our god given gift?

Do you believe we all have a special gift from god?  What is your gift?  What is your gift calling you to do?

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Re: our god given gift?

What's not a gift? 

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Dave, I'm with Soloma. I believe that who each of us is is that God given gift to the world.

You may have noticed if you visited my profile that one of my goals is to become my true self.

One of the things I like about this pod so much is that it gives me complete freedom to be present in my best self more of the time than usual.

Love to you,

Nicole

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Re: our god given gift?

Nicole and Soloma,

Thank you for helping the discussion get started. 

I agree with you both 100%.  

I like to equate our individual gift to being like a falling star that enters the heart of every child when they are born.  Our purpose is to live our gift, and that when we leave this earth, our star will return to the heavens, shining brighter as a result of our gift that manifests itself in the  love and compassion we share with others.

Children are aware of their gift, although they are not mentally mature enough to understand its purpose.  In today's society, as we enter young adulthood, we lose touch with our purpose, and become absorbed in our own egos.  Then, we spend our adult lives trying to return to the innocence of childhood, to rediscover our gift.

I contend that as adults, we spend way too much energy trying to discover ourselves, when our star continues to shine inside of us, screaming for us to pay attention to our own spirit. 

While I do not intend this to sound preachy,  all we need to do is listen to hearts, reconnect with our star inside, and live the calling that we were born with. 

Thank you both for love,


d

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Dear Dave,

Fascinating, but I don't know. As a child I didn't feel aware of my gift. I think I lived it unconsciously. Was I different than most people in that regard?

I don't feel I wasted time trying to find myself either. In my twenties and early thirties I flailed around a lot, yes, but I think it's all a natural and perhaps necessary part of the maturation process. For the past years I have been putting down roots into who I am gradually… I still have a very long way to go but am happy about the direction and grateful for my companions and teachers.

Love,

Nicole

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Nicole,

Precisely!  As a child, we live our gift unconsciously, and we are our star.

What do you think would be different in your life, if when you were a child, your parents, or someone else close to your family, helped you be consciously aware of your gift, and encouraged you to live that gift every single day of your life?

What difference could you have made being your gift, rather than living through our teens and adulthood, enjoy our journey, not of discovery.. but of re-discovery?

What if we experienced our mid life crisis, by the time we were 10 years old, and spent our entire life conciously living our purpose, rather than finding joy in discovering it?

Isn't that the fundamental difference between who Jesus actually was, and who we aspire to be?

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Re: our god given gift?

Dave,

It seems like such an easy question, but then…

Are we a gift?  To whom are we a gift?  In order to be a gift, do we need to receive a gift first?  Am I a gift to the people I treat kindly and generously?  Am I a gift to the people I treat unkindly and selfishly?  Does it depend on what others do with my gifts?- some may squander my kindness, others may use my unkindness for much personal growth…

I believe we are all part of one Life, one God, one Being (the verb, not the noun).  In that light, we are giving to ourselves, not an uncommon theme in religion either.  It's a play - sometimes very serious but always “only” a play we act out within this Being (again the verb).

The greatest gift we can be and give to others and therefore to ourselves is to love and not to fear…

Frans

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Frans,

I agree with you entirely.

Consider the possibility that God is the source of all of the loving energy in the universe.  Consider the possibility that our purpose, is to channel that love through us, to others.
Consider that each of us has a unique gift that maximizes God's source of love through us, to those who receive that love.
Consider that true happiness occurs, when we simply act as a vessel of God's love, and that the more love we give, the more we receive from God.  We are nothing more than an amplifier of love, when we llive our gift.

Is that not the definition of being blessed?  To let God's love flow through us to the benefit of others?

How do we 'be' our gift?  Action….verbs… healing, teaching,  illuminating, parenting, entertaining, contemplating…

We be love through our actions of love… just as Jesus, Mother Teresa, Buddha, Mohammed, the Dalai Lama have done.. be love… instead of discussing love… just be it.. giving it.

Does this resonate with you?

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Re: our god given gift?

res, res, resonate :-)

My gifts as a child included the ability to feel someone’s pain across the room, all these years later I am studying to be a Chiropractor so that I can use it in my job.  It is as it should be as it took me this long to reach my current level of maturity.  When I was in my twenty’s, I could not stop letting my ego get in the way.

Now when I have an opportunity to work on someone, I know it is not I that is doing the healing, rather I am allowed to do tiny things that will allow healing if the person and is ready.  I do like to see healing happen but I can’t take credit for it.

Yes, I am looking forward to earning my living as a Chiropractor mostly because I love doing it a lot more than I loved being a software engineer.  I got into being a software engineer mostly because I was really good at it and in the beginning it was fun, but after 20 years all I could say about it was that I used to make a reasonable living from it.

I do believe that to it is more in line with spirit to do what you love.

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Thank you Burdoc,

I too chose a career that was a reflection more of what people thought I was good at, than what was within my own heart, and what I knew I loved.  It took me almost 30 years of duality, before I re-discovered my passion, my joy, and my gift.


I am now writing a series of children's books, for children of all ages, to connect with their heart's calling, and to trust that happiness and purpose comes from being true to our own hearts.

There are so many people who blame religion on creating a dualistic existence, but I must say that our entire society contributes to separating us from our own hearts, and struggling to re-discover our gifts, over so many 'virtually lost' years.

It just does not need to be this way… does it?

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Dave,

It does resonate.  I have a different emphasis than most here, in that I believe that because we have the responsibility to act out of love instead of fear, we need to stop resisting what is - no matter what the world of form looks like, it is exactly as it should be; it is perfect for where we are now.  Then, freeing up all of the energy that gets sucked up in ego identification through resisting, we can actually change the only thing that is real  - ourselves…

What we say here matters not one bit if we don't live our lives more and more out of love, every day.

Frans

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Frans.

 “I have a different emphasis than most here, in that I believe that because we have the responsibility to act out of love instead of fear,”

This is an interesting perspective that I believe most do hold to in one way or another. I'm interested in how choosing love over fear is a “responsibility”?

Some would claim that, due to the relative and thus, chaotic nature (threatening/fearful) of “reality,” self-protection is a “responsibility” that is crucial to survival. In fact, if we look at the world this responsibility seems paramount, frequently over and above all other “responsibilities.”

Therefore, I am responsible to protect myself and those I “love” from threat and I may consider attacks to my “self” as threat thus, requiring protection. So how can I extend into the world from a “responsibility to act out of love” when threats to my physical existence and to my “self” abound?

I don't disagree that the “responsibility to act from love” is necessary, I just question why it seems so hard to do. Is the failure to act from love due to “self-protection” being a greater responsibility, in most cases trumping the responsibility to act from love? How to define “love”? Is your conceptual understanding of “love” the same as mine? Love seems rather hazy to many (just look at the escalating divorce rate) yet “self-protection” or survival seems to be an ever-growing need much more concrete then our often obscure concepts of  “love.”

This belief in a real “self” means we must be vigilant to protecting from attack. Many parents raise their children from a perspective that “self-protection” is much more paramount then coming from a “responsibility to act out of love.” …stand up for yourself, don't take crap from anybody, trust no one, always look out for number one, etc, etc, etc.

I suppose my question is, if we feel protection is required does this bar the gate to extending into the world from love? And if this statement is true does this mean we need to terminate all protective mechanisms so that we can thus extend from love?

Inquiring minds want to know…

Thanks
mike S

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Mike,

This is a fantastic.. and very important discussion… one that I promise to come back to when I have a few more minutes to respond deeply.

I will say this… the lessons of Buddha, Ghandi, Jesus, MLK, and Mandela are very clear… we have a responsibility to love, and authentic love will conquer all fears. The responsibility to protect others can only be systemic protection, when we teach those we love to be love.

All else is a sense of protection that can never work in the end.  We cannot protect others from fear, we can only help others to protect themselves, through love.

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Dave,

Yes, I do agree to the concept of “responsibility to love.” However, I tend to worry that any discussion of love may collapse into a heap of platitudes since the “concepts of love” have been discussed in every way imaginable (even in song), I tend to believe that many turn away with, “yea, I've heard all that before…” or simply add to the heap with additional platitudes and new age slogans.
Love is often variable and relative to person, place and thing. I can love my mother, my wife, my children, my dog, my car, my TV, my favorite shows, my “self,” my life, my body, (this Pod)etc, etc, Each one is defined differently and each definition ebbs and flows like the tides. So what the hell is this enigmatic concept/experience called love?
Why so many definitions and concepts and how come they often fade or fluctuate? Is there no durability to love? Maybe in your personal life, but why not in the world? Why can't we have universal love? Is love all you need?

Love is truly a “slippery slope” as equal to variety of definition as any discussion of God.

Thanks

mike S

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Mike,

I understand how complex the word 'love' has become.

Although I have no intention of trivializing this discussion… I can tell you with all honesty, that after many years of contemplation, observation and inspiration, I have found a definition of love that works for me.  I do not suggest this is what love is for everyone, but it is my way of being focused on love.

Love is the giving energy that we have within us.  When we give of this energy for the benefit of others, the universal source will always provide more than we can ever give.   

Our responsibility to love is:

1) To keep our body, mind and spirit as positively tuned to the positive energies of love as we can.
2) To discover the means within us, to tune into the Universal Source, and to feel ourselves filled with the energy of love
3) To live our lives with a consciousness of giving to those who ask for help, be they the impoverished, the sick, the lonely , or our own children.   They key words.. those who ask for help.

I think we must all find for ourselves, what our 'personal responsibility to love” is.  We all came from the source, and we will return to the source, so in manifestation as humans, we all must have a purpose that benefits our collective humanity and the source itself.

I just shared with you… me!

Love

Dave

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Re: our god given gift?

…

…frans says…

What we say here matters not one bit if we don't live our lives more and more out of love, every day.


  …I say…

           …amen…

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will, amen from me too, my brother!

frans, i think you may find more friends here with similar elan to their lives than you think…

dave, as an avid reader of children's books, i am delighted you have found your passion there and look forward to your books

burdoc, thanks for your beautiful sharing

love to all you dear ones!

nicole

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Frans,

I don't think your emphasis is that different my friend.  We all share a common bond of the critical choice of acting out of love, for ourselves, and for others.  We also have an emphasis to do so, in a manner that resonates with our inner self.

You are a beacon of seeing the beauty of the world for what it is, and through you, others may discover access to the present.
The doctor is a beacon who sees illness, and chooses to help people  be healthy now.
The musician is a beacon of the muse, who chooses to bring the notes of joy in the here and now.
The social worker is a beacon off care, who chooses to bring warmth and shelter for the poor.

I believe As long as we are nurturing our capacity to love, and sharing that love with others, the how we do it will take care of itself, and there are many, many hows.

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Amen indeed.  :)  Granted, i havent read all the posts here but so far, an interesting and thoughtful conversation - I appreciate very much to insert my two cents…

Regarding love and responsibilities…
I think for me, that starts with the word acceptance.  To define 'love' in all it's forms and what should be of it or not is too complex a thing for me, because as one said earlier, love and gifts of can come in forms both possitive and negative.

I love being alive.  I love the life that surrounds me (all of you and all of, period).  My 'responsibility' in how I love is to accept others as they come…. or lovingly to myself and to them, step away. 

I think like the gentleman stated earlier, protection of say, loved ones and your children is a place of importance and extending yourself openly to anyone who knocks on your door might not be the best 'loving' way to protect your family.  Having said that, to teach that it's okay to not be okay (but be in peace with) others that might love/live/choose.. in different ways, is love.

I agree with everyone here that to live in love, is the place to stay… and that starts with learning to accept or not, with grace and balance.  If you hate not, you fear not.  If you can lovingly walk away from 'relationship' be they friend/stranger/foe/etc… then you are living in love also.

When asked for love, it's important that you can extend to those who ask yes… keeping in mind also, your own well being and state of mind/body/balance.  I am one who can 'give too much' and therefore leave myself open for self neglect. 

Balance, in love, by accepting and being in peace with….
Tis my two bits.  I thank you for allowing my quick ramble….
Hugs and Love and Smiles to all.

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Welcome! What a beautiful way to join us. I can see you will be right at home!

Love to you,

Nicole

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Re: our god given gift?

Great question!

I believe this question can be summed up on one statement that resonates with me and may with others.

We are born into this reality with the gift of experiencing all possibilities.

What more could you ask for?

Good day,

Gavin a Buddhist

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Hey Mike,

I believe there are 2 major drivers for us humans: love and fear.  Love leads to action coming from non-resistance, fear leads to action coming from resistance.  I also believe that all of the problems we as a species are facing come from acting out of fear. 

What makes us human - our unbelievable abilities to conceptualize and think abstractly - have alienated us from the innate certainty of Being, and led us on a path to great accomplishments in the world of form, while depleting our sense of belonging anywhere else than in our minds and in that world of form.  Almost everything we do comes from resistance to losing this world of form, i.e. death. (What you call survival).  Surviving at the level most of us live at may not be all that important…

If you look at “attack” in a different light, from a position of non-resistance, the nature of the attack takes on a whole different realm of possibilities.  Even physical attack can easily become a blessing in disguise, if it leads to a growth in awareness.  Reality only becomes threatening and chaotic because of ressitance to what is, making it impossible for us to see the direct inter-relatedness of all events, actions and dynamics.

This is so hard to do, because everything in our lives and our culture has always reinforced the fiction of  the I as a separae identity - not connected to everything else, and the pressure of society to always become something different from what we are.  Love as a concept doesn't exist - it only exist as a way of life.

That's how I see it,

Love,
Frans

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Re: our god given gift?

Frans,

I believe there are 2 major drivers for us humans: love and fear.  Love leads to action coming from non-resistance, fear leads to action coming from resistance.  I also believe that all of the problems we as a species are facing come from acting out of fear.

Perfectly stated!
The only difference is that instead of “drives” I would refer to it as “paradigms” or filters through which the mind categorizes what is perceived. I think “drives” tends convey a lack of control ( but maybe not and possibly “drives” is a better defining label).

Surviving at the level most of us live at may not be all that important…
I'm not sure what you mean by that? if we examine our lives through Maslow's “heirarchy of needs” we currently (current to westernized civilizations) are less concerned with physiological needs and more concerned wih self-esteem and self-actualization needs. However, this creates a concern for “psychological self-protection” since as we become more involved in actualizing the “self” we thus find attacks to our self-concepts to be as threatening as attacks to our body (there is research that concludes this, albeit, conceptually).

Even physical attack can easily become a blessing in disguise, if it leads to a growth in awareness.  Yes and there have been those who were able to transform their perspective in such a way. However, I have worked with individuals who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder due to past threat of actual death (war, violence, major accidents, 9/11) and the mind or “ego-self” often uses this information to establish even greater walls against external reality, impeding the extension or expression of love. Why is it that some can assimilate this for growth, while with others this merely impedes psychologiocal growth?

This is so hard to do, because everything in our lives and our culture has always reinforced the fiction of  the I as a separae identity - not connected to everything else, and the pressure of society to always become something different from what we are. 
I agree completely. The separate “I” is solidly encased in a cranium attached to a body and then we further wall ourselves off through cars, houses, etc. Ever notice how people tend to display complete abandon of consideration while driving their cars? There is research that demonstrates that being encased within a mobile metal cage tends to accentuate the feeling of self-encasement through a mobile bodily cage.

Love as a concept doesn't exist - it only exist as a way of life.
I agree with this intuitively, yet our lives are based on conceptual understandings of how we should (ethics/morality vs. self-interest) exist. This has been the chief question of all religion and philosophy, how one OUGHT to live and is the very reason for religion.

Some would say that Mother Teresa lived in this way; from a complete and total immersion in love. However, others would indicate that this “way of life” which brought her happiness was distinctly connected with self-interest. She simply attained happiness through a purpose of helping others and allowed no other “purposes” to impede that one goal. Yet, some theorize that we cannot remove the goal from the concept of self-interest or EGO, which tends to put a different 'spin' on Mother Teresa.

So how can we make it a way of life?

Good post!

Thanks,

mike S

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…I am sooo with you on this Frans …
  …it can all be boiled down to Love or fear…

    …all negative emotion is fear based…jealousy…hatred…anger…etc …are all different forms of fear…

  …Source(not sauce,Mickey) radiates Love throughout the universe…this is the *stuff* that everything is built of…love is the connection with Source…
   …fear is the disconnect…

  …it's all about choices…we are here in discision school…every time you choose Love…you strengthen the bond with All That Is…
  …when you choose fear…you flip the Light switch off and are chooseing to experience darkness…darkness is not something…it is lack of something…that is why there is such an empty feeling…

   …a good cartoon that came out a few years ago shows what is happening on Earth in very simple and easy to understand terms…it is called …Monsters Inc…re-watch it and notice the symbology and architypes…

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Dave, first let me confess that I haven't read everyone's post yet. I'm definitely replying to the original question.

I do believe strongly that we each have a [dominant] gift. Mine is teaching. Enough actions in this regard that satisfy me totally have convinced me about this.

I recently, over the past year, got my hands on a book entitled 'Discover Your God-Given Gifts', by Don and Katie Fortune, which identifies seven basic gifts, all of which we have some element of, but certainly one or two of them may be dominant in a single individual.

I intend to do a proper review of this book shortly, but perhaps I could just identify the stated gifts to get the ideas flowing, perhaps for others who may not have really narrowed their thinking down as yet:

1. Perception
2. Serving
3. Teaching
4. Exhortation
5. Giving
6. Administration and
7. Compassion

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Thank you so much Sherri!  You and I continue to prove that we must be soul friends. 

I am sooooooooooooo in agreement with these types of gifts of giving to others…  in fact, that is what my children's books are about… discovering our star inside, knowing our gifts, and living in service to others.

This is so cool!

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Mike,

The words aren't important - driver, paradigm; we're both referring to the same.

You say:

...However, this creates a concern for “psychological self-protection” since as we become more involved in actualizing the “self” we thus find attacks to our self-concepts to be as threatening as attacks to our body (there is research that concludes this, albeit, conceptually).

It does - and that's the problem.  We're still acting from a level of consciousness that has ego-identification written all over it.  We need to move from self to Self, if we are to leave this fallacy behind.  That doesn't mean we leave the ego behind, mind you, it just means we no longer exclusively identify with it (out of fear), which opens up direct access to Love.  The ego gets integrated in a much greater self-knowledge.

...However, I have worked with individuals who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder due to past threat of actual death (war, violence, major accidents, 9/11) and the mind or “ego-self” often uses this information to establish even greater walls against external reality, impeding the extension or expression of love. Why is it that some can assimilate this for growth, while with others this merely impedes psychologiocal growth?

Some are more deeply bogged down by fear than others.  For some it takes a holocaust to reach love, for others it takes chronic pain, for others it takes a smile…in the end, the only thing that matters is that I reach love, and that you reach love.  I gather from your writing here that you work in the field of psychology, so you will know that the only thing you can change is you.

Don't get me started on the consciousness of drivers! :-)

Love as a concept doesn't exist - it only exist as a way of life.
I agree with this intuitively, yet our lives are based on conceptual understandings of how we should (ethics/morality vs. self-interest) exist. This has been the chief question of all religion and philosophy, how one OUGHT to live and is the very reason for religion.

Why?  Only because we act out of fear and alienation.  If we truly see that we are directly interrelated with everything else, i.e. that we are everything we would never act immoraly, we wouldn't need anything, including religion, to tell us how we should act - we simply would always employ right action.  This is a crucial understanding, IMO - we have always been placing the horse behind the cart, so to speak, in taking the way we've been acting as something that needs to be resisted and changed.  Instead, we can also understand why we've always acted that way, realize it was the only thing we could do at that time and therefore perfect for that moment.  In that moment of understanding, change will be immediate.  IMO, that's why most therapy doesn't work - it doesn't address the real issue - and there is only one…

I realize that I sound as if I'm lecturing and I want you to know that I don't want to - I reaize that everyone here has great wisdom, depth and understanding and that I can learn more from you than you from me.  This particular subject holds great importance for me - it's what I teach, it's what I live and I believe it's why I'm here  - which is why I get passionate when the discussion gets to this level of depth.

Love,
Frans

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…Dave …
  …do you have a web site where we can see your books ?…what are the titles ?…what age group are you targetting ?…
  …the kids are where it is at…they are the ones we are here for…

  …*and the children will lead them*…

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Re: our god given gift?

Hey Will,

Thanks very much for your interest.

The first book, “The Loving Star”  is one of seven in The myworldpeace Series.  It has not yet been published, and one of my dear Gaia friends is doing the illustrations for the book as we speak.

We are taking a different “go to market' approach, and will be launching the first book on Gaia, and creating a pod under the “myworldpeace for feedback, as well as a fun contest where Gaia members can add quotes, images and illustrations to the transcript.  We are going to build market interest first, and then take it to publishers to get thier undivided attention.

This will be coming online within 60 days.

Finally,children are everything, and at the same time, it is so very important that adults who have influence over children in thier every day lives have an opportunity to rediscover the child inside of themselves which may have been lost over time.

Thank you again for asking.

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Dave,

May I suggest you consider an e-book format also, where people can buy it online and download their own copies? The distribution cost is considerably less and you can still advertise it through this medium and your GAIA contacts.

I commend you very highly on your initiative! Keep us posted definitely.

I'm gradually exploring alternatives regarding my publication also.

Soul friend definitely! Sherri

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I think an online e-book is a great idea. Look forward to reading the book! I'd love to add it to my Kumon centre library.

Love to you,

Nicole

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Dave, you really have a knack for words. Can't wait to see your book.

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Once again Sherri, we on are on the same page.

An e-book is in the works, and one of the ideas is for members to submit illustrations, and for buyers to choose the illustrations they want to be included in their e-book  The illustrators can make a little money each time their illustration is chosen, and the buyers get a custom made e-book.

I will certainly keep you all on my list of first to know.  Thank you both Sherri and Nicole.

Love,

Dave

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Very exciting, Dave,

Love,

Nicole

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Re: our god given gift?

I am close (time-wise) to nominating this thread to the Collective Wisdom pod/Group. The discussion here is awesome !!!!! Anyone else, feel free to nominate it first !!!

There have been so many posts I don't know where this fits anymore, but I want to chime in on the discussion of love, because I think (but not having read every word of the thread….) there is one aspect not yet touched on in the discussion. I offer my poor articulation of something I do not present as TRUTH but as my perspective and experience, for whatever usefulness others might make of it.

I have two experiences of love, or more accurately, two faces of love, or facets of love, or…. the language doesn't exist…..

There is love as a human emotion, and Love as an aspect or flavor of Beingness As Such. The latter is sometimes called Love as a state of Being, or Divine Love, or Unconditional Love, but the latter term is also one kind of human emotion, too, so the term is confusing.

(What I feel when my Heart chakra opens further each time, is yet a third experience. Just wanted to mention that, no elaboration here.)

This discussion so far has only referred to love as a human emotion. This love can be conditional, and I am sure I don't need to define THAT for anyone !!!! To me, unconditional human love is toward a person whom you wish well, give supportive energy to, accept as all they are, etc, etc. and there is nothing they could do or say that would change you on that. NO-THING. Not “I can't imagine anything that would make me stop loving you,” but “No matter what you ever do, I will always love you.” Unconditional love as a human emotion is often a goal and rarely achieved, because it is so misunderstood as condoning, non-interference, etc. Big subject, later discussion.

Of course, what actions manifest the human emotions of love, conditional and unconditional, well, that's a book in itself. It's so different from different perspectives !!!!!

Now I am going to use words as hints or pointers to the ineffable. I jokingly and informally call it effing the ineffable, forgive me if that language offends anyone, LOL !!!!

Divine Love or Love as Being, is part of my experience/awareness of Being AS SUCH, or awareness AS SUCH. It is one of the flavors of Existence AS SUCH. Joy, peace, bliss, love—they all become the I AM when I AM the One Being, the One Existent, etc. whatever you wanna call it. In that level or scope of awareness, I don't feel or experience peace, I AM PEACE. I don't feel or experience Love, I AM LOVE, and so is everything else, and there is no “else.”

Those flavors (joy peace love bliss) are not really distinguishable from one another, in that awareness, only when awareness becomes focused on individuated aspects of the One Being.  

The relationship of the human emotion of Love to Divine Love is that of a pale experience of a bright light. A dim manifestation, still the same thing, but dimmed down so much.

I wanted to add in this perspective on love, because I believe as our consciousnesses expand, as we evolve, we experience and embody and radiate and ACT FROM more and more of that brighter-light version, and its' easier to come from love and not fear.

OTOH, there is nothing which is not that Love, so its expression is not always what we would label as loving, so there is an implosion, realizing there is nothing but Divine Love, and yet we get to choose whether our expression of that seems “loving” in human estimation and……. here the ineffable part fades away her ability to speak……

Oh well, maybe this was useful for someone.
 
Blessings, Carry on,
Rev. O.M. Bastet

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Re: our god given gift?

OM,

You are in great company with your experiences of love.   In Aramaic, there are 4 or 5 words that mean love… and they are experiences of love at different scales.

Pope Benedict, and a great Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo both speak beautifully, like you, about different levels of love.

The highest level, which you call divine love, is known as agape, which is defined as the wholly consumed love of god, self and other persons without condition.  It is regarded by Christian and Jewish theologians, buddhist monks, and other spiritual gurus as the purest form of love in the universe.

So… oh enlightened one… you are so fortunate to have experienced, to know, agape.. which is the ultimate joy… and the ultimate knowing.

thank you for your message… your sharing is incredibly important to us all.