The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship

“When you give food to the one who is starving, when you give water to the one who is thirsty, when you cover the one who is cold, you give your love to the Master.”

The repetition of “When you…” creates a rhythm that not only draws attention to the actions being done but the consistency that compassion entails. This rhetorical device is anaphora, repetition meant to enhance an emotional effect. This device aligns with the didactic nature of The Mastery of Love, which encourages self-love and love for others.

“Just as societies and religions around the world create incredible mythologies, we create our own. Our personal mythology is populated by heroes and villains, angels and demons, kings and commoners. We create an entire population in our mind, including multiple personalities for ourselves.”

By comparing personal beliefs and narratives to societies and religions that “create incredible mythologies,” the book elevates personal stories. The imagery of “heroes and villains” and the like dramatizes the sometimes conflicting nature of self-perception—as no one simply plays one role in life.

“Life brings to you exactly what you need. There is perfect justice in hell. There is nothing to blame. We can even say that our suffering is a gift. If you just open your eyes and see what is around you, it’s exactly what you need to clean your poison, to heal your wounds, to accept yourself, and to get out of hell.”

In this quote, antithesis is used to explore personal growth in an unconventional way: It claims there is “perfect justice in hell” and that “suffering [is] a gift,” urging reconsideration of both concepts. Furthermore, it implies life’s challenges are essential for transformation and liberation.