Should one act upon one's desires? Or defer to the wishes of society? Is there a third way?
Fulfilment of desires leads to pleasure, howsoever momentary.
What is more important to man? Safety, or pleasure? If one has to choose, most people do choose safety. The punishment for choosing pleasure is too harsh.
So one ends up feeling bitter and alienated, with a vague sense of frustration not pointed at anything in particular. Blaming the world, cursing the Gods, hating oneself for being what one is... awaiting death as the release from pain.
And those who choose pleasure, what is their fate? They go on in an upward spiral of sensation and stimulation, requiring repetition as well as novelty. Their lot is painful in its own cruel way.
And they end up rich in experience, but heavy with memories and conditioning, having enjoyed themselves, but not yet free of any kind of desire. Desires are never fulfilled, they are but lulled for a moment, to spring up again with renewed vigour. They are afraid of dying and death. In love with the pleasures that life offers, they are horrified at the fate of all flesh.
The inner emptiness, Oh God, what will cease that?
...
The reflection of consciousness as an individual soul is forever seeking fulfilment, for its very origin is in separation from its essence.
Consciousness seeking outwardly for fulfilment is destined for frustration.
Only in going inwards, towards the source of Life and Love, is there Happiness and the ending of the desires of a million years.