Everything in our world, from infants to adults and even animals, plants or stones – each and everyone tries to keep itself in the best shape under the forces acting upon it, making the calculation on the most convenient condition that allows it to receive as much as possible and give as little as possible, ie to get maximum pleasure by spending minimum efforts.
Our selfish desire works according to this principle- it is a law of nature. Therefore, we are constantly doing calculations how to manage the ego under this law. The difference between non-living, plant, animal and human – in their levels of developed desire, discernment in choosing fulfillment and its depth. The more developed creature is, the deeper and more multifaceted is the fulfillment it receives.
Everyone wants to get the maximum filling, weighs the efforts that are needed for this reward. The calculation is always about to what extent the environment and conditions will allow the individual to reach the desirable. If no efforts are needed, then, of course, we want to get all the enjoyment that is possible.
Reward and punishment are disclosed in this world accordingly to the level of man’s development. Today he sees reward and punishment as something particular, but tomorrow he will see it quite differently. Everything depends only on his desire. The calculation is performed not in the desire, but in the mind – which assesses whether or not to perform an action under such reward and punishment.
Nothing is too burdensome for the person and there is no such thing as laziness and neglect.. The whole matter is only about the expected rewards and punishments, and this alone determines all human actions.
We assume that we are thinking: to either do something or that it isn’t worth it, and by what means we should attain it, but that’s because we are simultaneously juggling several desires and several kinds of rewards and punishments. I want to eat, but I keep lying on the couch because my leg is sore. I think: does it make sense to get up and eat, if my foot will hurt even more – is the suffering worth the pleasure I will get from eating?
In other words, I have a few conditions, parameters that I weigh: the remuneration of the fact that I will get food – against the remuneration of staying comfortable on the couch and escaping the pain.
This post is an excerpt translated from a larger article found at http://bit.ly/5B3U8