For the sake of argument, don't all the money, power, influence and resources in the world already go towards enjoyment and relief of suffering?
By laboring to grow food and sell it at market, a farmer relieves hunger.
A millionaire invests in businesses that provide goods and services to the public that they want. If they didn't want what was offered, they would not buy it. Enjoyment.
Investors trying to avoid the suffering of taxes might donate to a charity as a tax deduction, thus reducing the suffering of others in the process.
A family accumulating money to go on vacation are doing it for their own enjoyment.
I think people already do what they do to increase enjoyment and reduce suffering. I think, however, that they are often mistaken on what they think they will enjoy and what they think causes suffering. And, we haven't even considered that perhaps some degree of suffering is good for us to grow and be stronger.
My point is, the mechanism is already there. However, most of us don't know how to use it wisely.
All the money in the world does go towards enjoyment (a lot of money here) and the relief of suffering (currently less money here) but I am asking people to imagine what would happen if people stopped focusing on enjoyment completely in favor of centering all their intentions around the Prevention, Reduction & Elimination of suffering.
Most people think that relieving suffering mandates that enjoyment is experienced afterwards but that is not necessary.
People also often think that giving someone enjoyment relieves their suffering but that is also not necessarily true.
Enjoyment often causes even more suffering for oneself and others but the additional suffering is often delayed over time.
What do you think about this phrase @shainemata?
1. Enlightenment:
Understanding the wisdom of centering one's intentions around the prevention, reduction & elimination of suffering, and knowing for oneself that all other intentions lead to suffering (cycles of Enjoyment & Hardship).
Sloth, gluttony, addiction, . . . I am inclined to agree. There are both physical and spiritual reasons enjoyment can lead to more suffering. I think we should be careful with conflating enjoyment with happiness and contentment.
There are rare individuals who are born to bad circumstances full of suffering and are able to be content with the small blessings they have. Others can be born to ideal circumstances in which every want can be fulfilled, yet they do not find contentment nor joy.
Some suffering is necessary, such as vaccination, childbirth, running a marathon, . . . Perhaps good suffering has a goal.
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Enjoyment, Contentment & all other forms of temporary happiness are not entirely real in my opinion.
They are nothing more than fabrications created by the mind (self / ego) to be experienced in the mind.
Outside of the mind (self / ego) there are no thoughts or experiences of enjoyment, contentment, happiness, slothfulness or pain (discomfort) of any kind.
Thank you for discussing this with me @shainemata 😊✌️