- Novice Monk: Master, look at this wind… It goes away.
- Master: The wind doesn’t blow on its own. There are some people like that too. They will only stay with you if…
- Novice Monk: If you follow them?
- Master: No, unless the other person loves you so deeply that they cannot help but to stay, they will always just be around you, by your side.
- Novice Monk: So, there’s a difference between?
- Master: Yes. Love that stays is like the roots of a tree. It is grounded, nourished by time and understanding. It grows deeper with each passing moment, regardless of the winds or storms. Love that lingers, however, is like the wind—it comes and goes, never truly rooted, just passing through. You may feel it for a moment, but it never truly settles.
- Novice Monk: So, if love is like the wind, does it mean it’s not real?
- Master: No, love is always real—it’s just that some kinds of love are not rooted in permanence. These are the relationships that are more about the moment, the connection you share in passing. While the love that stays is the kind that deepens over time, even in silence—it is a steady force. It’s a love that supports you without needing to be seen, a love that stays because it’s built on trust, respect, and understanding. It remains with you, not because it has to, but because it chooses to.
- Novice Monk: So, we must look for the love that is steady, the one that roots us deeply.
- Master: Exactly. Love that stays grows quietly, often unseen, but its presence is felt in every moment. It is lasting, like the earth beneath our feet. Not like the wind—fleeting and ever-changing.
People don’t act without purpose or direction. People’s presence in our lives is rarely coincidental. There are underlying forces at play, shaping their choices and actions, driven by deeper motivations—just as the wind is influenced by unseen forces like pressure and temperature. In relationships, behaviors are often driven by emotions, desires, and needs that may not always be obvious. The wind itself doesn’t decide whether it stays or goes.
Is love or companionship conditional on one person constantly pursuing or accommodating the other?
Love isn’t always built on mutual effort or conscious decisions. Often, we cling to or chase relationships, hoping they’ll last, much like chasing the wind. In reality, it’s only deep, unconditional love that creates lasting bonds. Without this emotional depth, people may remain in our lives only as long as it serves their needs or until their interest fades.
Genuine, selfless love is the force that keeps people together—not pursuit or dependence. When love is not mutual or deeply felt, relationships can stay shallow, drifting without true attachment or permanence. True, lasting love forms the foundation of meaningful relationships, challenging us to reflect on what truly holds people close and how to distinguish between those who genuinely love us and those who simply pass in and out of our lives.
Have you found someone who will stay by your side, no matter what? I hope you do.
