What is the difference between ‘like’ and ‘love’?
As the word LOVE have become too common, we hardly distinguish between like and love.
Regarding that, Buddha gives a simple and profound example.
'If you like a flower, you will pluck it, If you love the flower, you will water it'
It is very clear with respect to a flower but how does this example translate into human relationship.
How do one know whether one likes a person or love the person?
As far this example goes,
Liking a person is akin to plucking a flower.
In this case one will be using the person like a plucked flower that is as a source of fun/pleasure/comfort and so on.
The person would be treated like an object of utility and as a possession.
One would not pay attention or recognize the person's intrinsic feelings/aspirations.
But, will only try to mold the person according to one's whims and fancies.
That is what one does with a plucked flower - denying its natural life.
One would do the same to the person one likes and may claim it as love.
So, this likable relationship is inherently selfish and destructive to the other.
On the other hand, if one love a person
One would not treat the person as an object but as a subject with his/her own mind and aspirations.
One would not mold the person according to one's fancies but nurture him/her to realize their own potential and aspirations.
This loving relationship is like watering the flower, so that the person can bloom in his/her life in a natural way like the flower.
So, we don't kill what we love, we only kill what we like.
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