Confusion in Maya indicates ignorance. Obviously the question here really is: How do I know if I'm in love or if I'm ignorant and selfish?

If you truly love a person, you will know. If you have questions about whether you love the person or not, then you do not truly love that person. Love is so pure that you will never doubt whether you are in love or not. Worldly people call the physical relationship between man and woman and between children and the family "love." That is not love. That is merely attachment, moha, illusion or what we call "the influence of Maya." Everything going on in the world, no matter how you interpret it, is merely out of lust and greed. They have nothing to do with love. Only true saints know what true love is.

Love does not require trading or rewards. Love is for love's sake. In movies nowadays, young people say "I love you" and sacrifice themselves, but this is all baloney. That is not love. That is purely a manifestation of physical pleasures and desires. Gita will teach us what real love is.

When you know real love, you will be amazed how you have been deceived by everyone and everything in the world. Real love is loving God and everybody unconditionally. We have not known this because we have not been taught this and it is not in our nature. Everybody likes to be loved, yet only real saints have experienced true love. When you begin to learn the Gita, you will begin to learn what true love is. So far, most people know love as only physical pleasure. But that kind of "love" causes more pain than love. In fact, you can define it as pain.

In every relationship you have slavery. True love is freedom and joy. Love keeps everybody free, while the worldly passions keep everybody enslaving each other. Than we say "I love you. I cannot do with out you." But that is all selfishness. Most people do not marry a person just for the sake of love but they marry to fulfill their desires. This is as simple is that. It may shock you, but it is a reality. One must come out from this thing and look properly and positively into each person and see how God resides in them. You must learn how to really love them rather than use them for your own pleasures.

We are in the muddy waters. We must go to those who have been able to distinguish between Maya and love. Those who have learned the Gita and truly practiced the Gita know the difference. If you want to know, then start learning the Gita.

--Swami Radhanandaji