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I like and agree very much with the many points raised in this post.
Some of us would chastise our fellow friends or family members for being unfaithful or immature when they pursue a new love or a new friendship.
However the ‘true one true love’ as explained by shian is something that will remain a fairy tale for some.
If we do keep a count of the number of people we meet in our lives till the day we breathe our last and reflect on their love towards the people around them, I believe some of us would perhaps realise certain truths about these truths “One truly holistic and equanimous love for one universe of everyone, One truly unconditional and selfless love with no separation of lovers from the beloved.” :
Even if everyone purports to strive for the above goals, those who could be steadfast in their goals are very, very few in terms of global population distribution.
For example, at any one time, there is always one Buddha appearing. Never more than one. If there’s more than one, the other ones would appear in other forms rather than the form of a Buddha.
In our human world, no matter how many real-life examples of unconditional love we come across in this world, a deep, honest reflection will tell us that such examples aren’t enough to effect a change great enough to transform at least 80% of the world population to stay as people with true, unconditional love.
Seriously if that day is really possible, my aspiration for rebirth in Pureland would be greatly reduced since I would theoretically be living in earthly Pureland, enjoying the unsurpassed company of loving fellow humans.
Why do we take refuge in the Triple Gems?
Cos Triple Gems, in part or as a whole, is a perfect reflection or is an unconditioned reality/Truth of True, unconditional, unchanging love for all.
Why are there samasaric cycles? Why even heavenly beings are not considered as beings who have achieved unconditional love?
Cos true and perfect unconditional love comes with aeons of steadfast practice of the Dharma, till the day we finally attain Buddhahood.
Can we say we are practicing “true love” or “true compassion” when it is done out of the belief that we will accumulate positive karma to be reborn in Pureland?
I know I cannot do that, yet.
Only the enlighten one will be “true” enough to even love his enemies. But then, if such person is truly enlighten, he would already have no enemies.
The point is to do our best and to encourage as many as we can to do the same. Whether we make it or not in one lifetime is another matter. The world can be changed eventually with true love – even if it takes a long time. E.g. the world when Maitreya Bodhisattva arrives to be Buddha is a very loving one. We don’t have to change the whole world overnight, but influencing one person at a time is better than not at all.
When we dwell on the difficulty of perfecting love, it is hard to do what our best. What we are always mindful of will tend to grow. E.g. When one cultivate Metta (loving-kindness) meditation regularly, one does become more loving. If one frets the difficulty of practice, one will never grow in metta. We can also leave for Amituofo’s Pureland to more swiftly train our unconditional love there, as we are able to perceive and reach out to the suffering of all beings in various realms from there.
It is alright to practise metta and karuna (compassion) out of aspiration to accumulate merits to be born in Pureland, because it is a good aspiration, but they should be practised sincerely too, not out of pure greed for merits. It can be tricky, but with practice, our goodness will become more and more selfless, even if not totally so in this lifetime. Remember that Pureland is not for the enlightened, but for the unenlightened to train. So, it’s not true that we are expected to be perfect to be born in Pureland. That’s good news! Amituofo
😉