14 May 2026
Thursday
Everyone must endeavour to realise this sacred principle of love. Love does not connote Nature; it is beyond Nature. Love is not contained in Nature; Nature itself is contained in love! Similarly, it is not love contained in the universe; it is the universe contained in love. When I hold this handkerchief in My hand, what does it mean? It means My hand is bigger than the handkerchief. But if you say, love is contained in this universe, it would mean the Universe is bigger than love. But, it is not so. The reality is that love is bigger than the Universe. Love is not subservient to this visible world; this world itself is under the control of love. Creation, sustenance and dissolution, time, cause and effect - all are contained in love. Other than love, everything else in this world is physical and fleeting. How long will this body last? It is temporary. Love that is related to this ephemeral body is also momentary and transient. Only the principle of Atma, Brahma or Hridaya is true and eternal. It is the foremost duty of man to recognise this true and eternal principle of love.
From Swami’s discourse of 27 July 1996
Also on words from this discourse: Love That Only Gives, 16 May 2026, Digesting the Teachings, 13 May 2026
Everyone must endeavour to realise this sacred principle of love. Love does not connote Nature; it is beyond Nature. Love is not contained in Nature; Nature itself is contained in love! Similarly, it is not love contained in the universe; it is the universe contained in love. When I hold this handkerchief in My hand, what does it mean? It means My hand is bigger than the handkerchief. But if you say, love is contained in this universe, it would mean the Universe is bigger than love. But, it is not so. The reality is that love is bigger than the Universe. Love is not subservient to this visible world; this world itself is under the control of love. Creation, sustenance and dissolution, time, cause and effect - all are contained in love. Other than love, everything else in this world is physical and fleeting. How long will this body last? It is temporary. Love that is related to this ephemeral body is also momentary and transient. Only the principle of Atma, Brahma or Hridaya is true and eternal. It is the foremost duty of man to recognise this true and eternal principle of love.