real love

The ordinary human being does not know what love is.When someone's company gives you pleasure, you tend to think you love that person. But in reality it is yourself you love; your ego has been pleased by the other person's attention, that is all. Would you go on "loving" that person if he should cease to please you? What it means to love someone else more than oneself is very difficult to understand, and even more difficult for the average person to practice.

 To illustrate, I will tell you a true story of real love.

There was in India a devoted husband who loved his wife very deeply. Another man became infatuated with her. She ran away with her lover, who eventually left her without friends or funds. One day her husband came to see her. He spoke gently. "Are you through with this experience? Come home with me, if you are." She demurred. " I could not think of disgracing you further." "What do I care about the opinion of the society?" he replied. "I love you. The other man loved only your body. I love the real you - your soul. What has happened doesn't make any difference."

That was real love. The husband wasn't concerned for his honor; he was thinking only of the welfare of his beloved.

Paramahansa Yogananda