‘Divine Love’ is like the thread of the garland of all religions that adorn the world. Each faith has its own particular means, scriptures and rituals to help the seeker climb the uneven path to Unity with God. Yet the common experience enshrined within each course is the shining light of God’s Love which acts like a beacon beckoning the aspirant ever onwards towards the goal of Self-Realisation. Here is a quiz on this sublime concept of “Divine Love” as enunciated by various world masters over many centuries.

1. In Buddhism, the Pali commentaries explain: One loves all beings: (a) by the non-harassment of all beings and thus avoids harassment; (b) by being inoffensive (to all beings) and thus avoids offensiveness; (c) by not torturing (all beings) and thus avoids torturing; (d) by the non-destruction (of all life) and thus avoids destructiveness; (e) by being non-vexing (to all beings) and thus avoids vexing; (f) by projecting the thought, "May all beings be friendly and not hostile"; (g) by projecting the thought,"May all beings be happy and not unhappy"; (h) by projecting the thought, "May all beings enjoy well-being and not be distressed.

In these eight ways, one loves all beings and sets the mind free; therefore, this method is called _____________.”

A. ‘Eight-fold expressions of Love.’
B. ‘Divine Love.’
C. ‘Universal Love.’
D. ‘Eternal Love.’

2. Lord Jesus Christ extolled the greatest commandment to be: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind... you shall love your neighbour as yourself." The Bible says that of Faith, Hope, Love; the greatest of these is love. Christians believe that because God, the Source of all Love, has given His love to mankind, so is mankind enabled in his turn, to love God and his neighbour.

St Paul delivered a wonderful homily on Love, as found in one of his letters to the Corinthians:

"Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love _________.”

A. Always endures.
B. Never fails.
C. Is Eternal.
D. Is Sublime.

3. In the Zoroastrian sacred book, the Avesta, the Yasna is a collection of the seventeen Holy Songs or “gāthās” of Zarathushtra and other longer hymns through which Zarathushtra teaches that Ahura Mazda created everything based on the 6 Amesha Spentas - which are in fact divine emanations or aspects of the Creator, and ‘Spenta Armaiti’, is chosen as the Spirit of Love and Devotion.

In one of the Yasnas, it states: “The person who is loving and beneficent is God’s ________ in spirit.”

A. Most Beloved Child.
B. Messenger
C. Mirror
D. Ally

4. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna affirms: “To love is to know Me, My innermost nature, the truth that I am.”

“That one I love who is incapable of ill will, and returns love for hatred. Living beyond the reach of I and mind, and of pain and pleasure, full of mercy, contented, self-controlled, with all his heart and all his mind given to Me - with such a one I am in love.”

What is that one method that Lord Krishna recommends to be united in love with Him?

“__________________, without a doubt you shall be united with Me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.”

A. “Recite the Geeta every day.”
B. “Still your mind in Me.”
C. “Spend time with Me”
D. “Find a Guru.”

5. In the Sikh scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib, it states: “To the fish, nothing is like water: But those immersed in the love of God feel love for all things.”

Gurmukh (gur= Guru; mukh= face), is a word employed in Sikh Scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, which literally means To face the Guru. It also means to follow the "ways of the Guru" and not to follow your animal instincts and basic desires of the mind. The opposite of Gurmukh is Manmukh, which means a person who follows his own uncontrolled mind or wild desires.

The Gurmukh embraces love for the Lord. Sikhs believe that those who have such pre-ordained destiny written on their foreheads - those Gurmukhs remain absorbed in the Lord's Love. They drink in the Ambrosial Nectar forever and ever, and they love the True Name.

How does a Gurmukh express his Love for the Lord?

A. By serving one poor person everyday with food.
B. By being absorbed in singing in the Temple.
C. By only loving Truth.
D. By having a constant cheerful disposition.

6. In the Hebrew Bible, it is said: "Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of God. But it was by a special love that it was made known to him that he was created in the image of God."

Jesus said: "I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." In other words, every individual is equally significant before God, since every man was created in His image.

When Jesus said: "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love....He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Judas asked Him: "Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"

Stressing that obedience to Truth is the best form of love, Jesus answered and said unto him,
"If a man love me, he will __________"

A. Always be sincere.
B. Keep my words.
C. Never commit theft.
D. Have a charitable disposition.

7. The essence of Islam is the love of Allah. The love of Allah stems from the love of the Prophet, the Holy Qur'an, faith, worship, charity, love for Muslims, love of brotherhood, love of humanity and alike. Whoever loves Allah also loves His creations, feels compassion and mercy for them.

Therefore, for a Muslim, to meet the demands of faith, it is not enough to worship and obey Allah. Rather, worship and obedience should be tempered with genuine love for Allah. Love for Him should surpass one’s love for other worldly things.

In the Qur’an, Allah shows two ways by which He bestows His love upon all:

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.’” (Qur’an 3:31)

What is the second pathway to earning Allah’s love?

A. To do righteousness deeds.
B. To always be grateful.
C. To be in constant meditation.
D. To pray five times every day.

8. Lord Mahavir, one of the founders of Jainism, preached that simplicity, non violence and love to all living beings of the universe are basic tools to still the thoughts of mind and are an entry point for self-realization, as well as perfection in meditation, leading to salvation. He emphasized that all living beings, irrespective of their size, shape, and form, however spiritually developed or undeveloped, are equal and we should love and respect them.

Some of the soul's natural qualities are love, kindness, compassion which easily leads to an act of ____________.

What is that sublime act that Jains celebrate every year?

A. Devotion
B. Forgiveness
C. Charity
D. Pilgrimage

9. The " Hidden Words" is a love-song - the Love of God and Man, of the Creator and His creature, written by Bahá'u'lláh. In the human world there is no greater power than the love of God. `Love Me, that I may love thee.' He says, `If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. It is a two-way love relationship, as that between the sun and the tree or mother and son, which even in nature is the basis for growth.’

Bahá'u'lláh says: “O Son of Man! For everything there is a sign. The sign of love is fortitude under My decree and ___________ under My trials.”

A. The Surrender
B. Faith
C. Patience
D. Servitude

10. In His Divine 2001 Discourse, Bhagavan Baba advocates the beauty of the “Sai Religion” which is the “The Religion of Love”.

Swami says: “You are all members of the Sai Family, bound by the religion of Love. Though ostensibly you profess to belong to different faiths, faith in Sai has removed the barriers in your minds. Realizing that the Atma in everyone is the same, extend your love to all. It does not matter if you do not practice spirituality. Your ______ to others will raise you to the highest level of spirituality. Bear no ill-will towards anyone. When you harm anyone, realize you are doing harm to God.”

A. Service
B. Charity
C. Love
D. Smiles

Dear Reader, did you like this quiz? Is it too difficult? Is it interactive enough? How does it help you? Please tell us at h2h@radiosai.org.

-Heart2Heart Team