Valentine’s Day is often framed around romantic love—grand gestures, flowers, and the idea of finding “the one.” But from a Buddhist perspective, love is much broader, deeper, and more available than that. True love is not limited to a partner or a specific relationship—it is a boundless state of being, cultivated through metta, or loving-kindness.
Love Without Conditions
Metta is a love that does not depend on another person’s approval, actions, or presence. It is not based on attraction or attachment. It is the warmth of an open heart, a kindness that radiates to all beings, including ourselves.
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When we cultivate metta, we extend goodwill to everyone, not just those we find easy to love. This includes strangers, those we struggle with, and most importantly, ourselves.
Loving-Kindness Begins Within
Many people find it easier to offer kindness to others than to themselves. But without self-compassion, love becomes conditional—tied to achievement, external validation, or comparison. True loving-kindness begins with accepting ourselves as we are.
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Can you offer yourself the same care you would give a dear friend? Can you meet your flaws and struggles with patience rather than judgment? This is the practice.
Try this simple metta meditation:
- Find stillness. Sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths.
- Offer yourself kindness. Silently repeat: May I be happy. May I be safe. May I be free from suffering. May I be at peace.
- Expand outward. Offer these same wishes to someone you love, then to a neutral person, then to someone who challenges you, and finally to all beings everywhere.
The heart softens as it widens.
Acts of Kindness: Love in Action
Loving-kindness is not just a feeling; it is a practice. Small acts of compassion—offering a smile, listening deeply, showing patience—become a way of embodying love in everyday life.
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This Valentine’s Day, instead of focusing on what love you receive, consider what love you can give. Not just to a partner, but to a colleague, a neighbor, a stranger, or even someone you may have overlooked. A kind word or a moment of presence can change someone’s day.
If you’d like to explore how to cultivate loving-kindness in a structured way, you’re always welcome to join my meditation classes, retreats, or events. We practice together to strengthen these qualities—not just for a season, but as a way of life. To explore free resources with me online go here.
Love as a Path, Not a Transaction
In Buddhism, love is not a trade or an expectation. It is not given with the hope of something in return. It is a state of being, cultivated through practice.
When we free love from possession and attachment, it becomes inexhaustible. The more we offer, the more it grows.
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This is also the kind of love I seek to honor in ceremonies—whether it’s guiding people through life’s transitions, holding space for remembrance, or officiating weddings where love is a conscious choice and commitment. If you’re looking for a wedding officiant who brings depth and presence to your special day, I’d be honored to hold that space with you.
So today, let love be more than a holiday. Let it be a practice, a daily offering, a way of seeing and being in the world.
May you be happy. May you be safe. May you be free from suffering. May you be at peace.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
/ Lama Chimey
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Lama Chimey 
Happy Valentine’s Day dear cousin
Love your posts.❤️🙏🙏🙏🪷
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