The Transcendent Nature of Love



Throughout our lives, we get thrown curveballs, with varying degrees of seriousness and disruption. Some are minor nuisances that cause a temporary upheaval to our daily routines, while others are major, life-altering events. There are also the in-between types that are not catastrophes, but are significantly more than a short-term hassle.  

The ways in which people handle and navigate these situations vary just as much as the situations themselves, and affect everyone differently. Depending on the season of life someone is in, something that may have been dealt with fairly seamlessly in the past, becomes what feels like an insurmountable obstacle when faced with it in the present moment.

When going through something difficult, it can be hard to see clearly. At least, that has been the case for me, recently. Fortunately, I have a loving, helpful, and relentlessly logical husband, who will not allow me, or us, to fall into a pit of despair and immobility. All my years of yoga practice and Zen study, and my reading of Christian theology, have not been nearly as supportive or useful to me as my husband has been, and it has left me with many unanswered questions, and a bit at sea, in regards to how I view my spiritual practices.

There has always been a dividing line, which many teachers have cautioned students and seekers about, between studying spiritual philosophies, and applying their concepts to real life: Academic knowledge and understanding versus absorbing, embodying, and living them out. I thought I had managed a little of both, but now I am inclined to think I was weighted heavily towards the former, and only a minor degree towards the latter. When the chips are down, by failing to truly incorporate spiritual teachings into daily life, all the studying in the world won’t help you in getting through times of strife.

Love is the one common thread that runs through nearly every religious tradition. While I do not believe someone needs to subscribe to any philosophy or religious discipline to arrive at the realization that love is the most powerful force there is, exploring different paths of spirituality may help in uncovering and recognizing its transcendent nature.

Real love, in the form of a deep human bond with one person, means infinitely more than any mere doctrine of philosophy or religion. It goes far beyond abstract beliefs, and, I believe, is more significant and important than anything else that we can give or receive. In my case, this transcendent love is between spouses, but it can be between people in any sort of relationship, romantic or otherwise. If I could wish anything for others, it would be that they could experience this profound connection and spiritual bond for themselves.


Popular posts from this blog

Hello and Welcome

Image
  Hello there. I’m Angela, an artist and illustrator who creates calm art for a busy world using traditional, analog mediums. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States with my husband, Michael Collins Morton, a writer of fiction of nonfiction , and our many plants. My writings are on a variety of subjects, ranging from art, creativity, books, spirituality, and a smattering of other things in between. I also have a series called "A Capsule Kitchen," which features simple, budget-friendly, vegan recipes.  If you would like to see my art and illustration work,  I invite you to have a look at my portfolio , or browse my shop . I am also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; my SCBWI gallery can be viewed here .  Please contact me via the contact form on the main page  if you are interested in working with me, or licensing my art. Links for all my offe...
Read more

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: Easy Tofu Burgers

Image
These tofu veggie burgers are easy and quick, and are ideal for using up leftovers on a busy weeknight. As with all my recipes, this one can be used more as a template than a strict instructional step-by-step, so feel free to use whatever veggies or spices you like to make it your own. Below is the recipe with the ingredients I happened to use the night I took the photos for this post. I will provide a few alternatives at the end, to get you thinking about what you might want to try when you make them in your own home. Easy Tofu Burgers Ingredients: (I typically use frozen veggies, but you can use fresh or canned as well) Extra firm tofu (I use about ⅓ of the block, which makes 2 generous burgers A handful of frozen kale A handful of frozen mushrooms A handful of frozen peas A tablespoon or 2 of all-purpose flour Spices Garlic salt Nutritional yeast Onion powder Pepper Instructions 1. Cook the frozen (or fresh, if using) veggies and let them cool off, either by leaving them in a bowl ...
Read more

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: Cheap Chickpea Burgers

Image
  Bean burgers, of any variety, are such an easy and cheap dinner option, which is especially important in these difficult economic times. As someone who eats a vegan diet, and is on a limited budget, these chickpea burgers are a regular go-to for my household. I’ve written the recipe for how I typically make them, though you can use it as a template, and switch up the veggies, spices, and quantities to your liking. Cheap Chickpea Burgers Ingredients (I typically use frozen vegetables, but fresh and canned are also fine. I also always use dried beans, as they are extremely cost effective.) *½ cup dried chickpeas, cooked (or 1 can. A ½ cup dried chickpeas equals about a can when cooked. See instructions at the end for how to prep and cook them.) Handful of kale Handful of corn Handful of cauliflower Handful of chopped or sliced carrots A tablespoon or so of all-purpose flour for each burger Vegetable oil (to coat the bottom of the pan) Spices (all optional) Garlic salt Nutritional ...
Read more