More questions:

[Guest guest]

You asked:<br>"Does one have to live life without

pleasures and suffer to be good."<br><br>There are many

people without pleasures, who<br>suffer terribly who

aren't "good," merely miserable. But just as someone who

takes a plane<br>to Los Angeles isn't likely to land in

Bombay, a person who PURSUES only pleasure and

gratification isn't likely to find enlightenment that

way.<br><br>You probably know the answers to the questions

you<br>asked and don't know it. When you meditate, what

answers do you get to these questions? Please share with

us.<br>Peace,<br>Cloudzeye

[Guest guest]

What is happiness? When there is contact with a

desirable object, or memory thereof, and when there is

freedom from undesirable contacts, or memory thereof, we

say there is happiness. <br><br>What is pleasure for

you is pain for another man. What is pleasure for you

now is pain after some time. The first two cups of

milk give you pleasure. The third cup induces disgust,

nausea, and retching. Milk does not give pleasure during

fever. Therefore, pleasure is not in the objects, but in

the imagination or inclination of the mind.

<br><br>The pleasure derived from objects lasts only till we

possess it. Once we do, the charm vanishes. Then the

desire for another object arises, and when that gets

satisfied, there is another desire, then another desire and

so on. It becomes an endless labyrinth.

<br><br>Knowing how to escape from this infinite maze, is

enlightenment. It can come to anybody. Anyone who studies law

can become a lawyer. Similarly anyone who seeks the

Truth sincerely can attain enlightenment. <br><br>The

process of reading various books, and getting knowledge,

to become a lawyer is called studying. Similarly,

the practice of the dharmas, etc specified in a

religion to obtain The Truth - Enlightenment - Bliss is

called Sadhna.<br><br>Hari Aum !