6. Definition of Pleasure

DISCOURSES ON

RADHASOAMI FAITH

BY

MAHARAJ SAHAB

Pandit Brahm Sankar Misra, M.A.

6. DEFINITION OF PLEASURE

            9. As pleasure appears to be a condition opposite to that of pain, it would follow that instead of the forcible ejectment of the sensory current which takes place in pain, there should be a concentration thereof. We proceed to test the accuracy of this conclusion by an examination of the following concrete cases.

            10. The charming effect of enrapturing music, which absorbs all attention and which may in extreme cases produce an ecstatic state devoid of all other thoughts, is at once dispelled, if a message is brought in of the sudden and serious illness of a friend or near relative, or if some other extraordinary occurrence, which would immediately divert attention, takes place. If the message cannot be attended to immediately, the same music which was a source of such exquisite delight, becomes a source of oppression and pain. Instances can be multiplied, which would show beyond doubt, that in all cases of pleasure, it is the concentration of attention which evokes interest and is the real source of delight. In further illustration of this truth, the following observation may be made. The attention of a child in his simplicity and inexperience is not subject to the distractions of grown-up manhood and to those of the varied experience of mundane affairs. Anything is therefore sufficient to rivet attention and it is this riveting of concentration of attention that produces the simple and innocent delight of childhood. The various mental games, which have nothing attractive in themselves, afford great pleasure by the exercise they give to the concentration of attention. This is another illustration in support of the truth we have been advancing. The concentration of attention, besides being attended with joy, is also refulgent, at times, with the light of intuition, and many hidden things flash forth and are perceived in such a state. The pleasures which have been described above are the various aspects of concentration of attention giving rise to physical and mental happiness. But the analyses of pain and pleasure have not yet thrown any light on the inherent nature and essence of that something, which sends forth sensory currents. We have dealt with this subject at length below. Meanwhile, it will be sufficient to mention here that the inherence essence of the spirit-force is joy, energy, and intelligence, that sensory currents are the rays of that force, and that it is by the association of the spirit-current with matter and mind that all the phenomena of pleasure and pain of this world take place.

            11. The definition of pleasure, as derived from the observations made above, would be as follows :-

            The perception by a sentient entity of the concentration of its sensory currents on a mental or a material plane which they are occupying constitutes the pleasure of this world.