Tao Speaks: Pleasure

Pleasure

Posted by josef on 5/5/2011, 2:05 pm
24.32.223.x

The question of what is pleasure, really, has my attention. Not definitions, or concepts, but the experience. Yes, the brain registers something..."pleasure" is the interpretation.

It seems to me the pursuit of pleasure is a luxury. Ask someone in a war-torn country, someone starving, imprisoned, in battle, sitting by a dying loved-one's bed, any one of many, many situations, and pleasure just doesn't seem an issue. I had a friend who fled Lithuania during the 2nd Russian invasions in the 40's, families took only what they could carry and as they walked across Poland they dropped most of that. She tells of the years in German Displaced Person Camp, how rarely someone would have an orange, or an apple, stolen from the kitchen. A whole group of them would sit together and very, very carefully cut off little pieces so all could share. Pleasure.

Water to someone parched in the desert, survival, yes, and pleasure. Coming out of a blizzard to a warm fire, like survival, and pleasure.

These are easy to understand. The strangeness is that so much of what is pleasure today seems to be about pleasure-seeking as a lifestyle, seems to me strangely indulgent, psychological, the pleasure of being admired, or liked, loved, included,having neat stuff, cool clothes, exciting experiences, a new car, a great meal that's only slightly appreciated because we've never experienced real hunger,the kind the hurts. And of course, Fun.

It seems a real imbalance to me, pleasure having this much importance. Pleasure to primitive man, as to my friend in the DP camp was likely not sought, not an issue, bacause survival, hunger, pain, and need were immediate and real. But if a little pleasure came their way they felt it, savored it, were grateful.

Pleasure as a life's goal and purpose seems a luxury only available to those who are safe, have enough to eat, shelter, health and have the means to indulge their tastes and preferences.

For most of the people in the world, work, rest, survival, family, community come first, time for pleasure when the important things are attended to.

just musing...

josef

239

Message Thread

Pleasure - josef 5/5/2011, 2:05 pm
- Re: Pleasure - gar 5/5/2011, 2:49 pm
- Biophilia - gar 5/6/2011, 5:43 am
  - Re: Biophilia - josef 5/6/2011, 7:08 am
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--Previous Message-- : The question of what is pleasure, really, has : my attention. Not definitions, or concepts, : but the experience. Yes, the brain registers : something..."pleasure" is the : interpretation. : : It seems to me the pursuit of pleasure is a : luxury. Ask someone in a war-torn country, : someone starving, imprisoned, in battle, : sitting by a dying loved-one's bed, any one : of many, many situations, and pleasure just : doesn't seem an issue. I had a friend who : fled Lithuania during the 2nd Russian : invasions in the 40's, families took only : what they could carry and as they walked : across Poland they dropped most of that. She : tells of the years in German Displaced : Person Camp, how rarely someone would have : an orange, or an apple, stolen from the : kitchen. A whole group of them would sit : together and very, very carefully cut off : little pieces so all could share. Pleasure. : : Water to someone parched in the desert, : survival, yes, and pleasure. Coming out of a : blizzard to a warm fire, like survival, and : pleasure. : : These are easy to understand. The : strangeness is that so much of what is : pleasure today seems to be about : pleasure-seeking as a lifestyle, seems to me : strangely indulgent, psychological, the : pleasure of being admired, or liked, loved, : included,having neat stuff, cool clothes, : exciting experiences, a new car, a great : meal that's only slightly appreciated : because we've never experienced real : hunger,the kind the hurts. And of course, : Fun. : : It seems a real imbalance to me, pleasure : having this much importance. Pleasure to : primitive man, as to my friend in the DP : camp was likely not sought, not an issue, : bacause survival, hunger, pain, and need : were immediate and real. But if a little : pleasure came their way they felt it, : savored it, were grateful. : : Pleasure as a life's goal and purpose seems : a luxury only available to those who are : safe, have enough to eat, shelter, health : and have the means to indulge their tastes : and preferences. : : For most of the people in the world, work, : rest, survival, family, community come : first, time for pleasure when the important : things are attended to. : : just musing... : : josef : :

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