Celebrating Valentine’s Day with celibacy and ethical discipline
Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide, emphasizing romantic love, gifts, and gestures.
However, Adele Tomlin points out that according to Buddhism, this love based on self-interest can result in pain and distress.
True love, as Buddhism teaches, prioritizes others’ happiness over personal gratification.
Bodhicitta, seeking awakening for the benefit of all, rests on immeasurable love and compassion.
Je Taranatha, a revered Buddhist master, underscores love’s role in fostering genuine compassion, a crucial aspect of spiritual practice.
While romantic and familial bonds may bring joy, attachment often leads to pain, contrasting with the Dharma’s emphasis on reducing desire and attachment for true liberation.
Thus, celibacy and ethical discipline are advocated as paths to inner bliss and universal welfare.
This Valentine’s Day, amidst societal expectations, reflecting on love’s true nature can offer solace and insight, guiding one towards a more compassionate and fulfilling way of being.
