I was fortunate enough to not have experienced the spiritual bullying some people feel they need to inflict on others for self righteous reasons. So, my feelings in regard to the invisible elements of my Self are not tainted by those poisonous thoughts and harsh conditioning. I feel eternally grateful I don't have to put time and energy into 'unlearning' such thoughts.

My point put simply was: If one can conjure up certain emotions for something external - why can one not conjure it for themselves. Not in a selfish, egotistical or self-centered way. But in a realistic, genuine and matter of fact way.

There may be less insecure (or) needy (or) spiteful (or) empty individuals around the world if we all took sometime to 'check ourselves before we wreck ourselves'.

And in saying that - if we did manage that kind of 'mind-set change' then maybe we would all find LOVE easier to define.

That's all I meant.

Yes! I know .... I'm dreamin'
But it was just a thought.
:-)

*The feeling or emotion that I associate with love is just not capable of being directed inward.*

Ah Romany, the nuns are responsible for much brainwashing! If you
can't love yourself, then you could easily develop a self esteem
problem and all that this entails.

The question arises about how the brain works and its perhaps not
possible for us to answer all questions.

For instance, if you see a little old lady and help her across
the street, did you do it because you are kind and loving, or
because it makes you feel good? Feeling good involves brain
chemicals being released, which are linked to the pleasure/reward
centres of the mind.

Most people will tell you that they enjoy doing good turns, it
gives them joy. Fair enough. Would they still do it if it made
them feel bad? I doubt it.

So it is in your self interest to help little old ladies across
the street, as your brain chemistry rewards your altruism!

Yabby, maybe it is just as well there is self-interest in love or charity.

Otherwise who would be there to help little old ladies. :)

You can't beat biology really - it all makes sense. Even religion is 'of biology' - dare I go there - yes I did.

The need for humans to have explanations or meaning is all self- interest in my opinion, but I don't think this is a negative, it makes perfect sense.

Whatever it is that makes us give love cannot be a bad thing from a species perspective and collectively it will be what makes us survive.

Dear Pelican,

I agree. Giving love is not a bad thing and
choosing to love each other is the only choice for
our survival.

The antidote to what is fundamentally wrong
(wars, gangs, violence, drugs etc), is the
cultivation of what is fundamentally right.

"In this life we cannot do great things,
we can only do small things with great love,"
---- Mother Theresa.

*and I'll repeat, the greatest threat to peace in the world was the tendency of women to resort to abortion and to contraception.*

Foxy, that was another quote from Mother Theresa. Now I know
that she was the Catholic pinup girl, but it seems not all was
as people thought, once they looked behind the scenes.

http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/stories/s266592.htm

.

Dear Yabby,

The problem with giving an incorrect "partial
quote" is that it tends to give people the
wrong impression.

If you're really interested in what Mother
Theresa had to say on abortion you could
google "Mother Theresa on abortion," or
try:

http://www.gargaro.com.mother_teresa/quotes.html

To understand her meaning - you have to read what
she had say in its entirety. Also, to the best
of my knowledge - Mother Theresa did not accumulate
material wealth for herself. And, I wonder how much
better off without her - would those poor have been
to whom she did extend a helping hand?

Mother Theresa believed in forgiveness, and asked
that we do likewise. Attack is an easier response
than forgiveness - However, the journalist from
the website you gave should remember - attacks on
others are really attacks on ourselves. The article
says more about him, than Mother Theresa. She would
see through the mistakes that someone has made -
to the truth that lies in their heart.

Cheers.