ToastMasters P6 Script : The First Wine and The Last Woman

Buddha was supposed to give a sermon one day. He came, sat on the stage, picked up a flower and started examining it. Immediately, he allowed himself to be drawn by its vibrant color, intoxicating scent and softness. He did not speak a single word for the entire sermon. One of the monks present there, called Mahakasyapa, finally smiled. He was the only one who is said to have got it. His realization became what we now call the “Zen” after passing through many generations.

What was Buddha trying to teach us with his silent yet very powerful demonstration? Well, we all know its to do with achieving oneness of the mind, living in the present moment etc. But I think, more than that outcome, Buddha was trying to teach the mechanics of achieving it. In my own words, I would say the mechanics is “TO MAXIMIZE THE PLEASURE”. Just hold this thought here.

Around the same time in Greece, a man called Epicurus discovered the same operating principles. Life is all about maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain. Does any one here prefer to live the other way? Unless you are a psychological deviant like a Masochist, you would choose wisely. (Heard of a Masochist who said “beat me, thrash  me” and the sadist who smiled and said “No”?)

Let me explain the principles of maximizing pleasure using the Zen Tea Meditation ritual. The Zen Tea Meditation is a practice where you sit and hold your tea. Magically, everything around you vanishes. There is just you and your tea. No past, no future. Just you and the tea – the lovely color, the texture of its body, its fragrance, its bitterness, its warmth, its history, its mountain, the hands it passed to reach you… Now, you taste the tea with gratitude and that is maximizing your pleasure. You will also realize that your mind is settling towards a meditative state. It is harder to achieve this oneness of the mind without engaging in an activity that gives maximum pleasure.

Buddha and pleasure? 'Zen'suous versus Sensuous? Now, may be you are thinking that I got it totally wrong. Or that I am the biblical devil that is enticing you back into the evils of material pleasure and selfishness.

NO. A BIG NO. What I am talking here is much deeper. Pleasure is not a 'digital' feeling – zero or one. Similarly pain is also not digital. In pleasure itself, there are superior pleasures and inferior pleasures. Similarly, in pain, there is a range – from 'royal' pains to simple woes. For example, if I am your dentist and if I tell you that there are 2 ways to pull your tooth. One is to hang you upside down, tie a rope to your tooth and let myself swing on it until your teeth is off. And the second is a less painful method. You are definitely capable of quantifying the pain and choosing the right method.

On the other hand, think of a scenario where you have a $10,000 watch that gives you pleasure. And if I walk in to you with a $25,000 watch on my hand, your pleasure would immediately run away from you. Such is the nature of inferior pleasures. Now, in its place, think about “love, kindness, forgiveness, freedom, tolerance, charity….”  The more you give, the more pleasure you get. These are what I call superior pleasures.

And there is a word for this practice of "choosing things of superior  pleasure and maximizing that pleasure also”. Its called Hedonism. A practitioner of this is called a Hedonist. Buddha, Epicurus and many more philosophers along the way have been telling us this in many ways until today.

Hedonism starts with everyday simple things that we do. Its all about choosing the right thing and maximizing the pleasure in it. Even if it’s a simple handshake. Imagine you have to shake hands with me. Just think about it – you and me are made of the same material. We happen to be at this same place and at the same time – a great cosmic coincidence. We both are fathers, brothers and sons of the same god. We share the same responsibility of preserving each others existence and taking humanity further. What a pleasure it is for us to meet?  Now, shake my hands. Or even, hug me if you like. That is the Hedonist approach to life.

I will end this with a great Hedonist poem written ever. It was written in Tamil by a contemporary poet called Manusyaputran. Obviously, translations don’t give justice to poems but I will try and quote some lines from it. Those who can read Tamil, please check here.

Why do we have to treat our bodies like ash trays?

Why do we think a body is like a cheap liquor that needs a lot of ice cubes?

Today, let us recreate the miracle. 
The miracle of the never ending pleasure that a wine "gives".

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This wine can only be held in your secret lips for a moment.

Before I can sip and drink it, it turns infinitely complex with your body’s million ancient years.

That is how I drank the first wine of the world.

That is how I drank the last woman of the world.