In its view of the heavenly afterlife, Islām views paradise as a pleasure garden in which the blessed experience the greatest sensual and spiritual happiness.
In "Coming to My Senses: A Story of Perfume, Pleasure and an Unlikely Bride," Alyssa Harad recounts her Kate Chopin-like awakening to the sensual joys of perfume and the fulfillment, happiness and fragrant friendships that follow.
Ideals of beauty, success and happiness are more grounded here, more sensual and present.
Even when Bertolucci's movies were devoted to political issues, he used the ripest, most sensual palette and worked at the edge of anguish or happiness.
He has defined himself as something his fans long for: a romantic, thoughtful, sensual and utterly monogamous lover, completely devoted to his partner's happiness.
If we get lost in the delusion that somehow some sensual pleasure, seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, thinking, whatever it is, is going to provide a lasting happiness, then we're lost, because as things continually change, we continually suffer.
While the lures of money, objects, sex and privilege lose their luster, liberation through spiritual practice provides a complete form of happiness; awakening means becoming aware of a calmness and ease that doesn't require chasing fleeting sensual pleasures, all of which are too quickly found wanting.
"Fear it no less than the sensual passion, because it too may take up all your time and deprive you of your health, peace of mind and happiness in life".
