Zizi, thank you for your response. I can agree with the sentiments you express and what I assume to be a kind & considerate person behind them.

However, the reality is that the emotion to which you refer as love is not simple. Yes, it is commonly seen to have some of the components you suggest.

At the same time, you allude (perhaps not intentionally) to a fundamental reason why 'love' as it is usually regarded, is not valid.

You say: "The love you talk about is what people fantasize, visualize and distort to their own concept and favor." Yes, you are right because love is selfish.

You go on to say: "You can only truly love anyone or anything when you like, care and emphatize with them." No, this is where you begin to confuse concepts and the difference between love and empathy.

Empathy is not a part of love - the attributes you assign to love are those you have learned to do so from conditioning.

It is not necessary to like someone to empathise with them. Empathy is a non selfish action. It is about 'putting oneself into someone else's shoes'. It is about actively seeking and opening to how they have experienced, seen, felt and such. It matters not whether they are enemy or friend.

Empathy is unselfish - it is about giving, not taking. 'Love', (in the ubiquitous way we understand it) is quite the contrary. One only has to give it serious thought and examination to see that. "Love' if one chooses to see it that way, may be a part of empathy but it doesn't have to be.

Thank you for your interest and response.

Take care. Stay safe. ☮️

#borc