INVISIBLE GURU FORUM

To love absolutely, for no reason. That seems the easiest position.   From the other bubble; What is love?  What does it mean?  So many things, to so many people.   Is there more to it beyond what is circumstantial and programming?  Is it motivating?  What is the absolute source of it? Do we drink from the unconditional fountain of it or are we seeking someone/something to plug a hole where we keep loosing it? 

To be a conduit to love anyone or anything is a miraculous strange thing. What inspires streams to wander and what mountains will they move?

You've just described my experience. Being the unnoticed admirer. I've actually never been comfortable with people admiring or envying me. For me, the less attention the better. I rarely socialize in large groups, my wardrobe is mostly neutral colors and grey, I don't wear anything fancy that would attract attention. I've never been very good at taking compliments or receiving affection. Mostly because I don't know how to respond, even if the feeling is reciprocated. I like to admire people, pets, or better stated the process of life from afar but the moment I'm noticed back or approached the feeling generally fades pretty quickly. The idea of being stuck in a room with a bunch of people loving and admiring me honestly sounds like hell. I've often wondered if it's a disgust response to ego or if it's because I don't feel deserving of admiration. Most likely it's a disgust response because i"m actually pretty freaking awesome and totally deserve admiration.....I just don't want it. lol

My take:

In Case 1, I am loved yet unaware of it. In Case 2, I am in love but unaware of the objects of that love’s proximity.

The emotion of love is felt directly in Case 2. While that emotion would likely be heightened in their presence, I still have the feeling of love.

While it is pleasant to BE loved, love coming toward me is far less likely to be palpable in Case 1. If I were considering my relationship with these 10 and their pets, I am only guessing how they feel toward me. They SEEM to appreciate me, but I cannot really know how they feel about me.

Optimally, the loving feelings are reciprocal. But, given the choice, tis better to seek to love than to be loved. It's similar to the NT's it's better to give than to receive.

I appreciate your thought provoking/destroying prodding. 

I asked a similar question last year... as a result of the following thought that occurred to me:

Better to be on Outside-Looking-In, facing rejection... than to be on the Inside-Looking-Out, through the bars of a prison... and calling it Home.

Eventually, I had to ask... "So how could I cross between the two referential perspectives?" ...ie If I wanted out of the prison, what to change, and vice/versa.

It took a few months... and then "Where have you put infinity?" ... which later becomes something more practical... like "On which side of the corneas have you put Infinity?"

The analogy is that of looking through a window... you can climb out, get in a car, maybe fly a plane, maybe invent a light-travel space vehicle (like a dream machine) and get out-there into more and more of the infinite-out-there, but you will always be in some kind of bubble/prison... looking 'out there'. If, however, Infinity is on the side of the window you are 'already on'... well, 'out-there' becomes more like 'in-there' (as in, looking into the bubble from the Infinite Emptiness).

The resemblance to the two 'Unfulfilled love' perspectives described in your post might come clear at this point. Infinity-on-your-side-of-the-corneas offers rejection from that which you love to observe. Infinity-on-the-not-your-side leaves you loving freedom, while being trapped in a bubble.

I still want to say it's better to be on the Outside-Looking-In, facing rejection.... but maybe it's better to be able to move Infinity between the two extreme perspectives... not being attached to either.

to be , to rest, as myself fully.. is to be love.. to love and be loved the way it happens regardless of what happens is to responsd to either, or the idea of either, or lack there of....as myself without attachment/aversion

Both options sound quite fun to experience! So I’d actually like to experience both and then decide which one I prefer