ABSTRACT
The analysis of the Amuesha concept of 'love' and the semantic field that revolves around it, which author have expounded through the study of related concepts, further reveals that love is a crucial component of power. It has been the underlying proposition throughout this work that order and the transcendence of the human condition can be achieved only through the acquisition of mystical knowledge; that such a knowledge generates power; and that this power is legitimate if, and only if, the knowledge on which it is based is used for moral purposes. According to the Amuesha, power may be derived from both 'physical strength' and the 'strength of one's thoughts'. This is consistent with the Amuesha notion of the self, which distinguishes between mind and body, or non-corporeal and corporeal aspects of the individual self. The generation of power and authority amongst the Amuesha is linked to the quality of being loving and compassionate.
