Good Afternoon,
One of my references in spiritual life are the 2 commandments of Jesus, "love God above anything and love your neighbour as yourself".
I notice though that in order to lift selfesteem and being able to love others, you need to love yourself first.
What is your view on the correct order and the most direct way of finding freedom. Mainly focussing on the relationship with God or focussing on loving oneself unconditionally.
Thank you,
thomas
—Thomas D'Herck, Belgium
Dear Thomas,
Jesus’ words: “Thou shalt love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself” have such profundity and beauty. To answer your questions: What order should we approach these two practices? and Do we need to love ourselves first before we can love others?, I’ll share these thoughts.
One of the aspects of God is love – universal, unconditional, unlimited love. Without first touching this love within ourselves through meditation and devotion, we can’t begin to share love with others. If we wait until we accept ourselves and overcome low self-esteem, we may wait a long time.
But to feel the power of God’s love flowing through us – not because of our worth but because it is a force in the universe – is to be able truly to love others.
If we can forget ourselves by absorption in our love for God, then all of these questions are anwered in one beautiful flow.
God bless you,
Nayaswami Devi
