Whatever we desire, we are motivated by our wishes of acquisition and enjoyment. We want to acquire whatever we desire from the world. And after acquiring we long to enjoy what we have acquired. For instance, we build a house and enjoy living in it. We prepare a tennis court and enjoy playing the game. Propelled by these two motivations – of acquisition and enjoyment – every human being craves to acquire and enjoy more and more in the world. But no one has found true happiness in mere acquisition or enjoyment. Yet the chase never ends. People are ultimately exhausted with their futile efforts and become frustrated and unhappy.The thirst can never be quenched by sheer acquisition of whatever the mind demands. Neither can the problem be solved by suppressing the desire for acquisition. However, there is no taboo to acquisition. You are advised only to control, to regulate the mind’s indiscriminate craving for acquisition.
The second motivation is the desire to enjoy what has been acquired. Here again, there is no objection to enjoyment. You are not to refrain from enjoying what the world offers you but to restrain, control your indulgence in them. You enjoy objects or beings only when you exercise voluntary regulation and moderation. Otherwise what you acquire loses its charm. You cannot enjoy it anymore. Unrestricted indulgence kills enjoyment.
In truth there is no joy content in the objects and beings of the world. But an average person cannot be convinced of this. He equates enjoyment with the pleasure he gets eating ice cream or chocolate. How can he be convinced that none can find enjoyment in the external world.
The following example can perhaps help you examine the veracity of the statement. You sit outside in your garden on a full moon night. You ‘enjoy’ the beautiful moonlight. Just think. Does the moon actually produce light? Does it have light in it per se? No, not at all. Yet some believe that the light comes from the moon. Educated as you are, you know that there is no light in the moon. It only reflects the light of the sun. whatever arguments you put forth, the ignoramuses can never accept that there is no light in the moon. They see the light coming from the moon. They experience it. They enjoy it. So it becomes impossible for them to conceive that the moon has no light it.
Similarly, many lack the wisdom to accept the truth that there is no joy content in the world. Their argument is similar. They can perceive the joy in sense-objects. And argue that they gain enjoyment out of them. Hence they can never accept there is no joy external world. You may likewise hold on to your views but just ponder over the moonlight example.
It is therefore depending upon your conscience how you enjoy your acquisitions – whether they are materialistic or spiritual. But the essence of enjoyment lies in the fact that whatever you acquire, you must feel happiness fully, on your acquisition. If you do not do so, it may provoke you to acquire more and more as a normal human does it. An average person does not feel happy. You may have to climb up a little more to enjoy the happiness, however without giving up your urge to gain more.
Be Happy – Enjoy Fully What You Acquire