T he word ‘love’, and its meaning and definition, are often taken for granted. We assume everyone knows what love is and presumably how to find it. It is a perennial topic for all writers as diverse as Shakespeare and the Rolling Stones, yet few of us pause to truly think about it.
      In Conscious Love, Richard Smoley, an expert on the esoteric tradition of mystical Christianity, examines our traditional view of love. He delves into the wisdom of noted thinkers in literature, art, philosophy, sociology, cultural criticism and even neurology.
      Richard Smoley is the author of several books on esoteric Christianity. He is the former editor of Gnosis magazine and is currently executive editor of The Quest magazine. He has had over thirty years experience studying and practicing the Western esoteric traditions.
      Richard Smoley explains that amongst the world’s religious traditions, Christianity has a distinct focus on love. Even non-Christians remember the famous words written in the New Testament quoting Jesus enjoining us all to “love one another.” It is the very heart of Christian teachings to love God and our neighbour.
      Whilst it is clear that love has existed for as long as the human race itself, it was Christ who posited this mysterious force as the centre of fully conscious human experience. However, exactly what conscious love means and what it requires of us, is not altogether clear.
      Richard Smoley reveals in Conscious Love that full understanding of love requires exploration of the deepest teachings of Christian mystery that points to an endless source of unconditional love at the heart of the universe.
      Of course, one of the greatest misunderstandings of love comes via sexual interaction. We often refer to the sex act as “making love” when in fact the experience does not necessarily enhance or engender love. Richard Smoley explores the sexual evidence from early Christian practice and Tantra exercises based on raising sexual energy from the genitals to the heart.
      So often, points out Smoley, what we believe to be love actually stems from bargaining, exchange of duties and negotiations. This is seen very clearly when love appears to die at the end of a relationship. Can love die? Was it ever truly love, or just an emotion based on mutual obligation?
      One important point Smoley makes, as do other authors such as Robert Johnson, is that the English language has only one word for love. Greek has four, and as we all know the Gospels were written in Greek (or at least translated into Greek before English). The Greek word for brotherly love is philo whereas conscious love is agape. Therefore, the difference between these two words for love makes the gospels read quite differently.
      Perhaps the best known example of this confusion between the two words, translated as “love” in the English language, is the exchange reported at the end of the Gospel of John where Jesus asks Simon Peter if he “lovest” him (Jesus) more than others. The word in this sentence in Greek is agapas, which is conscious love. Simon replies that he did indeed love (philo) Jesus. Clearly, a very different meaning.
      “The point of this story is that Jesus is asking one question and Peter is answering another,” reflects Smoley as he examines the Gospels from this vantage point. Other writers, notably Maurice Nicoll, interpret agape as conscious love, but Philo as mechanical love.
      “The progression from the ‘love of the world’ – ereos, storge, phila, to agape is also a progression in awakening, even, we might say, in enlightenment,” says Smoley.
      This remarkable book offers a blueprint for infusing conscious love into human relationships, which is in essence their spiritual value. We can only embrace true love when we allow love to transcend the bargains and negotiations that are characteristic of what Richard Smoley calls transactional love and into the spiritual essence offered by Christ.
      Any person seriously pursuing the goal of spiritual enlightenment must surely realise that all experiences of fear, restriction and negativity must be replaced with love. Yet, perhaps paradoxically, if we continue to view love as mechanical, sexual or obligatory, we become blind to conscious love.
        In Conscious Love, Richard Smoley deftly takes the reader along the many pathways to love, examines the tempting detours and finally outlines the only true path. In so doing, he deepens our own capacity to love and be loved.
      Conscious Love is wise, provocative and deeply informing on humanity’s most bewildering and overwhelming emotion. Reader be warned: it will cause you to examine all your relationships. Perhaps you will discover that you have never truly loved or been loved, and that can be confrontational. Be prepared to be shocked, but also to see the authentic pathway revealed at last.