James A. Cusumano

Sep 22, 2026 by James A. Cusumano

 

Throughout history, the greatest minds and wisdom traditions have asserted that love is the singular fundamental force that governs all action in the universe. But how can this be? How can love extend beyond human emotions into the very fabric of cosmic existence?

The Indian sage, Nisargadatta Maharaj offered a profound thought when he said that “Life is love and love is life. What keeps the body together but love? What is desire, but love of the self? And what is knowledge but love of truth. The means and forms may be right or wrong, but the motive behind them is always love—love of the me and the mine. The me and the mine may be small, or embrace the universe, but love remains.”[3]

What Is Love?

Love is notoriously difficult to define. The dictionary offers several meanings: "a strong feeling of affection; a great interest and pleasure in something; or a deep feeling of sexual love for someone." However, these descriptions fail to capture its multidimensional essence and universal presence. A recent article summarizes relevant aspects of a meeting entitled, Love Actually and in Theory organized by the Royal Society in Edinburgh, UK. It concluded that although the scientific aspects of love are being taken more seriously, researchers are still split on how exactly to define it.[4]

Love is more than a sentiment, an emotion, or even a biological drive for reproduction. It is a pragmatic and necessary force because, as Transcendent Physics[5] teaches, all things—living and non-living—possess varying dimensions of consciousness in a spectrum of energy levels, which are universally connected and inextricably interdependent for achieving the fundamental purpose of the universe—the continuous evolution of Universal Consciousness to increasingly higher energy levels. It is at higher energy levels of consciousness that what some believe to be paranormal behavior can occur. 

Love serves as a catalytic force, enabling interactions that benefit the Whole, guiding an infinite evolutionary journey towards Oneness. Just like a catalyst in a chemical reaction, love lowers and often eliminates the barriers to a desired transformation, creating something of immense value while avoiding negative consequences. In the science of catalysis, it’s known as maximum specificity and selectivity. The greatest achievements of humankind have always involved an element of love at their core.

The Language of Love

One of the challenges in understanding love is that it manifests in countless ways, yet English uses but a single word to encapsulate them all. In contrast, Sanskrit offers 96 words for love, Farsi has 80, and Greek uses at least three—eros (romantic love), philia (deep friendship), and agape (universal, selfless love). The English language's limitations often lead to confusion, making it difficult to communicate the nature, depth, and precision of what is meant in a given situation.

Love can describe a range of experiences, from fleeting pleasures—"I loved that meal"—to deep emotional commitments—"I love her with my whole heart and soul." However, because love is the attractive force field of consciousness energy, it extends even further, beyond human relationships and emotions, into the fundamental interactive forces of physical, chemical, and the biological sciences.

Love in the Fabric of the Universe

Love is always an attraction, and in the best of circumstances, for the sole purpose of raising the energy level of consciousness in the universe.

The attraction within a hydrogen atom between its singular negatively charged electron whizzing around the atom’s nucleus and a positively charged proton resting within its nucleus, can be seen as a primal form of love. Without this fundamental attractive interaction, atoms would not form, and neither would the universe as we know it. Similarly, magnetism, which binds the north and south poles, mirrors the dance of attraction and unity. A similar primal form of love can be envisioned for the universal force of gravity.

Love also manifests biologically even at a rudimentary level. When certain cells in the body sense that one of their neighbors is in distress, they share essential nutrients, ensuring the survival of the whole organism. This process mirrors the fundamental principles of James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, where Earth's biosphere behaves as a single organism and self-regulates to sustain life. It has done so endlessly over billions of years, even after five major mass extinctions of life on the planet. Its lifeforce cannot be destroyed, driven by the eternal cosmic love-attraction power of rebirth, renewal, growth, and survival.  

From a philosophical standpoint, love is actuated by compassion, kindness, and the selfless desire for the well-being of others. This Love Force Field flows from the Cosmic Code of the universe, Six Core Values[6]—Wisdom, Truth, Understanding, Forgiveness/Acceptance, Love, and Compassion. These values are not arbitrary nor are they based on any kind of moral injunction. They are essential to continuously unfold the Purpose of the Universe—to perpetually elevate the energy level of Universal Consciousness. 

Love is the glue that binds communities, the force that inspires acts of great courage, and the energy that fuels human creativity and connection.

Love in Human Endeavors

Love is a powerful force not only in personal relationships but also in business, leadership, and social structures. In the business world, love translates to trust, commitment, and genuine care for others. Great leaders inspire because they care deeply about their people, and the converse being true, even when their leaders are demanding. True innovation, creativity, and lasting success are built on this foundation of trust and shared purpose.

The Role of Selfishness

If selfless love drives the evolution of consciousness energy, what about selfishness? Even selfishness is a form of love—love of the self, or more precisely, love of the ego. This form of love often leads to destructive behaviors, conflicts, and suffering. 

However, there is a distinction between destructive selfishness and compassionate self-interest. When one acts in service to others, not only do they help another, but they also nourish their own Soul—their Higher Self. The Wisdom Seekers of the East, and in contemporary times, philosophers and psychologists like Carl Jung have often said that you must learn to love yourself before you can love another—meaning respect and gratefulness for who and what you are precedes your ability to give it to others. 

The Evolutionary Role of Love

The universe’s evolution is a continuous interplay of consciousness, connection, and the drive for unity. The great mission of all existence is the evolution of consciousness toward higher energies of Oneness, and love is the catalytic force field that facilitates this process. Every act of love—whether between atoms, people, or ecosystems—propels this grand evolutionary journey forward to ever increasing energy levels of Universal Consciousness.

Ultimately, love is the underlying principle of existence itself. The more we recognize its universal presence, the more we align ourselves with the deepest truths of reality and the Six Cosmic Core Values. 

Love is not just an emotion—it’s consciousness in action, a form which is the essence of all things, the driving force behind the cosmos, and the ultimate path toward enlightenment.

                  With respect to human interactions, perhaps Deepak Chopra was on to something when he said, “Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It can heal, inspire and bring us closer to the higher self—your Soul. Love is an eternal never-ending gift to ourselves and others. And when we truly experience love, we find ourselves. Like a tiny spark that ignites a blaze that can consume a vast forest, a spark of love is all that it takes to experience love’s full force in all its aspects—Earthly and Divine. The practice of living love exemplifies the unlimited abundance of the Universe.”[7]

 

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