From Pleasure to Bliss
Bliss is what remains after every qualification of emotional ups and downs has been removed. – Swami Kriyananda, Revelations of Christ
“We are all tireless pleasure seekers,” Sigmund Freud reportedly said about himself and his fellow human beings. He was likely referring to the biochemistry of emotional and physical desires.
¹ The gremlins have the unpleasant task to counterbalance our pleasures with pain!
Since Freud’s time, significant discoveries have been made in the neuroscience of pleasure, the most important being the role of dopamine—a neurotransmitter responsible for creating the sensation of pleasure in the brain and, in its absence, the sensation of pain. In her fascinating book Dopamine Nation, Anna Lembke explains the principle of homeostasis, based on the discovery that the pleasure and pain centers in the brain are one and the same. She describes how the release of dopamine, triggered by pleasure-inducing activities, stimulates the production of other substances in the same brain region—substances she humorously calls “gremlins”—that restore balance (homeostasis) by generating a sensation of pain.
If we try to counteract that pain by seeking more dopamine-driven pleasure, we find ourselves riding the merry-go-round of addiction. But it’s not a free ride—the cost is our very happiness.
This biological mechanism reflects an age-old philosophical principle: dwaita is the principle of duality, which, according to yoga philosophy, governs the material world.
² Accepting pain as purification; study of the scriptures and introspection; openness to the divine will and guidance, and acceptance of them: these constitute the practice of yoga.
“Behind each rosebush of pleasure, hides a rattlesnake of pain,” the ancient scriptures from India say. Meditation has long been described as the path to transcending what Yogananda calls “the anguishing monotony of the world” and accessing a state of gradually expanding bliss.
Philosophy—the search for wisdom—and psychology—the study of our actual states of consciousness—do not always go hand in hand. Philosophy can sometimes feel like an imposition of abstract truths, lacking the authenticity of lived experience. Conversely, an individual’s psychological state can become stagnant without the inspiration of wisdom, for which humanity has a native hunger, Yogananda says.
When philosophy and psychology join hands, our lives take on a deeper dimension—not necessarily religious, but truly spiritual. Philosophy then intermingles with our psyche, rather than remaining an external doctrine.
Isn’t it awe-inspiring that a philosophical principle that has guided sincere truth-seekers throughout history finds its roots in the very chemistry of the human brain?
Even willpower, which Yogananda emphasizes as essential for spiritual growth, has its origins in desire. He defines willpower as desire + energy directed toward fulfillment. When we consciously choose to satisfy our innate hunger for wisdom, we can shift from being tireless pleasure seekers to tireless bliss seekers. The subconscious cycle of pleasure and pain can gradually be superseded by superconscious bliss—an experience that transcends the mechanical behavioral patterns conditioned by brain chemistry and that exists beyond the duality of pain and pleasure.
To conclude, let’s examine some key lessons on balance from Dopamine Nation and their connections to yoga philosophy and meditation:
- Recovery from addiction begins with abstinence. This aligns with the yogic principle of tapasya, which Sri Yukteswar describes as “holy patience”—the willingness to endure temporary discomfort in meditation and self-discipline. He also says that this practice purifies our subtle bodies. Lembke explains that abstinence resets the brain’s reward system, restoring our ability to find joy in simple pleasures. In yoga philosophy, joy is not just a side effect—it is an end in itself.
- Radical honesty fosters awareness, enhances intimacy, and cultivates a mindset of abundance. This corresponds with the spiritual practice of satya (truthfulness). We must fully acknowledge our current state of unawareness before taking our first step out of the barren wasteland of worldly addiction.
- Instead of running away from the world (through addictions of all sorts), we can escape by immersing ourselves in it. Lembke gives the example of a patient who overcame cannabis addiction by taking pictures of nature. The concentration required for this activity led him into a state of inner stillness, in which he became completely oblivious of lesser needs. This parallels the yogic teaching of samyama, total absorption in whatever is perceived. This state comes to us as our meditations become longer and deeper. It brings freedom from addiction, for our ability to see the world from within gives lasting satisfaction.
Above all, I would add this: Try to satisfy your innate hunger for wisdom! The more spiritualized your pleasures become, the less you will have to experience their painful opposites. Pleasure will then return to its original source, bliss.
- ¹ ² Source of images: Dopamine Nation, Anna Lembke
- Note: All images and information from Dopamine Nation are published with the permission of the author Anna Lemke
