09-21-2022, 02:09 PM
The happiness brought about by the senses is misery in disguise as it is dependent, with impediments, transient, cause of
bondage of karmas, and fluctuating.
Explanatory Note:
Worldly happiness and misery have many similarities. Worldly happiness is dependent (on external objects), has impediments (like hunger and thirst), is transient (fades away on rise of the unpleasant-feeling-producing – asātāvedanīya – karmas), is the cause of bondage of karmas (sensual-pleasures are invariably accompanied by attachment and aversion), and is fluctuating (characterized by increase and decrease in intensity). Misery, too, is dependent and with similar other attributes. It is clear that merit (punya) that produces happiness is like demerit (pāpa), the harbinger of misery. As between worldly happiness (sukha) and misery (duhkha), there is no difference between merit (punya) and demerit (pāpa).
bondage of karmas, and fluctuating.
Explanatory Note:
Worldly happiness and misery have many similarities. Worldly happiness is dependent (on external objects), has impediments (like hunger and thirst), is transient (fades away on rise of the unpleasant-feeling-producing – asātāvedanīya – karmas), is the cause of bondage of karmas (sensual-pleasures are invariably accompanied by attachment and aversion), and is fluctuating (characterized by increase and decrease in intensity). Misery, too, is dependent and with similar other attributes. It is clear that merit (punya) that produces happiness is like demerit (pāpa), the harbinger of misery. As between worldly happiness (sukha) and misery (duhkha), there is no difference between merit (punya) and demerit (pāpa).