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The Power of Divine Eros

The Power of Divine Eros

The Illuminating Force of Love in Everyday Life
by A.H. Almaas 2013 257 pages
4.06
50+ ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. Divine Eros: Uniting Love and Desire

"Divine eros is a way you can experience your inner nature."

Transcending conventional separation. Divine eros represents the union of love and desire, traditionally seen as opposing forces. It challenges the view that the divine and the erotic are separate, revealing them as two sides of the same reality. This concept invites us to embrace both our spiritual nature and our earthly desires, recognizing them as complementary aspects of our being.

Transformative power of integration. By integrating love and desire, we unlock a powerful force for personal and spiritual growth. This integration allows us to experience life more fully, embracing both the transcendent and the immanent aspects of existence. It enables us to:

  • Experience deeper intimacy in relationships
  • Tap into a more profound sense of aliveness
  • Discover new dimensions of our spiritual nature
  • Express ourselves authentically in all interactions

2. The Two Loves: Worldly and Spiritual

"The heart is naturally generous, naturally open."

Reconciling dual attractions. The human heart naturally harbors two loves: love for the world and love for spiritual freedom. This duality often creates an inner conflict, as we feel pulled between earthly attachments and spiritual aspirations. However, recognizing these two loves as aspects of the same underlying reality can lead to a more integrated and fulfilling life.

Embracing both dimensions. Instead of choosing between worldly and spiritual love, we can learn to embrace both:

  • Appreciate the richness of human relationships and earthly experiences
  • Cultivate a deep connection with our spiritual nature
  • Recognize that both loves stem from the same source of Being
  • Allow our spiritual insights to enrich our worldly interactions
  • Use our worldly experiences as opportunities for spiritual growth

3. Overcoming the Duality of Spirit and Matter

"There is ultimately only one reality."

Recognizing underlying unity. The apparent separation between spirit and matter, or the divine and the worldly, is an illusion created by our limited perception. In reality, these are two aspects of the same unified existence. Overcoming this perceived duality is key to experiencing the fullness of life and our true nature.

Practical integration. To bridge the gap between spirit and matter:

  • Practice being present in everyday activities
  • Cultivate awareness of the spiritual dimension in physical experiences
  • Recognize the divine essence in all beings and things
  • Allow spiritual insights to inform and transform worldly interactions
  • Embrace the physical world as an expression of spiritual reality

4. Desire as a Path to Self-Discovery

"Desire is the expression of the true energy of Being."

Transformative potential of desire. Rather than suppressing or indulging desire, we can use it as a powerful tool for self-discovery and spiritual growth. By exploring our desires with awareness and curiosity, we can uncover deeper truths about ourselves and reality.

Harnessing desire's energy. To use desire as a path to self-discovery:

  • Allow yourself to fully feel your desires without judgment
  • Inquire into the root of your desires, beyond their surface manifestations
  • Recognize the life force energy inherent in desire
  • Use the energy of desire to fuel your spiritual practice
  • Allow desire to lead you to a deeper connection with your true nature

5. Cultivating Real Relationships

"A real relationship is based on real relating, where each person is as present as possible, with the mutual intention to be open to one another."

Authenticity and presence. Real relationships are characterized by authentic presence, deep connection, and mutual openness. They provide a unique opportunity for personal growth and spiritual development, serving as mirrors that reflect our true nature.

Developing relational skills. To cultivate real relationships:

  • Practice being fully present with others
  • Develop empathy and attunement to others' experiences
  • Cultivate openness and vulnerability
  • Engage in honest, authentic communication
  • Approach relationships with curiosity and a willingness to learn
  • Allow relationships to be a field for mutual growth and discovery

6. The Power of Sexual Love in Spiritual Growth

"Divine eros is pleasure combined with discovering God—while you are experiencing the bliss of interaction, you are finding the divine in you and in the other, and in reality as a whole."

Integrating sexuality and spirituality. Sexual love, when approached with awareness and openness, can be a powerful catalyst for spiritual growth. It provides a unique opportunity to experience the unity of body, heart, and spirit, revealing the divine nature of reality.

Transformative sexual experiences. To harness the spiritual potential of sexual love:

  • Approach sexual experiences with presence and awareness
  • Cultivate a sense of sacred intimacy with your partner
  • Allow sexual energy to awaken deeper dimensions of consciousness
  • Recognize the divine in yourself and your partner during intimate encounters
  • Use sexual experiences as opportunities for mutual healing and growth

7. Magnetic Love: The Force of Unity

"Love is the magnetic force that wants to bring us closer to what we love, whether the object of love is God, truth, or reality, whether it is a car, an iPad, or a person."

Universal attractive force. Magnetic love is the underlying force that draws us towards unity with all of existence. It manifests as our attraction to truth, beauty, and goodness, as well as our desire for connection with others and the divine.

Harnessing magnetic love. To align with and harness the power of magnetic love:

  • Cultivate awareness of the attractive force in all your experiences
  • Allow yourself to be drawn towards what you truly love
  • Recognize the same attractive force in spiritual and worldly pursuits
  • Use the energy of attraction to fuel your spiritual practice
  • Allow magnetic love to guide you towards deeper unity with all of existence

8. Becoming the Sexy Angel: Embodying Divine Eros

"What is a sexy angel? It is a soul that is full of desire but it is still angelic, which means that it is pure, total light."

Integration of animal and angel. The "sexy angel" represents the fully integrated human being who embodies both earthly passion and divine purity. This state of being allows us to express our full humanity while remaining connected to our spiritual essence.

Cultivating divine embodiment. To become the sexy angel:

  • Embrace both your animal nature and your spiritual essence
  • Allow desire to fuel your spiritual growth
  • Cultivate presence and awareness in all experiences
  • Express your authenticity in all interactions
  • Recognize the divine in the mundane and the sacred in the profane
  • Live with passion and compassion, grounded in your true nature

Last updated:

Review Summary

4.06 out of 5
Average of 50+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Readers of The Power of Divine Eros have mixed opinions. Many appreciate its unique structure, incorporating workshop elements and interactive questions for self-reflection. Some find it transformative, praising its exploration of divine eros and its potential to ignite passion in everyday life. Others criticize it for being too abstract or "hippy-dippy," lacking concrete content. The book's spiritual approach resonates with some readers while others struggle to connect. Overall, it's seen as an intriguing but sometimes challenging exploration of desire, love, and spirituality.

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About the Author

A. Hameed Ali, writing under the pen name A.H. Almaas, is the founder of the Diamond Approach to Self Realization. This contemporary spiritual teaching combines ancient wisdom with modern psychological insights. Almaas developed this approach to guide individuals towards self-realization and personal growth. The Diamond Approach emphasizes the integration of spiritual and psychological understanding, offering a unique path for exploring consciousness and human potential. Almaas's work has gained recognition for its depth and innovative methods in addressing spiritual development within the context of modern life. His teachings aim to help people uncover their true nature and live more authentically.

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