What is unconditional love? As simple as it sounds, it is perhaps the most misunderstood and misused phrase in our relationships. Unconditional love is a benevolent feeling that arises from a deeper level of our Consciousness (our life coach) for all creation: rocks, plants, animals, human beings, etc., regardless of its shape, size, color, nature or actions in nature. It is because each of us has the same Universal Consciousness that pervades all life and non-life forms connecting all of creation to ONE source.
Observe nature and you will find that the Universal Consciousness expresses itself differently through each entity in creation, depending on what “clothes” they are wearing and what role they are playing in nature. Thus, the Universal Consciousness is conditioned by the “garment” it wears. Once we understand this truth, living with unconditional love for all forms and beings not only becomes easy, but also brings us peace.
What about the role of unconditional love in our relationships with beings and creation around us? Well, let me try to answer this by telling an interesting mythological story.
A long time ago, a king cobra snake ruled a good part of the middle of the forest using his wits and terrifying tactics. Most of the people and animals were afraid of him and tried to take different paths to avoid facing him. One day the snake heard some people traveling through the forest about a great saint. Out of curiosity, Snake decided to go listen to what this saint had to say. Snake didn’t want to create any trouble around so many people so he hid among the rocks where he could still clearly hear the saint. The saint spoke truths about Universal Consciousness, unconditional love and peace. The message resonated with serpent and from that day forward he decided to change his behavior towards his fellow man. The snake began to approach everyone who passed with courtesy and affection, but to his dismay, he was met with rejection and even stones were thrown at him. Wounded, bruised and with tears on its skin, the snake was lying on the side of a path when the saint passed by. Saint asked the snake what happened. After hearing the story of the snake, Saint clarified that you must first know who you are before you launch yourself into showing unconditional love to anyone.
The story makes a point, although unconditional love resonates at our level of consciousness, we cannot relate unconditionally on the physical level. We must first know our own conditioning, what “clothes” we are wearing, and then be aware of what “clothes” a person or creation in front of us is wearing. So while Loving can and should be unconditional, Connecting on a physical level cannot be unconditional. If we don’t follow the rule of this nature, we will be beaten, bruised, abused and left destitute in our relationships.
One notable exception: this rule does not apply to a self-actualized person. Such a person has merged and become one with consciousness. His thoughts and actions are no longer conditioned by his own (ego) body, mind and intellect. Loving and relating to such a person has transcended all physical conditioning and is seen and felt by others simply as pure awareness. Examples are Christ, Buddha and some others.
So, before reaching the state of self-realization, what can we do? Whenever we engage in life through our physical body, mind and intellect, we see ourselves as separate and distinct from others and our external actions are conditioned by our desires and ego. Inadvertently, this also conditions the relationship with the outside physical world. Therefore, for now we must use our Unconditional Love (life coach) to guide our actions so that they are selfless and harmless to others and the environment around us. As a result, one can imagine harmonious relationships, peace, and promoting health and wellness in their lives.