{Inner Truth: Love [continued (7)]}[17th June 1988]

[Redbook5:168][19880617:1949h]{Inner Truth: Love [continued (7)]}[17^th June 1988]

.19880617.1949

[continued]

Can we distinguish between an inner idea of the quality of Love and an inner experience of the quality of Love?

Yes, I think we have to – if only because of the distinction above* between (a),** which is the inner experience of love, and (b),*** which is the inner idea of Love.

Nevertheless it is impossible to conceive of the idea of the quality Love occurring without the experience of the quality of Love having occurred – either previous to, or simultaneously with, the idea of Love, although not necessarily in a conventional relationship: it could be wholly internalised.

The idea of Elephant might well occur without the external existence of elephant ever having occurred (cf. Dragons, Unicorns?). The idea of Love is therefore self-validating as an idea of a quality of inner experience; and (if there is an experiential as opposed to a logical distinction), I believe, as a quality of inner experience.****

*[See last previous entry.]

**[See last previous entry – 'the existence of each of those loves is undoubted – to the lover, who experiences it'.]

***[See last previous entry – 'the existence of something called Love which is the unifying idea of these loves'.]

****[See next entry.]

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