LOL, professor indeed, this college is in trouble if sqrls are made professors, yes?

In this thread I am trying to isolate "love" as an activity of our own hearts which we do only because it connects us to life itself, makes us more alive, happy inside. I am hoping that we can remember a part of us that is pure regardless of outcome or expectation, or desire and need.

It's not a lecture, or a sermon, although, embarrassingly enough to me, I acknowledge the resemblence to both. I hardly possess the final word on the subject, and nothing i'm saying here is meant to condemn anyone else's view, or their feelings.

That said, what i'm responding to specifically from your post was the longing you expressed to receive the same expression of love that you feel, from another. (reciprocity, the equal return in kind) We all want that and it is a valid and real feeling. In this discussion, I am trying to illustrate that feelings like that are different from the act of loving itself. (this is where the contrast analogy came into play)

The challenge I'm hoping to present here is the idea of cultivating, or improving our awareness of and ability to simply love for the sake of loving, no matter the result or return of the same. I find it improves every facet of my own life to do so. I'm hoping that this discussion might help others to find a similar benefit.

Am I clearing it up or making it murkier? (sqrls make poor professors, i'm afraid.)