There is, however, a psychological reason why we should say “pleasure and pain,” although it is not a logical division.  The reason why there should be that classification is that the word pleasure and the word pain express two fundamental states of difference, not in the Self, but in the vehicles in which that Self dwells.  The Self, being by nature unlimited, is ever pressing, so to say, against any boundaries which seek to limit him.  When these limitations give way a little before the constant pressure of the Self, we feel “pleasure,” and when they resist or contract, we feel “pain”.  They are not states of the Self so much as states of the vehicles, and states of certain changes in consciousness.  Pleasure and pain belong to the Self as a whole, and not to any aspect of the Self separately taken.  When pleasure and pain are marked off as belonging only to the desire nature, the objection arises:  “Well, but in the exercise of the cognitive faculty there is an intense pleasure.  When you use the creative faculty of the mind you are conscious of a profound joy in its exercise, and yet that creative faculty can by no means be classed with desire.”  The answer is:  “Pleasure belongs to the Self as a whole.  Where the vehicles yield themselves to the Self, and permit it to ‘expand’ as is its eternal nature, then what is called pleasure is felt.”  It has been rightly said:  “Pleasure is a sense of moreness.”  Every time you feel pleasure, you will find the word “moreness” covers the case.  It will cover the lowest condition of pleasure, the pleasure of eating.  You are becoming more by appropriating to yourself a part of the Not-Self, food.  You will find it true of the highest condition of bliss, union with the Supreme.  You become more by expanding yourself to His infinity.  When you have a phrase that can be applied to the lowest and highest with which you are dealing, you may be fairly sure it is all-inclusive, and that, therefore, “pleasure is moreness” is a true statement.  Similarly, pain is “lessness”.

If you understand these things your philosophy of life will become more practical, and you will be able to help more effectively people who fall into evil ways.  Take drink.  The real attraction of drinking lies in the fact that, in the first stages of it, a more keen and vivid life is felt.  That stage is overstepped in the case of the man who gets drunk, and then the attraction ceases.  The attraction lies in the first stages, and many people have experienced that, who would never dream of becoming drunk.  Watch people who are taking wine and see how much more lively and talkative they become.  There lies the attraction, the danger.

The real attraction in most coarse forms of excess is that they give an added sense of life, and you will never be able to redeem a man from his excess unless you know why he does it.  Understanding the attractiveness of the first step, the increase of life, then you will be able to put your finger on the point of temptation, and meet that in your argument with him.  So that this sort of mental analysis is not only interesting, but practically useful to every helper of mankind.  The more you know, the greater is your power to help.