Interpreting the Meaning of Love from a Zen Point of View

In 1999, my friend and I formed a rock band. Over time, our band disbanded because all my friends were married, except for me. In 2008, my friends and I separated because we were living our separate lives. The songs that we often perform at music festivals are songs that are often sung by Ari Lasso. The title of the song we played was “Arti Cinta” (meaning of love).

Currently, some coffee shops often play this song. Even when I'm at home, this song keeps repeating in my head. Finally, I reminisce and remember the experience of being in a band when I was young. Ari Lasso's distinctive voice sings the song with the initial lyrics "Arti cinta yang sesungguhnya" (The real meaning of love). It's a very nice sound to listen to. Naturally, if he became one of the best singers in Indonesia first.

Lately, I also read a lot of books about love. The books I read have a philosophical as well as a Zen point of view. Several classical philosophies provide a lot of study about love. Such as "eros" which discusses love that involves lust, "philia" which discusses love that involves friendship, to "agape" which discusses true love that is willing to sacrifice for its partner. The three types of love are so familiar in the world of philosophy.

At first, I thought eros, philia, and agape were the highest forms of love. But my view changed when I studied Zen and the Dharma tradition. These three forms of love are the lowest because they involve feelings and emotions. It's just empathic love. Love that changes easily due to circumstances. In Zen view, supreme love is love that imparts knowledge to all.

This form of love will teach people about the state of the world as it is. This emotionless and fragile love will open eyes and offer a path of liberation for all beings. I call it Teflon love. Yes, like the Teflon pan in your kitchen. Have a clear mind and leave no traces of thoughts and emotions in it. With this, anyone is free to do what is needed from time to time. This form of love will change the human mind for the better and be full of awareness.

No excessive analysis and thought. Everything was realized without a word. Life becomes clean without a trace left behind. When angry, only needed but not grasped. When anger is no longer needed, there is no grudge attached to the heart. When you are sad, there may be feelings of disappointment and regret. But the sadness does not stick and is easily released when the sadness ends.

Teflon love is the highest form of love in the world. The existence of the self as a human being has no blemish. Everything will appear, stay only for a moment, then vanish without a trace of stain being left behind. This form of love is not attached to anything and can feel inner freedom. Teflon love relieves social struggles and organizes the world with the principle of justice. There is no anger and hatred attached to the heart. This is the true meaning of love from the point of view of Zen and the Dharma tradition.

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