Clearly physical things can't be the end in themselves, for there's more to life than that.
There's more to life than physical pleasure. What about love? Would you sell your loved ones for millions of dollars? No! Nothing can buy love--it's not material. It's a spiritual connection. Love is from the soul. You don't ask for appeasement; when you love you just want to give, and give all your heart.
What about meaning? Do people gain meaning from physical pleasure? And does love give life a purpose? People can please their bodies all their days and not find meaning or value in their life. After a certain degree, physical pleasure is only a distraction from the "real" things--the higher things in life. And what of love? Everyone can love each other, be so happy, and feel so warm inside, but what would life be? It would be meaningless and empty. After a certain point, love too becomes fake and worthless. There would be no story to life without a purpose. Love loses its value when it comes so easily and effortlessly. Without dilemmas, without hardships, love too feels useless. Therefore meaning and purpose are more important. The pleasure gained from doing good and meaningful things in the world, is a higher pleasure than that of love. Why do you think people fight for their beliefs? Why do you think they risk their lives for what they believe to be meaningful? Why do parents send their kids to war to defend their country, ideology, and culture? Could it be because they don't love their children and wouldn't mind to see them die? No! G-d forbid. They do this because they value a higher purpose so much, that they place it above everything else they have, both physical and spiritual (i.e. love). Although at times people don't understand what they're fighting for and are deceived by their beliefs, dedicating themselves to the wrong things. But that's the nature of free-will; that's what we get for disobeying G-d...many times we live and die for falsehoods.
What about creativity and intelligence? Do people not gain pleasure from their work and effort? Are they not pleased by their accomplishments, their inventions; their creations? Do people not gain satisfaction from the many ways they manage to transform and change nature to their liking? Truly this is a high pleasure. It allows man to rule the world and care for it as well. We can mold the world to our liking and we can protect it from harm. This is a great Gift; it allows us to behave like G-d. It lets us feel special; it makes us feel like gods. Physical pleasure is limited, and how much can you love? Meaning is over-rated, if you're only a slave to your purpose. For how meaningful would life be if we were only a river that flows, a wind that blows, or an animal that is only given the tools to live and sent out to survive and multiply? It would be, to some extent, like living in a video game, where the rules are all set up and you just have to enjoy yourself and achieve your goal. But people have been Given an infinite capacity; they've been Given infinitely more. Man has been Given the Gift of bending reality. We can manipulate nature, we can create our own laws, we can form things out of material, and thoughts and stories out of memories and imagination. We are creative beings, and we enjoy our creativity (as well as the products of our creative abilities). In fact we spend most of our time in life, working and creating. We enjoy this so much that when we cease to work and make use of our creativity, we feel like we're empty and lifeless, and take much less pleasure in our existence (not valuing life as much anymore). For our creativity is the source of our purpose in this world. We invent even our own meaning, our goals, and our intentions. And once this ability goes to waste, so does our vitality die with it and we become depressed. We realize the importance of this pleasure, and it is what drives our lives (although many times, and all too often, our physical desires direct our creativity).
However, using our creativity for devious purposes only distances us from the Source of our godliness. It is a cheap thrill, and one that is deceiving. For cheating people, nature, and G-d's Creations, is only harmful to ourselves. Using G-d's Gift to destroy what has been Given to us, to destroy the world that was Created for us, is only a destruction of ourselves and everything that we have. It is a perversion of everything that is precious and holy. It is a destruction of the soul within us. To use the Breath of G-d, the Divine spark that we have, to cause only harm, is to die once more and become a body without a soul. It is to become a living death. When this happens people lose their value, they lose everything that is meaningful in life, and even pleasure loses its significance. These people serve only one purpose--which is to die. They can do only one thing, which is to end their existence. Terms like devil and vampire are only symbolic. These people are still people in the context of things, but nonetheless, they are bodies without a soul, or that have completely lost touch with their soul. They are worth no more than the dust of their flesh, and their death must not be mourned.
Which brings us to the final point; the highest pleasure and the Source of all things. If the evil want to remove themselves from G-d, to distance themselves from the soul Given to us, and to bring only pain and suffering into the world, then what would you say is the highest pleasure? What would you consider to be most important in life? The cause of our suffering and the ultimate reason for our guilt and discontentment, is that we have distanced ourselves from G-d and from His Divine Judgement. When Adam disobeyed G-d, ate from the Forbidden tree, his eyes opened, and he (his soul) became trapped in his body; he no longer saw the world from G-d's perspective. He became perplexed, lost, and confused. Mankind declined after that, leading up to the time of Noah, and the flood that destroyed all the evil people. Then again man spread and multiplied, and again turned evil (losing touch with its soul, with G-d, and the most important things in life). G-d would destroy the evil people; G-d has always destroyed the evil people, in the end. But then came Abraham, and G-d Saw that he was different. He Saw that he was good. G-d Blessed him for that, and Blessed his seed after him for all generations. G-d Delivered His people out of Egypt, and they became a great nation. But not just a great nation; the children of Israel are G-d's people. Moses led them to Mount Sinai, and there, G-d Gave them the "Book of Life." Hashem Gave them the Ten Commandments, and Instilled in Moses the Knowledge of the Torah, which Moses later wrote, over the years, through G-d's Guidance. So what does this mean? G-d Gave humanity a means to connect to Him, once again, through the Lessons taught to His people, Israel. G-d Gave mankind a chance to repent and return to Him, thus undoing the confusion that was brought into the world after Adam ate from the tree of knowledge (that confused the knowledge) of good and evil.
The highest level of pleasure is that which is gained when people connect to G-d, sense His Greatness, and understand the Truth in life--the meaning of life. This is what the Greeks (of ancient Greece) and Greek philosophy called the "higher things." Of course these Hellenists didn't understand what they were talking about. They believed in gods and illusions, and worshiped the body and physical things. They were hypocrites and deceivers, as most people have always been. However, the very deep philosophers were able to touch upon something special, although not feel something real. Meaning, they were able to notice deeper and more refined things in life, such as the laws of nature, which is metaphysics, logic, ethics, and aesthetics, which is the arts (which are now referred to as science, social sciences, and art), although these things are misleading, and what they found was only the shadow of G-d, and all they studied were the workings of G-d's Creations while thinking they had revealed something divine. All their higher aspirations and their marvel of the human body and all it is capable of achieving, and the only place it led them was back to the beginning (which is the same thing that is happening today). And yes, they did do a good job with regards to what they studied and thought about. They were able to explain rather well the way things work and how the world functions. They were able to explain "how," but failed at reaching their intended destination. They were unable to explain "what" and "why," and their followers have failed to this extent, till this day. Why? Because they looked at things from the wrong perspective.
They tried to find the Meaning of life by observing physical things. They tried to find the Source of all things, by looking at Its products. They tried to picture the Whole by observing an extremely small part of it (like trying to piece together an infinitely fragmented puzzle with only a few of its pieces). They tried to see the Infinite by sensing the finite. They thought they had found the most important pleasure in life, and dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to what was said to be more valuable than anything else, but instead they desecrated the "Image" of G-d, profaned His Name, and befouled His Creations, by confusing True pleasure with its illusory counterpart. They turned a Holy experience into something that a friend of mine once called, "a mental masturbation." Once again, they used their soul, the Breath of G-d, that is our link to G-d and godly abilities, in order to serve lesser purposes. They used the Divine spark within them, in order to magnify bodily pleasures and heighten the ability of their senses. Which is not a bad thing, because observing and appreciating G-d's Creations is only the next step down to "seeing" Hashem and connecting to Him. However, they made a big mistake in that they saw earthly things and thought these were the ultimate and greatest experiences. Instead of saying, "I can see G-d through His Creations," they were inspired by worldly thoughts, objects, and forces, and thought these were gods--the "higher things" in life; or what the atheists would describe as the "magic of chance," which is no different than bowing down to gods.
The highest pleasure is that which brings us closer to G-d, thus Redeeming us and the soul within us. It is order and balance that is achieved. It is to find yourself and recover what has been lost. To walk with G-d, is to walk with certainty; to be in a state of comfort and stability. It is a fulfillment of your purpose. In this, you gain an understanding that is, without doubt, Truthful. It is knowledge, without limits, and life, without confusion. It is to live Reasonably and "see" Beyond illusions, so that you don't fall victim to deceit and become the subject of delusion. When you connect with G-d, you connect with yourself, and thus you become your soul, the Breath of G-d that is within you. When you "see" G-d, you understand who you are, and thus the world is appreciated and your life becomes Sacred. To live according to G-d and to follow His Laws, is to live according to your Purpose and lead a Holy life--a life that is worth living, and an existence that is worthy of G-d's Blessing.
You see, when G-d Created man, He Created us as gods; He Created man in His "Image." But after G-d Breathed life into the flesh of man, Adam chose to follow his body and the desires of his heart, and thus lost himself to illusions and buried himself within dust. When people connect with G-d, they redeem themselves by freeing their soul from the prison of their body--and thus freeing themselves from a form of slavery. Since you are your spirit and your spirit is from G-d, the only way to connect with G-d is through the Breath of G-d that is within you. Thus, by confronting the Infinite, you must have reached within yourself and freed your soul. Having freed yourself from the bondage of your body, pleasure is made boundless and life is without limits, infinite.
G-d Created man so that man could rule the world (and enjoy himself) and care for it as well (thus preserving the pleasure of life for other people and for generations to come). When you redeem yourself and connect with G-d, then every other pleasure is enhanced and life becomes infinitely better.
You have been Given a body to make use of it; not to waste it and waste yourself with it. Your spirit must guide your flesh; your flesh must not guide your spirit. You eat to maintain your flesh and to gain pleasure through your body, but food cannot be enjoyed when it is eaten simply for consumption. You must realize that you are beyond your body, and live according to your soul. Therefore you must control your desires, and not let them control your soul. When physical pleasure (in any form) is taken in moderation, for the benefit of your soul, then it is appreciated, and your flesh pleases your spirit.
Love cannot be expressed by the flesh. Love is an expression of your spirit. When you live according to your soul, love takes on its true form. When you connect with G-d and experience What Is Beyond, then you are capable of experiencing what is within. Because life has three dimensions. There is the physical, which we all see and know. There is the spirit of life, which animates the show. And in humans there is a soul, which is the Breath of G-d buried in flesh--and the soul is who we are; the soul is what makes us human and allows us to behave like G-d. If you love from the flesh, then you do not love at all, because you cannot connect with spirits or with the spirits of people (which are souls), unless you "see" them through your soul, and love them for something more. It is only then that the physical aspects of love are worth their value, for physical things are Made to please the soul.
Meaning is not very meaningful, when your spirit is the servant of your body. When you connect with G-d and redeem your soul, then meaning takes on its true form, and life becomes meaningful. Only then can things be meaningful to you. For you are not your body; you are your soul. When you please your spirit with meaningful things, you please yourself, when you please your soul, and purpose is purposeful evermore.
Creativity is only the product of G-d and of the Breath of G-d. Thus you can only use your creative abilities through your soul. Since your soul is the Breath of G-d, it only serves you, when you are the one in charge. When your body and the desires of your heart use the creative ability of your soul in order to please the dust of your flesh, this pleasure is but limited, as flesh is only a limited product of Creation. But the pleasure of creativity should be infinite, just as creativity is infinite in its ability and infinite in its Source. When you "see" G-d and thus understand who you are, then you can use your soul to create meaningful things. Only then will you be serving and pleasing yourself, for you are your soul.
Such is the pleasure you gain when you connect with G-d, and such is the result when you liberate yourself. This is truly a high pleasure; it is in fact the highest pleasure. Not only is it infinitely meaningful and pleasing to your soul, but it also enhances the many other forms of pleasure that are known. If pleasure is what people seek, then they are foolish for distancing themselves from G-d. If people want to live happy and meaningful lives, then they need not try too hard nor look too far--for G-d is within them, and He Is who they are--as man is the Breath of G-d, and thus people are like G-d. People only bury their soul and distance themselves from G-d because they think they are so smart. But these people are lost and they bring only death and pain for themselves and for everyone else. It is for this reason that G-d flooded the evil in the world and Gave the Torah to mankind. It is only for our benefit that G-d Sought to Redeem us, and that we know we should redeem ourselves and free our soul.
Intro 
For Israelis Ab...
What about love? Would you sell your loved ones for millions of dollars? No! Nothing can buy love--it's not material. It's a spiritual connection. Love is from the soul. You don't ask for appeasement; when you love you just want to give, and give all your heart.
The pleasure gained from doing good and meaningful things in the world, is a higher pleasure than that of love. Why do you think people fight for their beliefs? Why do you think they risk their lives for what they believe to be meaningful? Why do parents send their kids to war to defend their country, ideology, and culture? Could it be because they don't love their children and wouldn't mind to see them die? No! G-d forbid. They do this because they value a higher purpose so much, that they place it above everything else they have, both physical and spiritual (i.e. love). Although at times people don't understand what they're fighting for and are deceived by their beliefs, dedicating themselves to the wrong things. But that's the nature of free-will; that's what we get for disobeying G-d...many times we live and die for falsehoods.
What about creativity and intelligence? Do people not gain pleasure from their work and effort? Are they not pleased by their accomplishments, their inventions; their creations? Do people not gain satisfaction from the many ways they manage to transform and change nature to their liking? Truly this is a high pleasure. It allows man to rule the world and care for it as well. We can mold the world to our liking and we can protect it from harm. This is a great Gift; it allows us to behave like G-d. It lets us feel special; it makes us feel like gods. Physical pleasure is limited, and how much can you love? Meaning is over-rated, if you're only a slave to your purpose. For how meaningful would life be if we were only a river that flows, a wind that blows, or an animal that is only given the tools to live and sent out to survive and multiply? It would be, to some extent, like living in a video game, where the rules are all set up and you just have to enjoy yourself and achieve your goal. But people have been Given an infinite capacity; they've been Given infinitely more. Man has been Given the Gift of bending reality. We can manipulate nature, we can create our own laws, we can form things out of material, and thoughts and stories out of memories and imagination. We are creative beings, and we enjoy our creativity (as well as the products of our creative abilities). In fact we spend most of our time in life, working and creating. We enjoy this so much that when we cease to work and make use of our creativity, we feel like we're empty and lifeless, and take much less pleasure in our existence (not valuing life as much anymore). For our creativity is the source of our purpose in this world. We invent even our own meaning, our goals, and our intentions. And once this ability goes to waste, so does our vitality die with it and we become depressed. We realize the importance of this pleasure, and it is what drives our lives (although many times, and all too often, our physical desires direct our creativity). 
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