What is the source of pure and undying love?

There lived a man who was very passionate about his wife, a beautiful woman. Losing himself totally in her bewitching beauty, he one day said that even after his death he would like to be in her company be it heaven or hell.

The wife who was not only endowed with physical beauty but inner purity and beauty too, enquired her husband as to what made him get so attached to her.

The husband proclaimed his so called love for her by describing the beauty of her facial features, her form, her smile and her affection and kindness and said that it was these that had captivated his heart and got him to love her passionately.

The wife on hearing her husband's reply asked him if he would still prefer her company if her face turned ugly and disfigured and if her kindness and love turned to cruelty and selfishness.



The man was shocked and stood speechless.

The wife explained to her husband that his so called love was not pure enough and labelled it as infatuation. She called it a mere attachment to her body.

She further revealed to him that the source of true love was the atman, within the hearts of all beings. By turning one's mind inwards one can realise the beauty of beauties, the atman through purification and meditation. Only by doing so will he find eternal love. She further advised him to give up his attachment for her body and instead dive deep into his heart's chamber to behold the atman, the very core of love, beauty and splendour.

The husband followed as per the words of his wife and in due course became self realised.

Thus the atman which is verily oneself is the source of true love, the realisation of which can be attained by banishing the illusion of the idea 'I am the body'. A n eternal form of love that does not get withered at the changing phenomenon of life can be discovered.