Is It Wrong to Still Want Pleasures After Awakening?

Rupert Spira
Rupert SpiraApr 18, 2026

Why It Matters

Understanding that happiness is internal reframes how individuals pursue experiences, leading to more sustainable, fulfilling lifestyles and healthier mental health outcomes.

Key Takeaways

  • Happiness originates internally, not from external experiences alone.
  • External pleasures remain enjoyable without being primary happiness source.
  • Activities become expressions of contentment, not quests for fulfillment.
  • Mindful engagement allows travel, meals, friendships without seeking validation.
  • Recognizing inner peace transforms how we plan and enjoy life.

Summary

The video explores a common post‑awakening dilemma: whether enjoying travel, meals and social outings is contradictory once one recognizes that true happiness resides within. The speaker questions if continued pursuit of external pleasures signals a lack of inner fulfillment, and a responder clarifies that inner contentment does not forbid such activities—it merely changes their purpose.

Key insights reveal that happiness is an internal state, not a product of experiences. External pleasures remain valuable, but they are no longer chased as the primary source of joy. Instead, actions become expressions of an already‑content self, allowing participation in life without the pressure of “finding” happiness.

A memorable line underscores the shift: “You are perfectly happy… you still engage in life, but not for the purpose of finding happiness.” The discussion of planning a summer trip illustrates how logistical effort persists, yet the motivation stems from sharing and celebrating existing peace rather than filling a void.

The implication is profound for personal well‑being and consumer behavior: recognizing inner peace can reduce compulsive consumption, foster healthier relationships, and promote mindful engagement with the world, turning experiences into celebrations rather than necessities.

Original Description

If happiness lies in simply being rather than external things like travel and meals, yet we still find ourselves searching for and planning pleasurable activities, does this mean we are not truly established in being?
Rupert says: ‘You can be established in being and know that the source of happiness is your own being, and you can still enjoy friendship, enjoy traveling, going out for a nice meal with friends. But it’s just that you no longer engage in those activities for the purpose of making you happy.
‘You are perfectly happy. You know where your happiness lies. It lies in your being, but you’re still engaged in life, and you still share your happiness with your friends and your family . . . It’s fine to enjoy life, to celebrate this understanding in life, to share it, to express it, to celebrate it, to communicate it.’
*This video is from one of Rupert’s in-person retreats in Norway, 22–25 May 2025. For more information on upcoming retreats (many of which can be attended online via livestream) go to:
Timestamps:
0:00 Seeking Happiness
1:22 Being as the Source of Happiness
2:33 Seeking vs. Enjoying Life
3:20 Doing Research Without Seeking
3:57 Celebrating Life in Being
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