The people and things we love the most are the ones we are most attached to. The more we love them, the more we identify with them. Our joy and happiness get linked to their well-being, and when things are difficult, the measure of our pain reflects how deeply we love and care. It is a privilege to love so deeply, but we need to love with complete freedom, caring deeply without being attached.

On the face of it, it sounds paradoxical – how is possible to love without being attached? If we reflect on it, that is really the only way to truly love. Our inner freedom gives us the capacity to give of ourselves in a manner we could not have imagined.

We learn to love, free from anxiety. To give of our love without the care or worry of receiving something back is the purest form of love. The love of a mother for her child reflects this. She loves totally without expectation.

We learn to love, free from fear. Sometimes we fear our love may not be recognised or reciprocated. It doesn’t matter. Not everyone we love will love us back in the same measure as we love them. But the freedom to love without fear is a fulfillment in itself.

We learn to love from a distance. Our inner freedom overpowers our insecurity. We don’t feel insecure when we are not in close proximity and others are close to people we love. Like the warmth of the sun, our love will be felt no matter where we are. Love transcends time and space.

We know we are free when we learn to love unconditionally. There are times we love, not because of, but in spite of circumstances and behaviour. But we love from deep independence of freedom, knowing our love is independent of the vagaries of life.

Inner freedom gives our love purity. We love for love’s sake. We don’t allow fear, anxiety, anger, jealousy, and ego to interfere with our capacity to give of ourselves. When we care so deeply that we really don’t care what we get in return, not only have we gained true freedom, we have learned how to truly love.

(Picture-Asia Plateau, Panchgani)