What if love isn't just a feeling, but a powerful spiritual path that could heal our divided world? In this soul-stirring conversation, I speak with Matthew Busse, a former molecular biologist turned spiritual teacher who serves as teacher-in-residence at the Abbey of the Redwoods. Matt shares his remarkable journey from scientific success to spiritual seeking after discovering that conventional paths to happiness left him feeling empty and disconnected.Together, we explore the concept of interfaith spirituality as a remedy for those disillusioned by traditional religion. Using a delightful ice cream metaphor, Matt explains how different spiritual traditions can be seen as various flavors of the same nourishing substance – with problems arising only when we insist others prefer our favorite flavor.At the heart of our discussion is love as a spiritual practice. We examine how our culture has diluted and commercialized love, making it difficult to connect with its true power. Matt offers practical approaches for reconnecting with our hearts, including meditation focused on cultivating love, bringing love into everyday activities, and the transformative mirror practice of looking into your own eyes and saying "I love you."We dive deep into why many struggle to love themselves, exploring how early emotional wounding, conditional love, and cultural messaging create disconnection from our hearts. Matt shares how breathing practices can calm the nervous system when trauma responses are triggered, creating space for healing and reconnection.Perhaps most powerful is our exploration of "saving what we love versus fighting what we hate" – a profound shift in perspective that changes how we approach activism and social change. This episode, dedicated to the memory of Thich Nhat Hanh, reminds us that in a world facing crisis and division, reconnecting with love might be our most powerful response.Ready to explore this path of love? Visit Matt's website at embracelovelife.com or the Abbey at abbeyoftheredwoods.org. If this conversation resonates, please subscribe and share it with someone who might benefit from these healing insights.

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