What if the most profound force in the universe is also the most accessible? This isn’t merely a poetic idea; it’s a fundamental law of existence. The true power of love is its ability to act as an invisible architect, shaping your reality, health, and every interaction. When we recognize ourselves as one with this Spirit of Infinite Love, we tap into a transformative energy. This connection fills us so completely that we begin to see only the good in others. We understand that we are all members of one great body, and to harm any part is to harm the whole.
This realization is the first step in wielding the incredible power of love to dissolve prejudice, end hatred, and create a life where love reigns supreme. Wherever we go, we learn to recognize the divine within each person, and in doing so, we always find the good we seek.
The Scientific Principle Behind the Power of Love
There is a profound scientific fact underlying the ancient axiom, “He that takes the sword shall perish by the sword.” This principle moves beyond the physical into the realm of mental forces. The moment we understand the subtle yet immense power of love and its opposite, we see a clear (karma) in action. Your thoughts are not passive whispers; they are tangible forces that project outward from you, influencing the world and returning to their source.
Consider this: the instant you entertain a thought of hatred toward another, you launch a diabolical force. This energy doesn’t just vanish; it impacts the recipient, often arousing the same vibrations of hatred within them. This newly energized negativity then cycles back to you, the original sender. Now, compound this with the understood physiological effects of passion, hatred, or anger on the physical body. The cortisol spike, the increased heart rate, the tension in muscles—this is how expensive hatred is. It is detrimental to your peace and your health.
This law applies to all kindred negative emotions: envy, criticism, jealousy, and scorn. In the ultimate analysis, we find that in entertaining these poisonous feelings toward another person, we always suffer far more than the target of our malice. We become the primary recipients of our own toxic energy.
Selfishness vs. Selflessness: The Root of All Conflict
To fully harness the power of love, we must confront its greatest adversary: selfishness. Selfishness lies at the root of all error, sin, and crime. And what is the basis of all selfishness? It is ignorance. The ignorant man is a selfish man because he operates under the illusion that he can benefit at the expense of the greater whole. He fails to see the interconnectedness of all life.
In stark contrast, the truly wise man is never selfish. He is a seer—a person of profound insight. He recognizes the fact that he, a single member of the one great body, is benefited in just the degree that the entire body is benefited. Therefore, he seeks nothing for himself that he would not equally seek for all mankind. This understanding fosters boundless charity and allows us to look upon the errors of others with compassion, not condemnation. When we see a manifestation of ignorance or selfishness, our task is not to judge but to respond with the power of love—to look for and diligently call forth the good in that individual.
The Divine Dialogue: God Recognizes God
This dynamic plays out in a simple, powerful metaphor: When God speaks to God, then God responds, and shows forth as God. But when devil speaks to devil, then devil responds, and the devil is always to pay.
You may hear someone say, “I don’t see any good in him.” The response is simple: then you are not a seer. You must look deeper. The power of love is a lens that allows you to find the very spark of the divine in every human soul. But remember, it takes a God to recognize a God. You must first have realized this divine nature within yourself to see it in others.
Christ exemplified this perfectly. He consistently spoke to the highest, truest, and best in men, even so-called publicans, Pharisees and sinners. He recognized the God in each because he had first realized it in himself. The Scribes and Pharisees, wrapped in their own conceit and self-centered ignorance, had never found this divinity within themselves, and thus they could never see it in others.
Your Thoughts Are Echoes That Come Back
This brings us to the immutable boomerang law of thought. In the degree that we hold a person in the thought of evil or of error, we suggest evil and error to them. If they are sensitively organized or not well individualized (lacking strong mental boundaries), they will be influenced by this negative suggestion. In this way, we become sharers in the very evil-doing we are condemning. This forms the basis of hypnotism and mind reading.
Conversely, and this is where we actively use the power of love, when we hold a person in the thought of the right, the good, and the true, we suggest righteousness and goodness to them. This has a beneficent and uplifting influence on their life and conduct. If our hearts consistently go out in love to all whom we contact, we inspire love. The same ennobling, warming influences of love then return to us from those in whom we inspire them. This is the deep scientific and philosophical principle behind the golden rule: “If you would have all the world love you, you must first love all the world.” In the degree that we love, will we be loved.
Thoughts are forces. Each thought creates of its kind. Each thought comes back to its originator laden with the corresponding effect. This is a universal law as reliable as gravity. learn more on Mastering Mindful Control of Thought on our blog.
The Physical Power of Love on the Body
The power of love extends beyond the mental and spiritual; it manifests physically in your body. Every thought you entertain has a direct, biochemical effect on your organism.
- Love’s Effect: Love and its kindred emotions (compassion, joy, goodwill) are normal, natural, and in harmony with the eternal order of the universe. They have a life-giving, health-engendering influence. They can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and reduce stress. They beautify your countenance, enrich your voice, and make you more attractive. As you hold thoughts of love, you not only draw love back from others but you also add a tangible life force to your own system, continuously building up your mental and physical vitality.
- Hatred’s Effect: Hatred and all its kindred emotions are unnatural perversions. They are direct violations of the law of love, and violating a natural law always brings pain and suffering. These emotions have a corrosive, poisoning effect on the body. They create inflammation, weaken the immune system, and lead to chronic stress. If allowed to continue, they can eventually tear the body down, externalizing as stress-induced diseases like hypertension, anxiety disorders, and digestive issues. Furthermore, you continually attract matching destructive forces from other minds, augmenting your own self-poisoning.
Conclusion: Your Choice of Influence
The equation is simple and unwavering: Love inspires love; hatred breeds hatred. Love and good will stimulate and build up the body; hatred and malice corrode and tear it down. Love is a savor of life unto life; hatred is a savor of death unto death.
You stand at a crossroads with every thought you choose to entertain. You have the power of love at your disposal—the key to life itself, whose influences move the world. Live only in the thought of love for all, and you will draw love to you from all directions. Live in the thought of malice, and malice will be your reward.
‘There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,
There are souls that are pure and true;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.