Page 38 - Those Who Exhaust All Their Pleasures In This Life

36 THOSE WHO EXHAUST ALL THEIR PLEASURES IN THIS LIFE

them anxious. They lead people into an environment where
they will be swayed by the compulsions of an ignorant
morality. So, when those whose spiritual state is far
removed from religious morality assemble together, it
becomes clear just how much they have disregarded this
reality.
First off, as we saw above, ignorant people act accord-
ing to the demands of their society rather than following
their own tastes and inclinations. As to how they will enter-
tain themselves, what films they will see and what restau-
rants, cafés or nightclubs they’ll go out to, they base their
decisions on their society’s standards. They think that
doing the chic and fashionable things that society
approves of will earn them position, importance and
respect in the eyes of others. For example, to be seen in a
popular nightclub “where everyone goes” is very important
for their self-respect. Even if they feel uncomfortable there,
being able to tell colleagues or friends the next day that
they had a good time at that popular place allows them to
put on airs. When we look at these places of entertain-
ment, we see that nothing in them appeals to the human
spirit; rather, they make people weary and anxious. Most
of these places are very crowded and full of stale air, due
to the many people smoking. Given the noise, it is hard to
hear what other people are saying. No matter how good
the music is or how delicious the food is, the crowd and
the noise make it impossible to enjoy them. Even if this
place was invigorating, bright, clean, and well-appointed,
the result would be the same, because the people who go