Can We Love More? Elias Amidon Notes Open Path

love more: “… Love says “I am everything”. Wisdom says “I am nothing”. Between the two, my life flows …” ~ Nisargadatta Maharaj

One could make the case that kindness arises from love … and kindness is always possible as His Holiness The Dalai Lama aptly says “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible” … so one could posit that love is always possible 🙂

So, the answer to the opening question could be yes! … rather it should be a resounding yes! To that end, we offer a simple daily vow … because simple and everyday actions – ultimately – bring about (and are the key to) real and profound transformation.

In his January 2023 monthly Notes From The Open Path January 2023 Elias Amidon offered A New Year’s Vow to love more with this opening remark: I originally wrote this vow for New Year’s day, January 2022, and now, a year later, it’s still what I want to say and pray with you as the old year ends and this new one dawns for us all.”

We were inspired by Elias’ commitment to love more … so decided to “riff off” Elias’ vow … and make it into a daily vow 🙂

Elias Amidon (a master in the Sufi tradition, who has also deeply explored Theravada Buddhism, Native American, Christianity, Zen, and contemporary Dzogchen as part of his life long pursuit of spirituality) is a Pir (Spiritual Director) of The Sufi Way and has been “an initiate of the Sufi Way for the past 44 years.”

So, here is our modified daily vow with Elias’ original words struck through and replaced with ours within {} braces …

For such poems we always suggest: … pause … read … reflect … pause … reflect some more … and see what is revealed …

A { New Year’s Daily } Vow: Love More …

Because this day is special
and we are together,
because the { ~~year’s~~ day’s } starting
and we want to say something,

because it’s never been here before
and we have,

because the { ~~year~~ day } is asking
and the children are asking and listening

for what we will say
and what we will do,

let us vow, let us make a vow,
now, because we can,
because we’re still breathing,

and the old { ~~year~~ day may have } hurt,
and the animals are anxious,
and the children are waiting,
and the air is listening,

let us vow, now,
to the mothers who bore us
and the millenniums before us
and the millenniums to come
who are waiting and listening

for what we will say
and what we will do,
and because it matters

and we are together,

let us vow, now,
to love more.

~ Elias Amidon

Elias’ writes a monthly Notes from the Open Path which are short contemplations on an approach to living wholeheartedly and in clear awareness (aspects of his Open Path teachings) … visit his website for more of his work: The Open Path – The Sufi Way.

The entire text of A New Year’s Vow above is authored by Elias and is excerpted from his January 2023 monthly email Notes from the Open Path (also available on his website). He has graciously given us permission to freely share these notes with our readers.