[Buddha-l] Being in Love

[jkirk]

Ok but the ideas of ancient Greek poets and epic composers didn't influence
the society like romantics influenced all of society in the west. And I
tried to note a difference between romantic love and love. It's not all the
same-same.
J

-----------------

jkirk wrote:
> The Buddha did not specifically take up the :"issue" of "being in 
> love", aka romantic love or infatuation with a sex partner, because in 
> his time there was no such idea....
>   
> The ideal of romantic love originated within European cultures, as a 
> spiritually ennobling obsession (recall the knights, their ladies, and 
> what the troubadours sang about).
>   

Those troubadors were just elaborating on an idea well known in the 5th
century BC. See, for example, Plato's Phaedrus. That particular dialog
includes a lengthy discussion between Socrates and his young beautiful
friend, Phaedrus, on whether or not "being in love" gets in the way of
having a good time. The descriptions that they both give of how romantic
love makes one crazy and stupid and usually leaves one with a broken heart
makes it quite clear that they are talking about the same kind of "love"
that is now celebrated on Valentine's Day.

Even earlier than Plato, Sappho wrote erotically charged love poems for both
male and female lovers - and Homer portrays very intense emotional
relationships between men - especially between Achilles and Patroclus, in
his poetry. Achilles' histrionics after Patroclus' death are unmistakably
the acts of a grieving lover.

I seriously doubt that Asians had to learn about love from Europeans. 
Birds do it. Bees do it - even the Indians and Chineeeeese do it.

Curt Steinmetz
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