction and repulsion, like and dislike. It is a state of oneness with the Self and with all living beings.
• The Essence of God: Pure love is described as the divine Lord in human form and as the Absolute Self. Where pure love exists, God exists.

The Illusion of Worldly Love:

• Attachment, Delusion, and Infatuation: What is commonly perceived as love in the world is actually attachment (moha), infatuation (verliebtheit), attraction (anziehung), and delusion. These are characterized by expectations, desires, and a fluctuating nature.
• Conditional and Selfish: Worldly love is conditional, dependent on circumstances and the fulfillment of personal needs and desires. It is inherently selfish, stemming from the ego and the belief of "I am."
• Leads to Conflict and Suffering: The attachment and attraction that characterize worldly love lead to conflicts, disappointments, and suffering when expectations are not met or when relationships change.
• Temporary and Fluctuating: Worldly love increases and decreases based on external factors. It can disappear when one's needs are no longer met or when there are disagreements.

The Path to Pure Love:

• Self-Realization (Atmagnan): The key to experiencing pure love is through Self-realization, the knowledge of one's true Self. This knowledge helps dissolve the ego and the illusion of separation.
• The Gnani Purush (Enlightened One): Dada Bhagwan, as a Gnani Purush, embodies pure love. Meeting and following the teachings of a Gnani is crucial for attaining Self-realization and experiencing pure love.
• Understanding the Self: By realizing the Self, one understands that they are beyond the body, mind, and ego. This understanding naturally leads to the dissolution of attachments and the emergence of pure love.
• Non-Attachment (Vitaragata): Developing non-attachment to worldly things, relationships, and even the physical body is essential.
• Living by Agnas (Divine Commands): Following the principles and commandments given by the Gnani helps maintain the state of Self-awareness and prevents the binding of new karma.
• Acceptance and Forgiveness: Accepting the world as it is, with all its imperfections, and seeking forgiveness for one's own perceived faults are crucial steps.
• Cultivating Inner Harmony: The focus should be on maintaining inner harmony and love, rather than seeking external validation or reciprocation.

Practical Teachings and Analogies:

• Love Sees No Faults: An analogy is given of parents who scold their children. If there is true love, they would not see faults, even when correcting.
• The Mother's Love: While considered the highest worldly love, even a mother's love is shown to be relative and ultimately based on attachment and expectation, though it is the closest to pure love in the relative world.
• The Magnet and the Needle: The attraction between atoms is used as an analogy for worldly love and attraction, which are rooted in physical properties and can change. Pure love, however, is like the Self, which is beyond these atomic interactions.
• The Importance of the "Foreign Department": Dada Bhagwan explains keeping emotions and worldly interactions in the "foreign department" of the Self, preventing them from affecting the inner state.
• The Power of Love: Love is presented as the ultimate solution and a powerful force that can transform the world and resolve all conflicts.

The Role of Dada Bhagwan:

• Dada Bhagwan, as a Gnani Purush, is presented as the embodiment of pure love. His teachings and the process of Gnan Vidhi (Self-realization) offer a direct path to experiencing this divine love.
• He emphasizes that his love is constant and unconditional, untouched by praise or criticism.

In essence, "Pure Love" is a spiritual guide that aims to awaken the seeker to their true nature, which is love itself. It encourages a shift from the illusion of worldly love to the profound and liberating experience of divine, pure love emanating from the Self.