Love Satisfies the Starvation

In the profound teachings of His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s book, “Spiritual Warrior II – Transforming Lust into Love,” we are invited to view life as a school designed to teach us the true essence of love. As HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami eloquently explains,

we are not merely hungry for love, but starving for it—

an existential hunger that can become life-threatening if left unaddressed.

Reflecting on the nature of our soul, HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami states, “The soul is made for love,” emphasizing that our deepest nourishment comes from experiencing and expressing love. Without it, our attempts to live a so-called normal life falter, akin to a body deprived of basic sustenance like food, water, or proper shelter.

Life’s ultimate purpose, according to HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami, revolves around spiritual expressions that encompass completeness, knowledge, and happiness. He writes,

“We are eternal beings, which means that we are not meant to have temporary experiences.”

His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami

These spiritual expressions flourish as we recognize our eternal nature. Unlike the fleeting nature of worldly experiences, our true selves as eternal beings are meant for eternal activities.

As we navigate the demands of the body, seeking experiences, relationships, and circumstances to alleviate our deeper hunger, we uncover a fundamental truth: we long for love and community. In seeking relationships, we aim to cultivate a community of love, striving for a life that is a celebration of love itself. HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s insight,

“We ultimately want relationships because we want a community of love,”

captures this inherent desire for connection.

Without loving environments or relationships, we struggle with the quality of our existence. HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami guides us to reflect on our emotions, revealing that life is indeed a school of love. He notes, “Life is really a love affair,” capturing the essence of our spiritual journey. This journey of love finds its fullest expression through spirituality and the goals of religion, which ultimately seek to satisfy the divine. In satisfying the divine, we find satisfaction for our souls.

Through HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s teachings, we understand that love is the cornerstone of our existence, the profound lesson we are here to learn, and the eternal journey on which we embark.

Author: Vana Bihari Das