Agape .. Caritas .. Mettā

Originally developed by John Lee (1973, 1988). He identified six basic love theories—also known as "colors" of love—that people use in their interpersonal relationships:

• Eros – a passionate physical and emotional love based on aesthetic enjoyment; stereotype of romantic love
• Ludus – a love that is played as a game or sport; conquest
• Storge – an affectionate love that slowly develops from friendship, based on similarity
• Pragma – love that is driven by the head, not the heart; undemonstrative
• Mania – highly volatile love; obsession; fueled by low self-esteem
• Agape – selfless altruistic love; spiritual; motherly love

Agape

Agape forms the basic spiritual principle of "loving your enemies" and giving without selfish motives and is found in all major religions

Caritas

C.S. Lewis called agape love Caritas and described it as an unconditional love directed towards one's neighbor which is not dependent on any lovable qualities that the object of love possesses.

Agape is the love that brings forth caring regardless of circumstance. Lewis recognizes this as the greatest of loves, and sees it as a specifically Christian virtue.

In a chapter in "The Four Loves" Lewis metaphorically compares love with a garden, charity with the gardening utensils, the lover as the gardener, and God as the elements of nature. God's love and guidance act on our natural love (that cannot remain what it is by itself) as the sun and rain act on a garden: without either, the object (metaphorically the garden; realistically love itself) would cease to be beautiful or worthy. Lewis warns that those who exhibit charity must constantly check themselves that they do not flaunt--and thereby warp--this love

Mettā

Mettā (Pāli) or maitrī (Sanskrit) has been translated as loving-kindness, friendliness, benevolence, amity, friendship, good will, kindness, love, sympathy, and active interest in others.

The object of mettā meditation is loving kindness (love without attachment). Traditionally, the practice begins with the meditator cultivating loving kindness towards themselves, then their loved ones, friends, teachers, strangers, enemies, and finally towards all sentient beings. Commonly, it can be used as a greeting or closing to a letter or note.