Of Relationships, Attachments, and Love

The first week in Mexico, I often found myself looking over my shoulders to share some things with Nipun. Only that he was a couple thousand miles away. :) Sometimes it was funny, sometimes interesting, and sometimes just plain frustrating –- that need for comfort, advice, and his laughter that often lightens my heaviest burdens. 

No matter how independent we are, relationships tend to groove us in the habit of relying on the other person for certain things. There is a part of it that’s very natural and yet there’s a part that has a potential to turn authentic love into clingy attachments.

Attachments are worthy of a closer look, from time to time. For Nipun and I, it isn’t that uncommon to spend extended periods apart -- which naturally inspires that type of introspection. But generally I’m the one at home and when you’re going about your life in the usual comfort of your routine, you don’t notice some of the attachments in the same way. This trip, though, has helped immensely in taking a closer look at some of those gray areas. I’ve undoubtedly strengthened certain muscles of self-reliance that were sitting idle for a while.

I've always insisted in entering any relationship out of joy and out of service to help each other walk on the path. After continuously practicing this for a while, the "what do I need from this relationship" naturally turns into “What can I bring to the relationship, and how can I help you reach your higher purpose?” Then, you trade in the mundane insecurities for the simple joy of being alive together, and the relationship can truly begin. The love progresses from being partial and fractional to being spiritual and whole.