So you are saying it is not okay to ever feel fabulous. I agreed with that, and experienced no joy for that reason.

It turns out that people will always be suffering. At least in our lifetimes. It's hard to accept, but there are definitely people suffering right now.

I think it's okay for people who are in a position to experience joy to experience joy. I feel that is a profound abuse of privilege not to accept the moments of joy that life offers.

But I understand and have often agreed with you that no one should experience any pleasure at all as long as one human is still suffering. As a child, I never wished for anything when blowing out my birthday candles other than relief of others' suffering.

I really do understand why you think no one in the world should be allowed to experience joy or ecstasy while there is suffering. But to me, that sounds like a healthy part of a tree should not be allowed to engage in photosynthesis when a weaker part of the tree is suffering. It doesn't make sense, because the healthy functioning of the "happy" part of the tree actually helps repair the suffering parts. It's not in isolation.

I'm also interested to know how healed you allow your patients to become. Do you allow them to reach a place of happiness? Or do you feel it's best to make sure they remain in an a perpetual level of active pain commensurate with the global state?