Katha Upanishad 2.1Famous
beginner
अन्यच्छ्रेयोऽन्यदुतैव प्रेयस्ते उभे नानार्थे पुरुषं सिनीतः। तयोः श्रेय आददानस्य साधु भवति हीयतेऽर्थाद्य उ प्रेयो वृणीते॥
anyacchreyo'nyadutaiva preyaste ubhe nānārthe puruṣaṃ sinītaḥ | tayoḥ śreya ādadānasya sādhu bhavati hīyate'rthādya u preyo vṛṇīte ||
"Yama said: "The good (shreya) is one thing; the pleasant (preya) is another. Both bind a person with different ends. Good comes to one who chooses the good; one who chooses the pleasant misses the goal.""
What This Means:
Yama begins his teaching with a crucial distinction: there's what feels good (pleasant) and what IS good (beneficial). They're not the same.
Going Deeper:
Shreya is the lasting good, preya is immediate pleasure. Most people choose preya. The wise choose shreya, even when it's harder.
How To Apply This:
Before every choice, ask: Is this truly good for me, or just pleasant? Choose the good.
#good vs pleasant#discrimination#choice