Imaginary refers to that which doesn’t exist, whereas a product of imagination refers to that which results from the activation of imagination.
Sense pleasure is not imaginary in the sense that it does exist. The Bhagavad-gita (05.22) acknowledges the reality of this pleasure by stating that it arises when the senses and sense objects contact each other. When we see something beautiful or taste something delicious, we do feel some pleasure.
Gita wisdom doesn’t intend to deprive us of pleasure; rather, it intends to help us end our self-inflicted deprivation of pleasure.
Yet the Gita (02.55) urges us to reject such pleasures, declaring them to be a product of the mind (mano–gataan). It is due to the mind’s imagination that we deem such pleasures as immense and irresistible. So the pleasure exists, but it is exaggerated by the imagination. Its quantity, intensity and irresistibility are all products of imagination, akin to mistaking a drop of water in a desert to be an ocean. We succumb to such imagination because we need pleasure – we are innately-pleasure seeking beings.
And Gita wisdom doesn’t intend to deprive us of pleasure; rather, it intends to help us end our self-inflicted deprivation of pleasure. If we are in a desert desperate for water, then our desperation may make us imagine a drop to be far more that what it is. And if this drop lies in a direction opposite to where an ocean is, then pursuing that drop takes us away from the ocean. Similarly, bodily consciousness that is foundational for enjoying drop-like sense pleasure takes us away from the spiritual consciousness that is foundational for relishing oceanic devotional happiness in relationship with Krishna. By redirecting our thirst for happiness from matter to Krishna, by envisioning how we can serve him according to our talents and resources, we can fulfill both our mind’s propensity for imagination and our heart’s longing for happiness.
Explanation of article:
Are your comments based Bhagavad Gita ,as it is of Srila Prabhupada.If so, kindly mention it so to give confidence that it is so
Yes, it’s already mentioned on the home page of the site.
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ccdas
“And if this drop lies in a direction opposite to where an ocean is, then pursuing that drop takes us away from the ocean.”
This line makes me think more about this. Hare Krishna !!
Thank you for sharing your deep insights in Gita verses. I always thought about sense gratification as “that which does not exists.” But, I had a feeling that there is also some amount of pleasure in sense-gratification. By your grace, I have now clearly understood the difference between drop-like material (sensual) pleasures and ocean-like pleasure that is derived by rendering devotional service to Lord Krishna. Greatly indebted to you.