When we think of the word 'pleasure,' we might think of an elegant banquet rather than delivering food to someone in need. We may see a more natural association of pleasure with self-gratification rather than with service.
That's why it’s curious for Chabad Chassidic thought to posit that 'oneg' – which translates into 'pleasure' – is at the core of our soul energies. Chassidic thought guides a person away from selfishness and toward other-centeredness. Self-absorption is one of the natural challenges that G-d has instilled within the human condition, a personality weakness to be tackled. So how can pleasure, the objective of self-indulgence, be at the core of our holy soul?
Pleasure is a soul-rhythm, a character-muscle. We can point it in the direction of self-service; and self-directed pleasure is indeed an important spice of life. But there's a special brand of pleasure that comes with selflessness.
I can enjoy an ice cream cone. But if I use the cone to ignite a smile to the face of a poor child, that beaming face would give me a soul rush beyond anything sugar can accomplish.
The easy path to pleasure is to just eat the ice cream myself. Meaningful pleasure doesn't usually come easy, but it's usually worth the effort.
So we should ask ourselves: What gives us pleasure? Do we find beauty in leaving our self-bubble and connecting with other? Do we appreciate the inner contentment that comes with making a difference in someone else's life?
Pleasure strikes deep within our core, so where we take pleasure, where our passions lie, is hugely important. If we can harness our pleasure taste buds to appreciate relationship building, if we can find excitement in selfless commitment to higher goals, we will have engaged a powerful personal engine to power a life of meaning.
My daughter Rivka is getting married this coming Sunday, G-d willing. My wife Malkie and I pray that she and [her fiancé] Ari, experience a life of true pleasure. A life in which they work hard to access life's true beauty, and a life in which that beauty permeates every waking moment.
Mazel Tov Rivka and Ari.