791. Are we Consuming the Pleasure or is Pleasure Consuming us???

Pleasure is all we desire for, comfort for the senses and body. To experience pleasure is the ultimate and even scriptures accept it by saying “individual is cluster of desires.” An person who has mind and memory will definitely have desire. This thesis is explained excellently in puranas. Maha Vishnu is addressed as “Chitta Vallabha” (beloved of chitta) Lakshmi is Chitta Chanchale (wandering memory). Memory (Chitta) is the field where the seeds of Desire (Kama) are sown, harvest and reaped. Hence Desire (Kama) is considered the product of the union of Maha Vishnu who is Manas and Maha Lakshmi, the memory. In Srimad Bhagavatam Praduymna, the son of Lord Krishna is Kamadeva born to Rukmani.

Amazingly we have too many desires and we are after too many pleasures we neither have time nor the resources to enjoy all of them. From the stories of Panchatantra and Hitopadesha to our modern day movies try to convey this message. We presume that if we have enough money we can pursue all desire and experience pleasure but those pleasure are always eluding our pursuit and are so innumerable that they never gets sated.  For instance, if I desire to consume “gol gappa” I can consume only limited quantity that my stomach permits but my taste buds does not have limit neither does the stall which sells them.

Now I have started to think deeply; are we after pleasure or is pleasure after us? We are in an illusion that we are consuming pleasure but when we are closing the accounts we will be shocked to know that the pleasures have consumed us. A person may be after buying properties over properties but one day the same earth is going to devour him at the end. We assume that to enjoy pleasures coming our way we need money, so take loan and to pay back loan we work hard devoting more time on work so less time for family and friends. And finally one day we realize we can't consume pleasures any more as our body is unyielding to experience that pleasure, but the pleasures are still there!

Here we come to understand that we did not consume pleasures, instead they consumed us. Where does this pleasure seeking drive come from? According to neuroscientists the cause for the expectations of pleasure in us is due to DOPAMINE, the neurotransmitter which transmits signals between nerve cells. The dopamine level has to be in a balance it should not be too high or too low. If it is on the higher side one becomes Rajasic and when it becomes too low one tend to be Tamasic.

Rajasic person leads to the life of sensual enjoyment, pleasure and pain, effort and restlessness. People in whom Rajasic qualities predominate tend to be egoistic, ambitious, aggressive, proud, and competitive and have a tendency to control others. They work hard and like status, prestige, and power and are perfectionists. They suffer from a fear of failure, tend to be angry and jealous and to have few moments of joy. Tamasic person leads a life of dominated by depression, laziness, excessive sleep, eating, drinking. They may be greedy, possessive, attached, irritable, and uncaring toward others. Too much Rajasic or Tamasic distort the natural balance of the mind and have a negative impact on life.

Food we eat has a direct impact on the dopamine level and it is important to strike a balance by taking proper food which is neither Rajasic nor Tamasic. Sattvic food might help as there is a connection between what we eat and how we behave; as our levels of violence, crime, and depression depend on the food also.

Unfortunately the pleasure is experienced in eating Rajasic and Tamasic food since we have identified the experience of pleasure in them. How should we tackle this syndrome? Simple one need to understand that he is the knower, not the known and the seer, not the seen, by just realizing the true nature of the Self one can transcend beyond the consumption identity to experience the eternal BLISS.