In God Makes the Rivers to Flow; An Anthology of the World’s Sacred Poetry & Prose, Eknath Easwaran includes a selection from the Bhagavad Gita entitled “The Way of Love.” I’ve written the following poem-like reflections inspired by this selection.
The Way of Love
That one I love who is incapable of ill will,
And returns love for hatred.
Living beyond the reach of I and mine
And of pleasure and pain, full of mercy,
Contented, self-controlled, firm in faith,
With all their heart and all their mind given to me—
With such as these I am in love.
—The Bhagavad Gita
I am in love with the first one to say, I’m sorry.
I am in love with the one who forgives.
I am in love with the one who hugs a murderer,
even though the hug is misunderstood.
For the one who forgives, who chooses compassion,
who see the light in the darkness,
is the one who knows love.
Love is the mastermind of creation.
Love your neighbor.
And you love me.
Love your enemy.
And you love me.
Love the prisoner.
And you love me.
Love the beggar.
And you love me.
Love the little children.
And you love me.
Love the downtrodden, the victims of assault.
And you love me.
Love the warriors.
And you love me.
Love the police.
And you love me.
Love the government leaders.
And you love me.
Love the arrogant.
And you love me.
Love the weak.
And you love me.
Love the nations.
And you love me.
Love the mountains.
And you love me.
Love the worms that squirm beneath your feet.
And you love me.
Love the fish on your plate.
And you love me.
Love the ocean.
And you love me.
Love the priest, the monk, the nun.
And you love me.
Love all religions.
And you love me.
Love the farmers and their fields.
And you love me.
Love the corporations, even when they do harm.
And you love me.
Love investments.
And you love me.
Love your body.
And you love me.
Love the doctors.
And you love me.
Love the homeless.
And you love me.
Extend your love out to everybody and everything.
And you love me.
Extend your love out to anybody and anything.
And you love me.
Devote yourself to my love.
Devote yourself to loving me.
And I will love you as I love myself.
To tell you the truth,
I already do love you as I love myself.
I always have.
I always will.
