If I freely give Love to another, should I look for it to be returned to me?

Question

"Be the change you want to see in the world"
-Gandhi

Namaste

Peace and Love

Answer 1

No, if you are freely giving love to another that means that you expect nothing in return. That also means that you do not expect to receive love back in return.

However, typically when you give out unconditional love to all, it is returned to you tenfold in ways you cannot even imagine as long as you do not expect it.

Answer 2

If you start having any expectations of the world around you, it will most likely endeavour to dash them to pieces.


The only good reason to "give love to another" is if you honestly feel best doing so... for its own sake or whatever other personal reason you have for doing so. If you start expecting things in return, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. If people want to return the good will to you, they will do it on their own terms.

Answer 3

Alas, as wonderful as the bestowing of love upon another is; there is no guarantee that reciprocation will ensue.

It's a lovely thought, however -- but somewhat ideological in practice -- and then there will always be exceptions to the rule.

It's certainly difficult for most to be mean to somebody who only shows them love !

Answer 4

That would negate the whole principle. 'Unconditional' means given with out expectation of anything, even that it will be returned.

Two great guiding 'lights' for me :

1. Patience and Acceptance.

Our lives are being 'run' from a number of different 'levels', here in the conscious daily physical life we do not always understand the unfolding of events, this can drive us potty. so I have learned to be patient, and wait for understanding to reveal itself, and to accept that even the 'hardest' lessons all turn out to have very good reasons behind them.

2. Elimination of 'Expectation'.

Most suffering is self-inflicted , and is the result of our tendency to 'expect' things from life, or others. The disappointment that we experience has it's root in us, not others, but we just love to play the old 'Blame Game', this we need to leave behind us, not a single one of us is truly a 'victim', we are all intricately involved in creating all of our experiences, both the 'Good' and the 'Bad'.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{Cosmic Freedom}}}}}}}}}}}}

Answer 5

" If I freely give Love to another, should I look for it to be returned to me? "

To look at love in this way is Love " WITH CONDITIONS" and not true love.

True love is given freely to all that will receive it without expecting it to be shown or returned.
The world today practices Love WITH condititons and not true UNconditional Love.

Answer 6

Well truly altruistic giving of anything is done because the one receiving it just needs it, the thought of what we will get in return should not factor into it...

Answer 7

No, you shouldn't love or do for others with expectations of a return. If you do, you're not loving/doing genuinely.

If we do love and do for others with a genuine heart, without expecting a return - I believe that it is returned ten-fold and then some in various ways and forms in our lifetime.

Answer 8

No....

Because then your motive for giving out the love in the first place would be wrong

Edit:

I see Riegan got married to Tragic Typos last night......I missed the ceremony

Answer 9

If I freely give Love to another, should I look for it to be returned to me?

Well, you might hope to see it returned to you, but that shouldn't be your primary motivation and it isn't guaranteed. The Bible talks about "agape" love which is not a feeling but a choice. It is unconditional love that is given "in spite of" not "because of". Agape love is a sacrificial love that says "I care so much about you that I want what is best for you even if I have to be inconvenienced or put upon to demonstrate my love for you."

Jesus gave a picture of that kind of love in the parable where He explained what it means to love your neighbor as your self.

Luke 10:25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" 27 So he answered and said, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' " 28 And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you shall live." 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and encountered bandits, who after having stripped him of his clothing and having wounded him, departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by coincidence a certain priest was coming down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise a Levite, arriving at the place, came and saw, and passed by on the opposite side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came by him; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 And coming to him, he bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and putting him on his own animal, he brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever you spend in addition, when I come back, I will repay you.'

36 So which of these three does it seem to you proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the bandits?" 37 And he said, "the one who showed mercy to him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Answer 10

If you truly give something away, you don't expect anything back. Otherwise it's not a gift, but a loan.

Metta Cittena