Swinging Between Pleasure And Pain

HariLakhera · Jul 17, 2022

SWINGING BETWEEN PLEASURE AND PAIN

Ye hi samsparshajaa bhogaa duhkhayonaya eva te; Aadyantavantah kaunteya na teshu ramate budhah.

(The enjoyments that are born of contacts are generators of pain only, for they have a beginning and an end, O Arjuna! The wise do not rejoice in them. )

Gita -5.22

Most of the time, we are swinging between the two and thus we are devoid of any wisdom. But then,

Why were these contacts were created in the first place? Here, the contacts represent the feel we get by the contact our five senses make, inward as well as outward.

Why do people get pleasure out of suppressing others? I do not think so, how can one get pleasure by suppression?

If sensual pleasure is the cause of creation, why degrade it? The very purpose of creation was to multiply.

I wish to discuss this totally out of the realm of religion. These words were spoken by ancient saints and sages after a long and hazardous experience. Again, such words are common with aged folks and obviously, the saints and sages spoke these words in their old age because experience comes with age.

All these words of wisdom come out only when we are not in a position to enjoy the pleasure of the senses.

I guess it happens also because we need redemption from the consequences of sins committed to satisfying these sensual pleasures rather than redemption from sin itself. It is difficult to live without sin in this life. Knowingly or knowingly, we commit them and seek redemption by various means like a dip in the holy Ganga. We wash our sins and come back to commit the same sins again and take one more dip in the holy river and the process goes on.

Little effort is made to get redemption from sin itself.

Viswamitra · Jul 17, 2022

Dear Hari Sir,

Ragha and Dvesha are two sides of the coin of life and these pair of opposites always exist in a mirage or illusion that is created by the mind. These pair of opposites drive pleasure and pain in our lives. Our mind has a tendency to classify everything into like or dislike and that is considered as discrimination by the human mind. To overcome this illusion, one has to achieve equanimity which is the real discrimination. Remaining unaffected by the happening is hard but not impossible. Many times people remain in a state of mind that classified the world as brutal or extraordinary pleasant as they feel. How can the same world be different for different people?

If we carefully review the teachings in the scriptures, it is not against procreation and all associated activities such as nurturing the offsprings but they are suggesting moderation in any pleasurable experiences. For example, our discriminating faculty tells eating excessively harms our health but our mind driven by passion overrules and allows us to indulge in eating more of what we like. Life is always in pursuit of happiness but why settle for something trivial when we have an opportunity to experience bliss which is zillion times better than ordinary life time happiness?

When one invests money, we choose the ones that gives better return on investments with less risk. Similarly, why not we invest our time and effort on something that would drive towards peace of mind and excellent return?

Not all the teachers of the past are aged and hence gave up all the youthful pleasures. Adi Sankara for example willfully and intentionally remained a celibate and taught non-dualism to the entire world. He died young when he was 32 years old. His Vivekachoodamani (Crown Jewel of Wisdom) is an extraordinary gift to the world.

Here is a quote from Vivekachoodamani:

˜dau nity˜nityavastuviveka× parigaõyate | ih˜mutraphalabhogavir˜gastadanantaram | þam˜diÿa÷kasampattirmumukÿutvamiti sphu÷am || 19||

(While enumerating the qualifications to inquire about the Supreme Reality), first we count the ability to discriminate between the Real and the unreal; next comes a spirit of detachment from the enjoyment of the fruits of actions here and hereafter; after that is the groups of six virtues namely 1) Tranquility, 2) Self-control, 3) Withdrawal, 4) Forbearance, 5) Faith and concentration of the Self and 6) Intense yearning for liberation.

In Sloka 3, Adi Sankara says:

durlabhaÕ trayamevaitaddev˜nugrahahetukam | manuÿyatvaÕ mumukÿutvaÕ mah˜puruÿasaÕþraya× || 3||

Very rare indeed are these three things and happen only due to the utmost Grace of God—a human birth, a burning desire for liberation, and the blessed refuge of an illuminated sage.

Why settle down for something trivial when we can ask for the world? If seeking liberation places us on an ecstatsy, why not we seek it with all sincerity?

HariLakhera · Jul 18, 2022

Viswamitra said: ↑

Dear Hari Sir,

Ragha and Dvesha are two sides of the coin of life and these pair of opposites always exist in a mirage or illusion that is created by the mind. These pair of opposites drive pleasure and pain in our lives. Our mind has a tendency to classify everything into like or dislike and that is considered as discrimination by the human mind. To overcome this illusion, one has to achieve equanimity which is the real discrimination. Remaining unaffected by the happening is hard but not impossible. Many times people remain in a state of mind that classified the world as brutal or extraordinary pleasant as they feel. How can the same world be different for different people?

If we carefully review the teachings in the scriptures, it is not against procreation and all associated activities such as nurturing the offsprings but they are suggesting moderation in any pleasurable experiences. For example, our discriminating faculty tells eating excessively harms our health but our mind driven by passion overrules and allows us to indulge in eating more of what we like. Life is always in pursuit of happiness but why settle for something trivial when we have an opportunity to experience bliss which is zillion times better than ordinary life time happiness?

When one invests money, we choose the ones that gives better return on investments with less risk. Similarly, why not we invest our time and effort on something that would drive towards peace of mind and excellent return?

Not all the teachers of the past are aged and hence gave up all the youthful pleasures. Adi Sankara for example willfully and intentionally remained a celibate and taught non-dualism to the entire world. He died young when he was 32 years old. His Vivekachoodamani (Crown Jewel of Wisdom) is an extraordinary gift to the world.

Here is a quote from Vivekachoodamani:

˜dau nity˜nityavastuviveka× parigaõyate | ih˜mutraphalabhogavir˜gastadanantaram | þam˜diÿa÷kasampattirmumukÿutvamiti sphu÷am || 19||

(While enumerating the qualifications to inquire about the Supreme Reality), first we count the ability to discriminate between the Real and the unreal; next comes a spirit of detachment from the enjoyment of the fruits of actions here and hereafter; after that is the groups of six virtues namely 1) Tranquility, 2) Self-control, 3) Withdrawal, 4) Forbearance, 5) Faith and concentration of the Self and 6) Intense yearning for liberation.

In Sloka 3, Adi Sankara says:

durlabhaÕ trayamevaitaddev˜nugrahahetukam | manuÿyatvaÕ mumukÿutvaÕ mah˜puruÿasaÕþraya× || 3||

Very rare indeed are these three things and happen only due to the utmost Grace of God—a human birth, a burning desire for liberation, and the blessed refuge of an illuminated sage.

Why settle down for something trivial when we can ask for the world? If seeking liberation places us on an ecstatsy, why not we seek it with all sincerity?
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Dear Shri Viswa,
Thanks for your valued contribution to the subject.
As I said-
"All these words of wisdom come out only when we are not in a position to enjoy the pleasure of the senses"
Gandhi Ji said it is important to change our habits with respect to food, clothing, and all other sensual pleasures if we want to live a simple life of Ahimsa and Brahmacharya. He started the process at the young age of 40. To a great extent, he succeeded but not as he wished.
As humans, we are driven to seek sensual pleasures as it is just natural. My point is why feel guilty at all. There are stages of life and each stage has its opportunities and limitations.
We can leave God aside on this issue.
Even our scriptures advocated the four stages of life.