How does buddhism view pleasure?

Originally Posted by sky

Buddha advised people to find the most pleasant experience possible

" If by leaving a small pleasure one sees a great pleasure, let a wise person leave the small pleasure and look to the great " (Dhammapada 290).....

Standing before a work of art for 2 minutes is a small pleasure…..standing there for 30 more minutes could be a great pleasure……

[sky]

Originally Posted by Molearner

Standing before a work of art for 2 minutes is a small pleasure…..standing there for 30 more minutes could be a great pleasure……

He wasn't referring to 'Wordly' pleasures Mo.....

So ?…………..

[pixiedust]

Originally Posted by Catsquotl

(Dhammapada 290)

Out of context and at face value I fear a great many "wrong" conclusions could be construed.

Context is king.

The verse, as quoted, means to let go of selfishness to attain the peace of Nibbana.

I agree that out of context, quotes can be un-useful.

Blessings,
pixiedust

[Gem]

Originally Posted by JustBe

There is a depth of experience that naturally derives it’s own pleasure one with experience. That enrichment through my being, is enough.

Pleasure is merely the enjoyment of sensation, but sensation is impermanent. Hence, equanimity with the understanding, 'this will surely pass'. More like, 'enjoy it while it lasts'.

People here quote that which justifies more pleasure rather than less, but this is precisely the dilemma. If you don't eat the marsh-mellow until I get back you can have two. However since Buddha wasn't talking to little children, if he did say that thing (I doubt it), why did he say it, to whom, and what did he mean by it? Where's the context?

[JustBe]

@Gem

My experience, throughout my own process, has taught me that the natural arising of being me more content and at peace, definitely has become a more even flow of balanced being. And equanimity plays its part as you’ve shared.

It’s definitely allowed me to deepen into ‘non attachment’ to process, through my ‘high’s and my ‘lows’ before reaching this balance. Being aware of myself through those processors, it was definitely a place where I hadn’t integrated both sides of myself- hadn’t fully integrated the highs and lows as a middle path of balance.

Yes, once you understand more complete in yourself, that everything you experience is temporary, it then allows you to move through life without clinging to stuff you’re experiencing.

Often pain wants to be gone in people and pleasure to stay, I’d much rather have my centre remain balanced and grounded in me, move through life aware in this way.

I do now and it’s much more pleasurable to be functioning in this way..

In sharing that, I guess you want to be mindful you don’t cling to your centre lol

[sky]

[quote=Gem]

"People here quote that which justifies more pleasure rather than less, but this is precisely the dilemma. If you don't eat the marsh-mellow until I get back you can have two"


What He actually meant is very well explained in His Teachings...

[Maisy]

Pleasure is kind of a funny thing because like take overeating for example. I remember rock star Steven Tyler was asked how he stays so thin and he said because no food tastes better than thin feels. So he put the pleasure of being thin above the pleasure of eating too much.

I used to think of it as will power. Like people who can never eat carbs had strong will power right. But now I think it is not about will power at all. It's about what we find the most pleasure in. In most people, I would assume carbs bring more pleasure than being thin.

Like why do some Buddhist's shave their heads and live as monks or nuns? They give up intimate romantic relationships which are pleasurable. I think they decided being a monk or nun, living that lifestyle, is more pleasurable to them than being married and working in the world with all the stress that can come from that.

Spiritual paths can lead to insights and deeper understandings of things. I think someone may choose mindfulness, not talking or thinking much, maybe even living in a cave as a hermit, because for them, they decided that way to be is the most pleasurable. It's like how having nothing and wanting nothing can bring more pleasure overall than wanting stuff and having a lot. Non-attachment brings more pleasure than attachment, in the long run anyway. Anyone that has loved a pet knows it ends in heartbreak.

I've thought a long time spirituality is about pleasure. It just turns out the highest pleasure includes things like being selfless, loving all, being non-judgmental, loving-kindness as Buddha would say. But it's like one has to gain wisdom and insights to understand these things bring a better higher pleasure than the other more selfish worldly options. Many life times trying to get pleasure though getting and holding things would teach one that's not a good path I think. We don't take one material possession with us when this incarnation ends. But we take the love we carry. We take our "ambience."

[sky]

Quote Maisy...." But it's like one has to gain wisdom and insights to understand these things bring a better higher pleasure than the other more selfish worldly options " .

I personally do not see that seeking 'pleasures' as being selfish, obviously it depends on seeing the whole picture which can be difficult without experience.
There's an old saying 'A little bit of what you fancy does you good '
Finding a balance (equinimity) seems extremely sensible to me, and remembering that nothing worldly last forever.....

[Gem]

Originally Posted by JustBe

@Gem Often pain wants to be gone in people and pleasure to stay, I’d much rather have my centre remain balanced and grounded in me, move through life aware in this way.
I do now and it’s much more pleasurable to be functioning in this way.

Your post is probably as close to exact Buddhist philosophy as anyone can get, but I like things in general, so they don't need to better than they are now. Somehow, through some struggles, I came to good place and feel basically contented with things.