Love, InterAct

Dear Friend, 

Poets, crooners, lovers, romantics, men, women, and religious thinkers. For centuries, all have been trying to describe love. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we would like to present you with our own Whitman's Sampler of quotes about love from the various religions that are part of the InterAct Cleveland family. Enjoy!

Baha'i:

"Kindle the fire of love and burn away all things,
Then set thy foot into the land of the lovers."
Bahá'u'lláh

"And if, by the help of God, he findeth on this journey a trace of the traceless Friend, and inhaleth the fragrance of the long-lost Joseph from the heavenly messenger, he shall straightway step into the Valley of Love and be dissolved in the fire of love. In this city the heaven of ecstasy is upraised and the world-illuming sun of yearning shineth, and the fire of love is ablaze; and when the fire of love is ablaze, it burneth to ashes the harvest of reason."
From The Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh

More quotes found here.

Buddhist:

"The purpose of all the major religious traditions is not to construct big temples on the outside, but to create temples of goodness and compassion inside, in our hearts."
The Dalai Lama

"Through your love for each other, through learning the art of making one person happy,
you learn to express your love for the whole of humanity and all beings."
 Thich Nhat Hanh

More quotes found here.

Christian:

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1 John 4:8

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
1 John 4:18

More quotes found here.

Hindu:

"It is in love that religion exists and not in ceremony--in the pure and sincere love in the heart."
Vivekananda

"All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore, love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live."
Vivekananda

More quotes found here and here

Jewish:

"Who acts from love is greater than who acts from fear."
Talmud, Sota

"Three things have a faint savor of the world to come: Sabbath, the sun and married love."
Talmud, Berakhot

More quotes found here.

Islam:

"God kindles the fire of love in the hearts of the chosen, so that their carnal selves are consumed. Once ignited the fire of longing never dies. That is the flame about which the Prophet said, 'When God wills the good of his servant, He kindles a light of faith in his heart.'"
Abu Sa'id, "Rabi'a the Mys

"In thy soul of love build thou a fire
And burn all thoughts and words entire."
Jalalu`d-Din Rúmi

More quotes found here and here.

Sikh:

"A life devoid of love is a flower blooming in the wilderness,
With nobody to enjoy its fragrance."
Kabirji, Gauri Rag

"True love is the highest stage of spiritual perfection."
Baba Narinder Singh Ji

More quotes found here and here

Unitarian Universalist:

"You need not think alike to love alike."
Francis David

"Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law. This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another."
James Vila Blake

More quotes found here

What are a few of your own sonnets? Share your favorite verses or lines with us below.