True Love: Total Immersion and Devotion

True love is a state capable of transforming life by engulfing every aspect and leaving behind any half-hearted feelings. When entering into a union, a person gives their entire being—forgetting the familiar freedom and frivolity—and allows one brilliant emotion to become the cornerstone of all decisions. This type of love requires complete dedication, where every moment and action stand as a testament to deep loyalty, and selflessness becomes an integral part of the relationship. This is not about fleeting emotions or whimsical infatuations—a genuine bond demands the willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for one's partner by sincerely offering one’s entire soul and body. Immersed in such love, a person no longer remains free in the usual sense, as love becomes the sole guide for every action. Ultimately, true love is not merely an emotional experience; it is a holistic and all-encompassing unity that enables every participant to grow, overcome obstacles together, and forge an invaluable partnership built on determination, fidelity, and self-sacrifice.

What are the signs that distinguish true love from its imitation or falseness?

True love is characterized by several signs that reveal its all-encompassing, unconditional, and self-annihilating nature, in contrast to imitations where feelings are often superficial and driven by momentary pleasure.

Firstly, true love envelops a person completely, leaving no space for half-hearted or divided emotions. As stated in the source “9_42.txt” (page 176):
"When this happens, then it is true love. ... A person's love engulfs completely."
This means that a genuine union implies that the lover offers their entire essence—physical, soulful, and spiritual—without partitioning it between themselves and anything else.

Secondly, true love manifests through absolute dedication and exclusivity, where the individual loses the sense of carefree freedom and the ability to “be with others.” This is noted in the source “123_614.txt” (page 608):
"If true love arrives, the person loses the sense of carefree freedom ... Love is a chosen state, in which often nothing is felt of being chosen."
Here, it is emphasized that genuine love obliges one to a single, focused choice—a complete concentration on one object of love, which stands in sharp contrast to mimicry or superficial infatuation.

Thirdly, true love inherently involves readiness for self-sacrifice and altruism. It is not merely about pleasant words or temporary attachment, but rather the capacity to give oneself entirely, regardless of personal convenience. This is reflected in the source “9_44.txt” (page 1787):
"I love him, therefore I am ready to wash, ready to clean up after him, ready to spend thirty years by his bedside, ready to sacrifice myself for him, ready to give everything..."
This approach to relationships indicates that love is not just a pleasurable emotion, but a deep inner need to offer the very best of oneself—even if it means giving up personal comfort.

Thus, to distinguish true love from imitation, one should observe the following signs:
1. An all-encompassing unity with the beloved, where feelings are not divided among many objects, but focused solely and entirely on one person.
2. The loss of habitual freedom and carefreeness, as love becomes the singular, exclusive value.
3. A readiness for selfless actions, where a person not only delights in the presence of the other but is prepared to completely devote themselves to the union, sacrificing themselves for it.

Supporting citation(s):
"When this happens, then it is true love. ... A person's love engulfs completely." (source: 9_42.txt, page 176)
"If true love arrives, the person loses the sense of carefree freedom ... Love is a chosen state, in which often nothing is felt of being chosen." (source: 123_614.txt, page 608)
"I love him, therefore I am ready to wash, ready to clean up after him, ready to spend thirty years by his bedside, ready to sacrifice myself for him, ready to give everything..." (source: 9_44.txt, page 1787)