Epicurus – Pleasure of the Spirit is Superior to Carnal Pleasure- (1282)

Introduction 

Epicurus was a Greek philosopher that had a school and, this school had its particular view points as did all the other schools back in that time.

One of its line of thought was that the pleasure of the spirit is superior to the pleasure of the flesh or senses.

Sculpture of Epicurus

Superior Octave of Pleasure

An ego in us may want pleasure, of course it wants the carnal type of pleasure, as all the egos mostly do. But then there is a pleasure in that same area, but related to the spirit. Actually I would say joy, which is something of a superior octave to pleasure.

We can help ourselves by finding out what this pleasure or rather joy in the spirit within that area of life would be. Once we have found it embrace it, as a means to elevate ourselves above the reach of the heavy ego.

An obvious example has to do with sex. There are many egos that seek the pleasure of the senses and the body, such as the egos of laziness, lust, gluttony, etc. Yet within sex there is a spiritual joy or sense of spiritual fulfilment that we must find. The ego looks for the pleasuring of the senses and so must instead look for the pleasing of the spirit, which is to look for spiritual joy and spiritual fulfilment and embrace that.

End (1282).