Love is DISCIPLINE

Text From Roadless Travelled

I have indicated that energy for the work of self discipline derives

fromtlove,which is a form of will. It follows, then , not only that

selfdiscipline is usually love,translated in to action,but also that any genuine

lover behaves with self discipline and any genuinely loving relationship is a

disciplined relationship.If I truly love another, I will obviously order my

behaviour in such a way as to contribute the utmost to his or her spritual growth ..

.While one should not be a slave one's feelings,self-disciplinedoes

not means the squashing of one's feelings into nonexistence....First of all one's

feelings are the source of one's energy;they provide the horse power,or slave

power,that makes it possible for us toaccomplish the taskes of living.since

they work for us we should treat them with respect........The proper

management of one's feeling clearly lies in along a complex (and therefore a

not simple or easy)balanced middle path,requiring constant judgement

continuing adjustments.Here the owner treats his feelings(slaves)with

respect,nurturing them with good food,shelter,and medical care,

listening and responding to their voices ,encouraging them ,inquiring

them as to their health,yet also organising them ,limitting them,

deciding clearly between them,redirecting them and teaching them,

all the while leaving no doubts as to who is the boss.This is the path of

healthy self-discipline.Among the feelings that must be so disciplined

is the feeling of love....it is to be very much respected and nurtured for

the creative energy it brings,but if it allowed to run rampant ,

the result will not be genuine love but confusion and unproductive.