Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.5Famous
intermediate
स होवाच। न वा अरे पत्युः कामाय पतिः प्रियो भवति। आत्मनस्तु कामाय पतिः प्रियो भवति। न वा अरे जायायै कामाय जाया प्रिया भवति। आत्मनस्तु कामाय जाया प्रिया भवति॥
sa hovāca | na vā are patyuḥ kāmāya patiḥ priyo bhavati | ātmanastu kāmāya patiḥ priyo bhavati | na vā are jāyāyai kāmāya jāyā priyā bhavati | ātmanastu kāmāya jāyā priyā bhavati ||
"He said: "It is not for the sake of the husband that the husband is dear, but for the sake of the Self. It is not for the sake of the wife that the wife is dear, but for the sake of the Self.""
What This Means:
You don't love your husband for his sake - you love him for your own Self's sake. Same with wife. All love is Self-love.
Going Deeper:
This revolutionary insight: all relationships are ultimately about the Self. The beloved is dear because of the Self's reflection.
How To Apply This:
Examine your loves. Whom do you really love in your beloved? It is the Self.
#Self-love#relationships#true object of love