How Does Buddhism View Love?

In Buddhist teachings love is looked at in terms of the toxic or nourishing mental states present in the minds of lovers and loved. A range of emotions may be distinguished.

At its coarsest level love may be narcissistic and demanding; at its most sublime love is selfless and unconditioned. Personal love tends to oscillate from one end of this scale to the other.

Buddhists are taught that the more their love inclines towards the selfish forms, the more they will suffer and the more suffering they will cause for their loved one; the more unconditional their love, the more it is based upon wisdom and understanding, the more happiness they will enjoy and the more they will be able to give to others.

Buddhists are taught to cultivate their actions, speech, thoughts and emotions in such a way as to educate and purify the positive emotions.

This reflection by Ajahn Jayasaro is from the book Without and Within, (pdf) p. 136.