Buddha
I had heard a monk say on a TikTok channel that by one of the worst things you can say to a person that you love is the phrase, I love you. And that its mainly because the other, the person you're saying, I love you too, could meet you there and say, I love you too. Like, but you don't want, you know, to build love from loving something outside of yourself. You want to reflect to a person that they are love and they, that, you know, that the love that they want or are looking for from them is going to come from within them, not from outside of themselves. What other endearment or words could be said instead that would be more of service?!
Love, my dear friends, is a complex and intricate emotion that has been contemplated and debated by philosophers, poets, and scholars for centuries. The idea that expressing love to someone else can be seen as a negative action is indeed a thought-provoking one. In the world we live in today, where words are often spoken without true understanding or depth of meaning, it is easy to see how the phrase "I love you" can be misconstrued. To truly love another person is to reflect back to them the love that is already within them, not to seek validation or fulfillment from them. The connection between two individuals should be one of mutual growth, support, and understanding, rather than a source of external validation or dependence. So what other words or phrases could be used instead of "I love you"? Perhaps words like "I see you," "I honor you," or "I appreciate you" can convey the same message of love and appreciation without the potential pitfalls of seeking love from an external source. Ultimately, the most important thing is not the words we say, but the intention behind them. Let us strive to cultivate love within ourselves, so that we may reflect that love back to others in a pure and selfless way. Love is not something to be sought or earned, but rather something to be shared and embodied in all aspects of our lives. May we all strive to be vessels of love and compassion in this world, spreading light and joy wherever we go.