What is love?

"Everyone admits that love is wonderful and necessary, yet no one agrees on just what it is."

So, the question remains. What is love? How do we describe the depths of our hearts in such a meaningful and descriptive way? How do we define the one word that confuses us all?

Paramahansa Yogananda: "To describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."

Love can be defined in many ways. Let's see if any of them come close to the heart:

- a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
- any object of warm affection or devotion
- have a great affection or liking for
- beloved: a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
- get pleasure from
- a deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction
- be enamored or in love with
- sleep together: have sexual intercourse with
- sexual love: sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people

I have to admit. They describe the general meaning of love. But they don't get down to the core - the actuality of love. What it really means to people. Love has been the one question that has been unanswered throughout life. Yet it is the reason most of us live, breathe, and die. It is the reason for happiness and sadness. And no one has been able to define it in true, meaningful words.

So what is love -- real, lasting love?

<< Psychology portrays love as a cognitive phenomenon with a social cause. It is said to have three components in the book of psychology: Intimacy, Commitment, and Passion. Also, in an ancient proverb love is defined as a high form of tolerance. And this view has been accepted and advocated by both philosophers and scholars. Love also includes compatibility. But it is more of journey to the unknown when the concept of compatibility comes into picture. Maybe the person whom we see in front of us, may be least compatible than the person who is miles away. We might talk to each other and portray that we love each other, but practically we do not end up into any relationship. Also in compatibility, the key is to think about the long term successful relationship, not a short journey. We need to understand each other and must always remember that no body is perfect. (http://www.love-sessions.com/whatislove.htm) >>

Logic says everything in this world has a cause and an effect. True Love is the only feeling which is its own cause and its own effect. It is something illogical and yet above all logic. I Love her because I Love her, and I Love her so I Love her. - Prateek Kumar Singh

I believe that love itself is a universal experience. Yet, every individual occurrence seems absolutely unique. Love is what love is! To everyone it expresses itself differently.

So, in turn, everyone describes and feels and experiences love differently. How do we define something so unique, so special to each and every person? Songs, poems, stories, quotes. People express love in many different ways. And every person is touched in different ways by the feelings portrayed in these actions.

I guess what I'm trying to say - what I'm trying to point out to everyone - is that love cannot be defined. It will never be defined to it's full potential. A definition will never do it the glory it deserves. You have to feel it, experience it, and express it in a way that you understand what it means to you. Love must be experienced. Its meaning is infinite and can never be totally defined.

Love has no meaning other than the meaning "we" give it.

Feel it in your heart. Pump it through your veins. Remember love. It's the one thing that gets me through the day. That may be the case for you, too.