As we continue with our Bhagavad Gita series,
Today we're going to discuss the concept of material pleasure.
A lot of times in this world we are driven by trying to gain material pleasure from particular places,
Objects,
And people in this world.
We believe that if we gain these things that we desire,
We will be happy.
And in fact,
When we do gain it,
We are happy.
We experience momentary pleasure.
But the problem lies in the fact that this pleasure does not last.
It is fleeting.
It comes and it goes.
And that is what Krishna speaks about in the Bhagavad Gita.
In chapter 2 verse 14,
He reminds us that the contact of the senses with their objects give rise to feelings of cold and heat,
Pleasure and pain.
They come and go.
They are impermanent,
So endure them without being disturbed.
Here he's reminding us that all experiences in this material world,
They come and they go.
They are not permanent.
So even the pleasures that we experience,
They're for a moment in time.
And once that pleasure leaves,
What we experience on the other side is suffering.
So it is said,
If we choose to enjoy the material pleasures of this world,
We must also enjoy,
Or in this case,
Experience the suffering that inevitably comes when we either lose that which we desire,
Or that which we have does not give us the same amount of pleasure as it used to previously.
You see,
Wanting to be happy is not a bad thing.
The monks want to be happy.
The criminals want to be happy.
All the people,
All the beings in this world want to be happy.
But where the monk finds happiness is different from where the person in the world finds happiness.
Because the monk knows that eternal happiness can only be found in the eternal source.
Something whole can only make us whole.
Only the experience of unconditional love,
When we connect to the divine,
Can allow us to experience and be in eternal pleasure.
But something that is not whole,
Something that is limited,
Cannot give us that experience of unconditional love.
It gives us momentary pleasure and forces us to continue to act in this world,
Jumping from one thing to another like a monkey,
Trying to gain happiness.
The ego makes us believe that the next car,
That the next lover,
That the next chocolate cake will be the source of eternal happiness.
But inevitably after experiencing it,
We experience suffering,
Born from attachment to that particular place,
Thing,
Or person.
In the Bhagavad Gita,
Krishna is speaking to Arjuna and Arjuna says,
What is it,
Krishna,
That causes one to stray,
Even against one's own will,
As if compelled by some force?
And here in chapter 3 verse 37,
Krishna reminds us that it is the desire born from being in this material world.
This is the all-devouring enemy of this world.
So Krishna is reminding us here that if you choose to gain material pleasure,
You must also experience its suffering.
But when you try and serve,
When you try and connect to the heart,
Then you will experience unconditional love.
And that is the only thing in this world that can make you whole and give you eternal happiness,
That happiness that we have been searching for our entire life.
Much love.
Take care.
