Love:
When we " love" another person - child, sibling, spouse, or
parent - we feel a limitless desire for them to be happy.
Shukra-love
Love in a long-term relationship is a Shukra-ruled
function. Committed love between two human beings,
each of whom wish to remain in a balanced exchange relationship,
involves a deep appreciation for the Relationship itself. Shukra-based
love is founded on the appreciation of balance, and of understanding
that the pleasure of the partner is the true source of pleasure for
oneself.
For example if one's relationship is
professional, what is the source of pleasure for the partner? It will
be one's balanced and fair performance of contractual duties within
the business partnership. This is love. It has no sexual component,
but it is love. At it's core, partner- love is a perfectly balanced
agreement.
If one's relationship is sexual, then the sexual
pleasure of the partner becomes a paramount goal in the long-term
happiness of the relationship. One understands that the physical
pleasuring of the partner is key to one's own happiness. One sincerely
wishes the partner to be happy, and one invests in that happiness by
working to achieve the pleasure of the partner.
In a balanced and authentic love relationship, each
partner absolutely wants the best for the other partner, without conditions
or consideration of whether their happiness affects one's own immediate material
fortunes.
Surya-love
Surya - unfortunately - can create a short-term
"infatuation" (lit., full of folly) that mimics true love between
humans but which is not a partnered balance but rather a self-focused
idealistic projection.
Surya's "falling in love" projections are
highly suitable to one's relationship with the Divine, but they are not
intended to replace Shukra's long-term balanced partnerships.
Surya-driven "love" is an "idealization"
or psychological projection of Divinely perfect (Surya) qualities upon an
object.
Surya represents the part of the human entity that can
channel Divine Intelligence, i.e. Genius.
If the object of idealization = a deity, or a
child, or a romantic lover, or a piece of poetry, there is no problem. None of
these objects are intended to become one's equal partner. It is quite
fine and "lovely" to project one's "inner personal best"
perfection upon one's children, since it is at least part of their purpose on
Earth to carry forward the lineage of their parents' intelligence!
However to project ideal qualities upon the spouse or
business partner is a foolhardy error of wide impact in human relationships.
Unfortunately in the advertising imagery of self-worship, which is fueled by
political individualism and modern celebrity culture, it is quite easy to
confuse the adolescent "falling in love" projection with the adult
"marriage" agreement.
A Flawless Human Love?
Naturally, if one insists that one's husband,
wife, or partner manifest a divinely ideal appearance, or that
this person must continuously express flawless
qualities of physical, emotional, ethical, aesthetic, social,
or moral perfection, one will be quickly dissatisfied with this human
partner. One may become a victim of "falling in love
syndrome", moving from relationship to relationship, looking for
the "ideal" partner.
Many marriage troubles these days seem to be
stemming from a gross misunderstanding of the difference between Surya's
portfolio (development of individual genius, esp. via children) vs.
Shukra's portfolio (development of balanced agreements, long-term
sensual pleasuring, and wealth).
Increasingly in global society, this rapid-fire idealization-devaluation
of the partner, associated with narcissistic personality disorder,
is ruining the long-term happiness of marriage partnerships.
It is possible that the wildfire spread of global
self-enhancement "consumerism" will completely destroy the
culture of long-term partnership. Modern buy-now image-illusions seduce
the buyer into believing that "if you buy this item, you will have
immediate Divine Powers of magnetic attractiveness". And perhaps,
the sculpted body gained through the (buy it now) gym membership or the
gorgeous clothes gained through the (buy it now) credit card (magic!)
will increase the individual empowerment for some months.
However, the
immediate excitement of self-flattery and getting public attention (5)
wears off very quickly. An adult human is part common animal and
part divine brilliance.
Humans struggle infinitely to realize
Surya's divine
ideal.
Shukra is the karaka for relaxation of the
struggle.
(Naturally, Shukra and Surya, who work at
cross-purposes for eternity, are enemies!)
Shukra gives sensual pleasure, indulgence in
wealth, and social ease afforded by committed partnership.
In human equal relationships, idealization is a trap.
Human relationships are built on material pleasures: sexual delights,
wealth acquisition, balanced conversations, and a host of agreeable
relationships not only between the partners but involving many
participants within their social community (parents, neighbors,
commercial and religious associates, etc.)
These days, given Shani-Surya enforced
survival-creativity tremendous time-pressure upon individuals to work
more and more - in order to buy more and more - it seems like
there is no time to develop the large and small Venusian agreements upon
which a successful marriage is historically grounded. It is good that
humans strive to increase their divine capacity.
But it is a mistake to
confuse the architecturally balanced, long-term pleasuring agreements of
Shukra with the Solar instinct to develop divine genius in a child, or a
work of creative literature, a theatrical performance, or political
oratory.
Or a lover! Surya is the positive karaka of the idealized
Romantic Lover! But Shukra is the karaka of the Spouse! Attend to the
difference!
Real Human Partnerships, Real Human
Love
Human partnerships prosper when Shukra's two portfolios,
mutually beneficial agreements (7) and sensual pleasure (2), are attentively
developed.
If Shukra's law is followed, marriage becomes the
foundation for wealth (2) and social harmony (7).
updated: 04 July 2009