the way of love

Sufism is often known as the way of love. Christianity is known as the religion in which love is paramount. St Paul goes so far as to say that all virtues are nullified without love. So naturally love became a high value commodity. And high value things attract clippers and fakers just as much as coinage does. People 'clip' by telling themselves they are using love when they aren't. They fake when they use the word to get credit for themselves. So the word goes out of use with sincere people. But the problem then is that a whole generation(s) grow up not really knowing what that thing that was once called 'love' is.

It certainly isn't what is called love now- slushy romance/attachment/obsession.

In fact in pre-romance, pre-Christian times loves was a technical term about as emotive as the word attention is now. What you give attention to, grows. What you deprive of attention, withers. This is why Idries Shah refined and promoted the use of the word attention and didn't emphasise 'love' in his writing. If you use attention like a fertiliser, a technical tool for good in your life you will see the benefit.