Pleasure, Hedonism, and Buddhism (video)

Hedonism and Pleasure

Is pleasure the only measure of things? No. Is suffering? No. Then what? Liberating-wisdom!

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(Philosophy Tube) What do you need to live a good life? Is pleasure the only good? Is there anything higher to live for? What, if not pleasure, is the highest good?

One Foot in the World: Buddhist Approaches to Present-day Problems

Lily de Silva edited by Wisdom Quarterly

I'm just a regular person. Can I practice?

What is the way to toward enlightenment in this very life? Although nirvana (Pali nibbana) means final liberation from all suffering, all rebirth, and the world, while walking the path to liberation a Buddhist lives in the world and deals with the conditions of worldly existence. 

This problem is likely to be felt especially acutely by the lay Buddhist, who may find that the demands and attractions of secular life tend to pull and draw away from the path to nirvana.

However, the Buddha was well aware and concerned with this dilemma that confronted lay disciples. He gave it his careful attention. He taught followers to organize life in accordance with the ethical principles of the Dharma to lead successful lay lives without deviating from the path.

No to penance, self-mortification

Lay Buddhists are ever vigilant so that pursuing worldly goals -- such as wealth, pleasure, and success of all kinds -- we keep sight of a spiritual goal. Care must be taken particularly to avoid violating basic moral principles summed up in the Five Precepts, as such violation leads to regression on the path.

We can often remind ourselves that the first two of the four stages of enlightenment can be attained by those still leading a married lay life... More

Suggested reading: What the Buddha Taught (Ven. Walpola Piyananda), The Path of Purification (Ven. Buddhaghosa), Anarchy, State & Utopia (Robert Nozick), Utilitarianism (John Stewart Mill), Principle Doctrines (Epicurus) (See also Lucretius: De Rerum Natura), The Principles of Morals and Legislation (Jeremy Bentham); “Appendix I” in Reasons and Persons (Derek Parfit) Latter-Day Pamphlets (Thomas Carlyle).

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