--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, TurquoiseB <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "authfriend" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "jim_flanegin" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > So what would you say is the difference between an enjoyment > > > and an addiction? > > > > You mean, between an enjoyment and an addiction to > > an enjoyment? > > That's actually a nice distinction. In a classic > Buddhist context, even enjoyment is binding, because > it sets up the cause to a binding effect. Indulging > in the enjoyment sets up a samskara to want to indulge > in it again, and thus one perpetuates the desire- > fulfillment-new desire cycle.
In that sense, avoidance of pain is no different. Pleasure and pain are just points along the same continuum. > But that's just an > intellectual argument from which there is no escape. > If you try to *avoid* the enjoyment, then you're > just setting up a new set of samskaras, part of the > aversion-lack of fulfillment-new aversion cycle. :-) > > I guess if I were forced to define the difference > between simple enjoyment and addiction, I would have > to say that you have the ability to resist the > enjoyment. The desire is not so strong as to over- > shadow that aspect of self that has free will. More generally, I'd say with an addiction, the lack of the enjoyment is perceived as pain. Even if you're able to resist the desire, you still feel deprived. > Some samskaras are more addicting that heroin. The > pathological need to be *afraid* that we see in the > Neocons. The pathological need for recognition or > adoration that we see in some spiritual teachers. > The pathological need for a "path" to follow, even > when one has gone past the need to "go" anywhere. > People in the grip of any of these needs can't really > be said to have free will, in my opinion. Something > usually has to happen before the option to break the > cycle can even be entertained as a thought. And as I understand things, the fundamental addiction is to the belief that one has free will and is therefore the author of one's actions. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
