pleasure-thought-desire triangle

Pleasure is related to desire: I have tasted a certain food and I want more of it, it gives me delight; there is sex, the pleasure of a lovely evening, of a sunset, the light on the water as the river flows by, the beauty of a bird on the wing, the beauty of a face, a sentence that awakens a deep delight, a smile. Then there is the desire that says that I must have more of this, and the desire - whether sexual, psychological, or otherwise - which has tasted a certain pleasure and wants it repeated. The repetition comes the moment thought comes into being....

Yesterday evening, among the clouds and in the wind, suddenly there was a spot of sunlight shining on a green field. That light was an extraordinary light, full, rich, and the green had such aliveness. The eyes saw it; the mind recorded it and took great delight in that beauty, in that light, and in that incomparable green color. I want a repetition of that delight, so today I look for that same light, that same beauty, that same feeling - which is thought. The act of seeing was one thing, and then thought came in and said, 'I would like more of that, I must repeat that again tomorrow.' The repetition of that is the beginning of pleasure. When I saw the light on the field there was no desire, no pleasure; there was a tremendous observation and delight. But thought came in and said, 'By Jove, how nice it would be if I could have more of that tomorrow.'

That is what we are doing all the time - it may be sexually, it may be when someone flatters you and says that he is your friend - thought steps in and wants it repeated. The beginning of pleasure is the beginning of thought in conflict. It is thought that demands, that creates conflict.