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81-440: The word ranchera was derived from the word rancho because the songs originated on the ranches and in the countryside of rural Mexico. Traditional themes in rancheras are about love , heartbreak , patriotism or nature . Rhythms can have a meter in 4 (in slow tempo: ranchera lenta and faster tempo: ranchera marcha ), 4 ( ranchera vals ), or 4 ( bolero ranchero ). Songs are usually in

162-399: A thought-terminating cliché . Several common proverbs regard love, from Virgil 's " Love conquers all " to The Beatles ' " All You Need Is Love ". St. Thomas Aquinas , following Aristotle , defines love as "to will the good of another." Bertrand Russell describes love as a condition of "absolute value," as opposed to relative value . Philosopher Gottfried Leibniz said that love

243-903: A triangular theory of love in which love has three components: intimacy, commitment, and passion. Intimacy is when two people share confidences and various details of their personal lives, and is usually shown in friendships and romantic love affairs. Commitment is the expectation that the relationship is permanent. Passionate love is shown in infatuation as well as romantic love. All forms of love are viewed as varying combinations of these three components. Non-love does not include any of these components. Liking only includes intimacy. Infatuated love only includes passion. Empty love only includes commitment. Romantic love includes both intimacy and passion. Companionate love includes intimacy and commitment. Fatuous love includes passion and commitment. Consummate love includes all three components. American psychologist Zick Rubin sought to define love by psychometrics in

324-428: A conscious choice that in its early stages might originate as an involuntary feeling, but which then later no longer depends on those feelings, but rather depends only on conscious commitment. Evolutionary psychology has attempted to provide various reasons for love as a survival tool. Humans are dependent on parental help for a large portion of their lifespans compared to other mammals. Love has therefore been seen as

405-478: A declaration of hostility. Mutual acceptance of the gifts, on the other hand, was a clear mark of the beginning of friendship." To reinforce this, Herman notes out several instances of Xenia's usage in literature. He points to the account of Odysseus giving Iphitos a sword and spear after having been given a formidable bow while saying they were "the first token of loving guest-friendship". Herman also shows that Herodotus holds "the conclusion of an alliance and

486-479: A deeper understanding of love within Jewish thought and life. It goes beyond mere passion, embodying a character trait that is actively expressed through generosity and grace. Hesed has a dual nature: when attributed to God, it denotes grace or favor, while when practiced by humans, it reflects piety and devotion. Hasidim , demonstrate their commitment and love for God through acts of hesed . The Torah serves as

567-646: A disguised divinity, due to both a deity's capacity to instill punishment or grant reward for their behavior, who highly valued generosity and welcoming attitudes towards strangers. The term theoxenia also covered entertaining and hosting among the gods themselves, a popular subject in classical art , which was revived at the Renaissance in works depicting a Feast of the Gods . Deities were looked up to as symbols of virtuosity, and thus they were often depicted as performing theoxenia amongst themselves, reinforcing

648-446: A few unusual and specific domains, such as immune systems , it seems that humans prefer others who are unlike themselves (e.g., with an orthogonal immune system), perhaps because this will lead to a baby that has the best of both worlds. In recent years, various human bonding theories have been developed, described in terms of attachments, ties, bonds, and affinities. Some Western authorities disaggregate into two main components,

729-421: A general liking for arts, sports, and objects, while also encompassing a human instinct. Priti is built on foundations of trust and fidelity. Friendly relations ( priti ) may persist between individuals but are not necessarily bound by affection ( sneha ). Vatsalya originally signifies the tender affection exhibited by a cow towards her calf, extending to denote the love nurtured by elders or superiors towards

810-556: A guide, outlining how Israelites should express their love for God, show reverence for nature, and demonstrate compassion toward fellow human beings. The commandment "Love thy neighbor as thyself" from the Torah's, gives emphasis on ethical obligations and impartiality in judgment. It highlights the importance of treating all individuals equally before the law, rejecting favoritism and bribery; deuteronomy further emphasizes impartiality in judgment. As for love between marital partners, this

891-431: A half to three years. Since the lust and attraction stages are both considered temporary, a third stage is needed to account for long-term relationships. Attachment is the bonding that promotes relationships lasting for many years and even decades. Attachment is generally based on commitments such as marriage and children, or mutual friendship based on things like shared interests. It has been linked to higher levels of

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972-536: A harmful mutation , but in the progeny produced by sexual reproduction, expression of a harmful mutation introduced by one parent is likely to be masked by expression of the unaffected homologous gene from the other parent. Biological models of love tend to see it as a mammalian drive, similar to hunger or thirst. Psychology sees love as more of a social and cultural phenomenon. Love is influenced by hormones (such as oxytocin ), neurotrophins (such as NGF ), and pheromones , and how people think and behave in love

1053-1205: A major facilitator of interpersonal relationships , and owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts . Love has been postulated to be a function that keeps human beings together against menaces and to facilitate the continuation of the species . Ancient Greek philosophers identified six forms of love : familial love ( storge ), friendly love or platonic love ( philia ), romantic love ( eros ), self-love ( philautia ), guest love ( xenia ), and divine or unconditional love ( agape ). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of love: fatuous love , unrequited love , empty love , companionate love , consummate love , infatuated love ( limerence ), amour de soi , and courtly love . Numerous cultures have also distinguished Ren , Yuanfen , Mamihlapinatapai , Cafuné , Kama , Bhakti , Mettā , Ishq , Chesed , Amore , charity , Saudade (and other variants or symbioses of these states ), as culturally unique words, definitions, or expressions of love in regard to specified "moments" currently lacking in

1134-533: A major key, and consist of an instrumental introduction, verse and refrain, instrumental section repeating the verse, and another verse and refrain, with a tag ending. Rancheras are also noted for the grito mexicano , a yell that is done at musical interludes within a song, either by the musicians and/or the listening audience. The normal musical pattern of rancheras is a–b–a–b. Rancheras usually begin with an instrumental introduction (a). The first lyrical portion then begins (b), with instrumental adornments interrupting

1215-475: A mechanism to promote parental support of children for this extended time period. Furthermore, researchers as early as Charles Darwin identified unique features of human love compared to other mammals and credited love as a major factor for creating social support systems that enabled the development and expansion of the human species. Another factor may be that sexually transmitted diseases can cause, among other effects, permanently reduced fertility , injury to

1296-557: A person or thing (cf. vulnerability and care theory of love ), including oneself (cf. narcissism ). In addition to cross-cultural differences in understanding love, ideas about love have also changed greatly over time. Some historians date modern conceptions of romantic love to courtly Europe during or after the Middle Ages , although the prior existence of romantic attachments is attested by ancient love poetry. The complex and abstract nature of love often reduces its discourse to

1377-566: A range of emotional states, including distrust, rejection, and anger, leading to trauma and various psychological challenges such as anxiety, social withdrawal, and even love addiction. Individuals may become fixated on past relationships, perpetuating emotional distress akin to addiction. Health benefits grow bigger when married couples are older, this is because the partners play a crucial role in promoting each other's well-being. A loving relationship with God has significant impact on health. Greek distinguishes several different senses in which

1458-414: A range of strong and positive emotional and mental states , from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection , to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love of a mother differs from the love of a spouse , which differs from the love of food . Most commonly, love refers to a feeling of strong attraction and emotional attachment . Love

1539-426: A reciprocal relationship between guest and host expressed in both material benefits (e.g. gifts, protection, shelter) as well as non-material ones (e.g. favors, certain normative rights). The word is derived from xenos 'stranger'. Xenia consists of two basic rules: Xenia was considered to be particularly important in ancient times when people thought that gods mingled among them; if one had poorly played host to

1620-413: A reflection of God's beauty and love. This perspective is evident in the poetry of Hafez and others, where the concept of tajalli , or divine self-manifestation, underscores the profound spiritual significance of love as it pertains to both human relationships and devotion to God. In Hebrew , אהבה ( ahavah ) signifies the love of Israelites for God and each other. However, the concept hesed offers

1701-515: A status symbol and as a demonstration of xenia. Architectural theorist Simon Weir explained how Vitruvius refers to xenia at the beginning of Book 6 of De Architectura , in the anecdote of Aristippus shipwrecked and receiving hospitality from the Rhodians. He explained how Vivruvius' understanding of xenia extended beyond the home, and involved general welcoming exchanges between strangers. Prior to Vitruvius, xenia still appears pervasive in

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1782-547: A stranger, there was the risk of incurring the wrath of a god disguised as the stranger. Notable among them is the Greek god Zeus , who is sometimes called Zeus Xenios in his role as a protector of strangers. This normalized theoxeny or theoxenia , wherein human beings demonstrate their virtue by extending hospitality to a humble stranger (xenos) , who turns out to be a disguised deity (theos) . These stories caution mortals that any guest should be treated as if potentially

1863-667: A strong liking of something, such as "I love popcorn" or that something is essential to one's identity, such as "I love being an actor". People can have a profound dedication and immense appreciation for an object, principle, or objective, thereby experiencing a sense of love towards it. For example, compassionate outreach and volunteer workers' "love" of their cause may sometimes be born not of interpersonal love but impersonal love, altruism , and strong spiritual or political convictions. People can also "love" material objects, animals, or activities if they invest themselves in bonding or otherwise identifying with those things. If sexual passion

1944-423: A universal definition. Although the nature or essence of love is a subject of frequent debate, different aspects of the word can be clarified by determining what is not love (antonyms of "love"). Love, as a general expression of positive sentiment (a stronger form of like ), is commonly contrasted with hate (or neutral apathy ). As a less sexual and more emotionally intimate form of romantic attachment, love

2025-433: Is preska , characterized by the desire to see something pleasant. Next is abhilasa, involving constant thoughts about the beloved. Then comes raga, signifying the mental inclination to be united with the beloved. Following that is shena , which involves favorable activities directed towards the beloved. Prema is the stage where one cannot live without the beloved. Then there is rati , which involves living together with

2106-437: Is "to be delighted by the happiness of another." Meher Baba stated that in love there is a "feeling of unity" and an "active appreciation of the intrinsic worth of the object of love." Biologist Jeremy Griffith defines love as "unconditional selflessness". According to Ambrose Bierce , love is a temporary insanity curable by marriage. People can express love towards things other than humans; this can range from expressing

2187-497: Is almost always translated as 'guest-friendship' or 'ritualized friendship'. It is an institutionalized relationship rooted in generosity, gift exchange, and reciprocity. Historically, hospitality towards foreigners and guests ( Hellenes not of your polis ) was understood as a moral obligation, as well as a political imperative. Hospitality towards foreign Hellenes honored Zeus Xenios (and Athene Xenia ), patrons of foreigners. The rituals of hospitality created and expressed

2268-549: Is also involved, then this feeling is called paraphilia . Interpersonal love refers to love between human beings. It is a much more potent sentiment than liking a person. Unrequited love refers to feelings of love that are not reciprocated. Interpersonal love is most closely associated with interpersonal relationships . Such love might exist between family members, friends, and couples. There are several psychological disorders related to love, such as erotomania . Throughout history, philosophy and religion have speculated about

2349-412: Is an affliction distorting reality, a primal urge rooted in the biological need for species to propagate. He emphasizes love's futility and self-destructive nature. In contrast, Ovid acknowledges the pleasure of love alongside its risks and complexities. He views love as a game of manipulation and deception, marked by a blend of hedonism and cynicism . Ovid recognizes the transient nature of passion and

2430-481: Is commonly contrasted with lust . As an interpersonal relationship with romantic overtones, love is sometimes contrasted with friendship , although the word love is often applied to close friendships or platonic love. Further possible ambiguities come with usages like "girlfriend", "boyfriend", and "just good friends". Abstractly discussed, love usually refers to a feeling one person experiences for another person. Love often involves caring for, or identifying with,

2511-399: Is considered a romantically phrased metaphor of love between God and his people, but in its plain reading it reads like a love song. The 20th-century rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler is frequently quoted as defining love from the Jewish point of view as "giving without expecting to take". Xenia (Greek) Xenia ( Greek : ξενία ) is an ancient Greek concept of hospitality . It

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2592-449: Is considered to be both positive and negative, with its virtue representing human kindness , compassion , and affection —"the unselfish, loyal, and benevolent concern for the good of another"—and its vice representing a human moral flaw akin to vanity , selfishness , amour-propre , and egotism . It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, oneself, or animals. In its various forms, love acts as

2673-412: Is deemed an essential ingredient to life: "See life with the wife you love" ( Ecclesiastes 9:9 ). Rabbi David Wolpe writes that "love is not only about the feelings of the lover... It is when one person believes in another person and shows it." He further states that "love... is a feeling that expresses itself in action. What we really feel is reflected in what we do." The biblical book Song of Solomon

2754-411: Is influenced by their conceptions of love. The conventional view in biology is that there are two major drives in love: sexual attraction and attachment . Attachment between adults is presumed to work on the same principles that lead an infant to become attached to its mother. The traditional psychological view sees love as being a combination of companionate love and passionate love. Passionate love

2835-484: Is intense longing, and is often accompanied by physiological arousal (shortness of breath, rapid heart rate); companionate love is affection and a feeling of intimacy not accompanied by physiological arousal. Love plays a role in human well-being and health. Engaging in activities associated with love, such as nurturing relationships, has been shown to activate key brain regions responsible for emotion, attention, motivation, and memory. These activities also contribute to

2916-403: Is not merely a feeling but is also actions, and that in fact the "feeling" of love is superficial in comparison to one's commitment to love via a series of loving actions over time. Fromm held that love is ultimately not a feeling at all, but rather is a commitment to, and adherence to, loving actions towards another, oneself, or many others, over a sustained duration. Fromm also described love as

2997-437: Is the feeling of sexual desire ; romantic attraction determines what partners find attractive and pursue, conserving time and energy by choosing ; and attachment involves sharing a home, parental duties, mutual defense, and in humans involves feelings of safety and security. Three distinct neural circuitries, including neurotransmitters, and three behavioral patterns, are associated with these three romantic styles. Lust

3078-453: Is the initial passionate sexual desire that promotes mating , and involves the increased release of hormones such as testosterone and estrogen . These effects rarely last more than a few weeks or months. Attraction is the more individualized and romantic desire for a specific candidate for mating, which develops out of lust as commitment to an individual mate form. Recent studies in neuroscience have indicated that as people fall in love,

3159-571: The Harshacharita presents a spontaneous perspective, suggesting it lacks a definitive cause. Due to its emotional nature, sneha is transient, emerging without reason and disappearing likewise. Preman represents a heightened stage in the development of love, characterized by the unbearable feeling of separation from the beloved. Etymologically, it denotes the sense of endearment akin to one's own. Priti , similar to preman , denotes fondness for anything delightful and familiar. It encompasses

3240-488: The 1970s. His work identifies a different set of three factors that constitute love: attachment, caring, and intimacy. Following developments in electrical theories such as Coulomb's law , which showed that positive and negative charges attract, analogs in human life were envisioned, such as "opposites attract". Research on human mating has generally found this not to be true when it comes to character and personality—people tend to like people similar to themselves. However, in

3321-467: The English language. The color wheel theory of love defines three primary, three secondary, and nine tertiary love styles, describing them in terms of the traditional color wheel. The triangular theory of love suggests intimacy, passion, and commitment are core components of love. Love has additional religious or spiritual meaning. This diversity of uses and meanings, combined with the complexity of

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3402-452: The Taoist text, Daodejing , is depicted as open and responsive to each person's unique circumstances. Taoism juxtaposes human beings with the vastness of nature, likening the creation of people to the formation of waves in the ocean. Unlike Confucianism, as portrayed in the Taoist text Zhuangzi , Taoist responses to the loss of a beloved may involve either mourning their death or embracing

3483-458: The adaptive benefit of sexual reproduction as opposed to asexual reproduction. Richard Michod reviewed evidence that love, and consequently sexual reproduction, provides two major adaptive advantages. First, sexual reproduction facilitates repair of damages in the DNA that is passed from parent to progeny (during meiosis , a key stage of the sexual process). Second, a gene in either parent may contain

3564-474: The affection between friends. Cicero , in his essay On Friendship reflects on the innate human tendency to both love oneself and seek out another with whom to intertwine minds, nearly blending them into a singular entity. This suggests that while friends remain distinct individuals, they also, in some sense, become intertwined, embodying a shared essence. Lucretius perceives love as a disruptive and irrational force, leading to madness and despair. To him, it

3645-446: The altruistic and the narcissistic. This view is represented in the works of Scott Peck , whose work in the field of applied psychology explored the definitions of love and evil. Peck maintains that love is a combination of the "concern for the spiritual growth of another" and simple narcissism. In combination, love is an activity , not simply a feeling. Psychologist Erich Fromm maintained in his book The Art of Loving that love

3726-461: The beloved. Finally, srngara represents the playful interaction with the beloved. Kama initially representing desire and longing. Later, Vātsyāyana , the author of the Kama Sutra , explored the concept of kama , defining it as the enjoyment of sensory pleasures with conscious awareness. However, there were also teachings cautioning against becoming overly attached to desire, advocating for

3807-434: The best-known rancheras, with compositions totaling more than 1,000 songs, making him one of the most prolific songwriters in the history of western music. Another closely related style of music is the corrido , which is often played by the same ensembles that regularly play rancheras. The corrido, however, is apt to be an epic story about heroes and villains, or the narrator's lifestyle. Love Love encompasses

3888-432: The brain consistently releases a certain set of chemicals, including the neurotransmitter hormones dopamine , norepinephrine , and serotonin , the same compounds released by amphetamine , stimulating the brain's pleasure center and leading to side effects such as increased heart rate , reduced appetite and sleep , and an intense feeling of excitement . Research indicates that this stage generally lasts from one and

3969-425: The chemicals oxytocin and vasopressin , to a greater degree than what is found in short-term relationships. Enzo Emanuele and coworkers reported the protein molecule known as the nerve growth factor (NGF) has high levels when people first fall in love, but these return to previous levels after one year. Psychology depicts love as a cognitive and social phenomenon. Psychologist Robert Sternberg formulated

4050-671: The concept of creation stems from love, viewed as the fundamental essence from which all beings originate and to which they ultimately return. This notion, influenced by neoplatonism , portrays love as both earthly and transcendent, embodying a universal striving for reunion with the divine. Scholars such as Abdolhossein Zarrinkoob trace this philosophical stance, highlighting its fusion with ancient Persian religious beliefs in figures like Ibn Arabi . According to Islamicists like William Chittick and Leonard Lewisohn , all forms of love find their origin in divine love, with creation serving as

4131-409: The divine, highlighting a transcendent experience. The children of Adam are limbs of one body Having been created of one essence. When the calamity of time afflicts one limb The other limbs cannot remain at rest. If you have no sympathy for the troubles of others You are not worthy to be called by the name of "man". Sa'di , Gulistan     In Persian mysticism ,

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4212-424: The emotional facet of love, stands in contrast to the intense passion of kama with its calm demeanor. Characterized by moisture and viscosity, the term originally denoted oiliness. It is often compounded with words for family members, reflecting attachment to individuals like mothers, fathers, and sons. Those experiencing sneha tend to exhibit great concern for one another. While traditionally attributed to sensing,

4293-466: The established idea of xenia as a fundamental Greek custom. While these practices of guest-friendship are centered on the gods, they would become common among the Greeks in incorporating xenia into their customs and manners. Indeed, xenia would become a standard practice throughout all of Greece as a custom in the affairs of humans interacting with humans as well as humans interacting with the gods, which

4374-749: The exchange of gifts appeared as two inseparable acts: Polykrates , having seized the government in Samos , "concluded a pact of xenia with Amasis king of Egypt , sending and receiving from him gifts ( dora )". Within the ritual it was important that the return gift be offered immediately after receiving a gift with each commensurate rather than attempting to surpass each other in value. The initial gifts in such an exchange would fall somewhere between being symbolic but useless, and of high use-value but without any special symbolic significance. The initial gifts would serve as both object and symbol. Herman points out that these goods were not viewed as trade or barter, "for

4455-489: The exchange was not an end in itself, but a means to another end." While trade ends with the exchange, the ritual exchange "was meant to symbolize the establishment of obligations which, ideally, would last for ever." Xenia as a custom appears to have been a critical factor that helped determine layouts of homes and of common areas. In the classical work De Architectura , the Roman architect Vitruvius comments on how xenia

4536-518: The feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, compared to other emotional states. The word "love" can have a variety of related but distinct meanings in different contexts. Many other languages use multiple words to express some of the different concepts that in English are denoted as "love"; one example is the plurality of Greek concepts for "love" ( agape , eros , philia , storge ). Cultural differences in conceptualizing love makes it difficult to establish

4617-409: The fetus, and increase complications during childbirth . This would favor monogamous relationships over polygamy . Interpersonal love between a man and woman provides an evolutionary adaptive benefit since it facilitates mating and sexual reproduction . However, some organisms can reproduce asexually without mating. Understanding the adaptive benefit of interpersonal love depends on understanding

4698-504: The gap between the human and the divine. Ren's significance lies in its ability to foster genuine human connection and empathy, laying the foundation for harmonious relationships within society. Mozi, a Chinese philosopher, articulated a philosophy centered on the principle of universal love. At the core of his teachings lay the belief that genuine harmony and societal well-being could only be achieved through love for others, transcending narrow self-interest. Mozi contended that universal love

4779-565: The importance of his domain. Historian Gabriel Herman lays out the use of xenia in political alliances in the Near East . He analyzes the exchange of xenia between King Xerxes and Pythios the Lydian , wherein Xerxes is made into Pythios's xenos . This exchange allowed for more peaceful political relations between both figures, and established a tone of generosity and brotherhood between

4860-851: The inevitable disappointment in romantic relationships. Ren (仁), a concept in Confucianism philosophy, embodies the essence of humanity and virtue. It is regarded as the sum of all virtues within a person, encompassing traits such as selflessness and self-cultivation. Ren emphasizes the cultivation of harmonious relationships within society, starting from the family unit and extending outward. Within Confucianism, these relationships are delineated by five main categories: father-son, older brother-younger brother, husband-wife, older friend-younger friend, and lord-servant. In Confucianism, one displays benevolent love by performing actions such as filial piety from children, kindness from parents, loyalty to

4941-410: The king and so forth. Central to the concept of Ren is the notion of reciprocity and empathetic understanding. It is often interpreted as akin to love (愛, ài ), but sometimes it also considered a stage between ài and ling , characterized by the sincere and open-hearted expression of human feelings. Through genuine love for others, individuals cultivate Ren and foster deeper connections that bridge

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5022-483: The lines in between. The instruments then repeat the theme again, and then the lyrics may either be repeated or begin a new set of words. One also finds the form a–b–a–b–c–b used, in which the intro (a) is played, followed by the verse (b). This form is repeated, and then a refrain (c) is added, ending with the verse. The most popular ranchera composers include Lucha Reyes , Cuco Sánchez , Antonio Aguilar , Juan Gabriel and José Alfredo Jiménez , who composed many of

5103-467: The loss and finding joy in new creations. Daoist love seeks connections that surpass distinctions and superficial reflections. The Japanese language uses three words to convey the English equivalent of love — ai ( 愛 ) , koi ( 恋 or 孤悲 ) and ren'ai ( 恋愛 ) . The term ai carries a multiple meanings, encompassing feelings of feelings from superior to inferiors, compassion and empathy towards others and selfless love, originally referred to beauty and

5184-449: The modern term ren'ai ; its usage more closely resembles that of koi in the form of romantic love. The concept amae ( 甘え ) , the dependency and emotional bonds between an infant and its mother—a bond that lays the foundation for the archetypal concept of love. Japanese culture traditionally distinguishes between marriage and love, valuing practical considerations and complementarity within family units. In ancient India , there

5265-433: The next chickens, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and other country produce. This is why artists called pictures representing the things which were sent to guests ‘xenia.’" The focus on creating distinct space to house strangers is shown to be a movement connected to both piety and opulence, due to how the housing of guests was seen as a virtue. Displays of wealth in decoration and in parting gifts for guests likewise serve as both

5346-490: The phenomenon of love. In the 20th century, the science of psychology has studied the subject. The sciences of anthropology , neuroscience , and biology have also added to the understanding of the concept of love. Biological models of sex tend to view love as a mammalian drive, much like hunger or thirst. Helen Fisher , an anthropologist and human behavior researcher, divides the experience of love into three partly overlapping stages: lust, attraction, and attachment. Lust

5427-478: The predecessor to vassal and lord dynamics in later medieval times. Herman goes on to analyze instances of xenia in political and social relations: "...No less important an element in forging the alliance was the exchange of highly specialized category of gifts, designated in our sources as xénia (as distinct from xenía , the term of the relationship itself) or dora . It was as important to give such gifts as to receive, and refusal to reciprocate as tantamount to

5508-498: The pursuit of genuine happiness through transcending desires. The Atharvaveda , presents kama as the tender affection between partners. Nevertheless, kama is also often associated with insatiable sexual desire intertwined with intense emotions like anger and greed, portraying it as potentially harmful. Over time, kama took on anthropomorphic qualities, evolving into the figure of the Indian Cupid. Sneha , considered

5589-421: The regulation of the autonomic nervous system , leading to stress reduction over time, although the initial stages of love may induce stress. Love's social bonds enhance both physical and mental health, fostering resilience, compassion, and closeness. It boosts immune function and promotes healing, while also encouraging positive motivations and behaviors for individual flourishing and survival. Breakups can evoke

5670-553: The selection of rulers and the structuring of society, emphasizing reciprocity and egalitarianism as foundational principles for a harmonious social order. In Taoism , the concept of 慈 ( ci ) embodies compassion or love, with connotations of tender nurturing akin to a mother's care. It emphasizes the idea that creatures can only thrive through raising and nurturing. Ci serves as the wellspring of compassion or love that transcends preconceived notions of individuals, instead fostering compassion for people as they are. Love, as depicted in

5751-553: The term koi generally represented romantic love. Koi describes a longing for a member of the opposite sex and is typically interpreted as selfish and wanting. The term's origins come from the concept of lonely solitude as a result of separation from a loved one. Though modern usage of koi focuses on sexual love and infatuation, the Manyō used the term to cover a wider range of situations, including tenderness, benevolence, and material desire. The fusion of ai and koi gave rise to

5832-438: The transcendent nature of love. These interpretations emphasize Rumi's rejection of mortal attachments in favor of a love for the ultimate beloved, seen as embodying absolute beauty and grandeur. Scholars like William Chittick assert that all love stems from the divine, with God being both lover and beloved. Leonard Lewisohn characterizes Rumi's poetry as part of a mystical tradition that celebrates love as pathways to union with

5913-414: The two. This type of exchange was also known to have been done not face-to-face through the work of messengers. Herman connects the phenomena of xenia to several historical cultural exchange customs throughout Afro-Eurasia . He connects xenia to studies of African tribal societies studied by Harry Tegnaeus, and certain traditional notions of African tribal brotherhood. Separately, he connects xenia as

5994-447: The word "love" is used. Ancient Greeks identified three main forms of love: friendship and/or platonic desire ( philia ), sexual and/or romantic desire ( eros ), and self-emptying or divine love ( agape ). Modern authors have distinguished further varieties of romantic love. In Latin, friendship was distinctly termed amicitia, while amor encompassed erotic passion, familial attachment, and, albeit less commonly,

6075-463: The work of the earliest ancient Greek architects, whose work was always concerned with public buildings and the hosting of guests rather than the design of private residences. In particular, Architectural historian, Lisa Landrum has also revealed the presence of Xenia in Greek theatre onstage and offstage. As a part of how Xenia was culturally reinforced, demonstrations of theoxenia and xenia were present through major works of Greek literature. Xenia

6156-431: The younger or inferior. This love is exemplified in the affection of parents towards their children, a husband's care for his wife, or a ruler's concern for their subjects. Conversely, bhakti denotes the love expressed by the younger towards the seniors, exemplified in a child's devotion to their parents. Interpretations of Rumi's poetry and Sufi cosmology by scholars emphasize a divine-centric perspective, focusing on

6237-518: Was a understanding of erotics and the art of love. References in the Rigveda suggest the presence of romantic narratives in ancient Indo-Aryan society, evident in dialogues between deities like Yama and Yami , and Pururavas and Urvashi . The Sanskrit language , offered various terms to convey the concept of love, such as kama, sneha, priya, vatsalya, bhakti , priti and prema . In Indian literature, there are seven stages of love. The first

6318-509: Was culturally reinforced through understandings of gods interacting with gods as well. Plato describes four types of xenoi or strangers in need of hosting, in his work Laws : Plato makes a list of such xenoi in an effort to promote legal responsibility to uphold the domain of Zeus Xenios. Plato likewise makes mention of Zeus Xenios while discussing his journey to meet Dion of Syracuse in The Seventh Letter , and mentions

6399-414: Was expressed in ancient Greek home layout and decoration. In particular, he emphasizes the decorative paintings of food in guest apartments of Greek homes: "...When the Greeks became more luxurious, and their circumstances more opulent, they began to provide dining rooms, chambers, and storerooms of provisions for their guests from abroad, and on the first day they would invite them to dinner, sending them on

6480-604: Was not merely an abstract concept but a practical imperative, requiring individuals to actively promote the welfare of all members of society through their actions. In Mozi's philosophical framework, universal love was not only a moral obligation but also a divine principle originating from Heaven itself. He argued that this principle was exemplified through the actions of sage-kings from ancient times, who demonstrated how love could manifest in tangible ways within human interactions. Mozi's advocacy for universal love extended beyond interpersonal relationships; he believed it should guide

6561-421: Was often used in a religious context. Initially synonymous with koi , representing romantic love between a man and a woman, emphasizing its physical expression, ai underwent a transformation during the early Meiji era . It evolved into a euphemistic term for renbo ( 恋慕 ) or love attachment, signifying a shift towards a more egalitarian treatment and consideration of others as equals. Prior to Western influence,

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