Pleasure and Joy

The Difference Between Pleasure and Joy: Why We Often Get Confused

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to confuse pleasure with joy. Many of us spend our lives chasing fleeting moments of happiness, thinking we are pursuing true joy. But while the two may feel similar at times, they are fundamentally different.

Understanding Pleasure

Pleasure is an external experience. It comes from outside sources—whether it's savoring a delicious meal, buying something new, traveling to a beautiful destination, or indulging in a night out with friends. These experiences can be wonderful and bring temporary happiness. But because they are dependent on external factors, they are also short-lived.

There is nothing inherently wrong with seeking pleasure. It’s a natural part of being human. The problem arises when we become overly dependent on these fleeting moments, using them to fill an emptiness within.

What Is Joy?

Unlike pleasure, joy is an internal experience. It is a deep sense of peace and contentment that arises from within you. Joy is not dependent on external circumstances. It flows naturally when you truly know yourself—when you go beyond your life situation, your thoughts, and your emotions.

Why We Confuse the Two

Often, we chase pleasure because we are actually searching for joy. We turn to external experiences to fill an inner longing for something deeper. But true joy cannot be found outside of you—it can only be discovered within.

True joy is an inner state that no external circumstances can take away—not even the most extreme ones. This is why even people serving life sentences in prison, after reading Eckhart Tolle’s books, have written to him saying, 'I understood your message, and I have become free.' Their external situation didn't change, but they found freedom within.