Temptation. Is It Internal or External?

My holiday just finished and as I am sitting here on a Sunday evening, what better way to end it off on a deep philosophical writing session?

Recently I have been doing my analysis paralysis on Temptation and the autonomy of temptation, and let me tell you, it’s quite a head-scratcher.

What spurred this train of thought was a TEDx talk by Master Shi Heng Yi (herein referred to as the “Master”) from the Shaolin Temple about the 5 hindrances to self-mastery. And what, pray tell, are the “5 hindrances to self-mastery”?

Here they are:

• Sensual Desire
• Ill Will / Aversion
• Dullness / Heaviness
• Restlessness
• Skeptical Doubt

Where does temptation fit in with these hindrances? I will be explaining that shortly.

I won’t be digging into all five, as the Master sells it best. My focus will be mainly based on the first hindrance called Sensual Desire as it’s the most elusive hindrance to me on my journey to reach my goals and as such, I will use this hindrance to corroborate my understanding of temptation.

Temptation, probably the oldest biblical term and it’s the foundation block of the Original Sin. For those familiar with the Bible and the Seven deadly sins, the term “Temptation” is used extensively, and the Bible is polluted with the term.

Oh dear… we went from Shaolin Temple to Bible and Seven deadly sins, is this a Sunday Sermon?

No. I believe in anything that makes logical sense to me and that can be used for the betterment of my growth. Luckily, I am blessed with many avenues to source “Words of Wisdom” for growth. Point of note, growth is not linear, that is why I believe in the diversity of different schools of thought.

Back to the point. Temptation and the 5 hindrances to self-mastery. In the TEDx talk when Master Shi Heng Yi talks about the 1st hindrance — Sensual Desire, he uses the example of a man wanting to climb a mountain and on his way, there is a restaurant with lovely food and drink. In this he explains, if a person is not focused, he/she will get swept up in the booze and food of the restaurant and they’ll have forgotten about their goal. This is my rambled explantation, again, The Master does it justice. This is where my thoughts of temptation started to come to the surface which hopefully explains how I linked Temptation and these hindrances.

For now, let’s stop right there with the first hindrance because this is crucial. Before I continue, the Master does mention that “Sensual Desire” has to do with the 5 gateways to the body which is:

• Seeing
• Hearing
• Tasting
• Smelling
• Feeling

Given these five gateways, it’s easy to relate to temptation. After all, Eve desired to eat the apple wasn’t it, therefore fulfilling the Sensual Desire through the “Tasting” gateway. Here the Master’s restaurant analogy comes into play.

Given that the Master uses the restaurant analogy, one can see here that there are but many scenarios that can replace the restaurant analogy such as alcohol, drugs, food, sex, gambling, extra-marital affairs, and the list does go on.

Now, the Master’s primary solution is that one must restructure their life in such a way that these hindrances don’t come up, which is excellent advice. The thing with advice is often that it’s more effective if one understands the problem more in-depth.

This got me thinking about temptation and how each person’s temptation is like their own personal brand of heroin as Edward referred to Bella in the movie Twilight.

For some temptation is a bottle of whiskey, to some, it’s a strip club and for others it’s narcotics. Strange how during the process of describing temptation, addictions naturally pop up!

So if we have different forms of temptation, one could argue that temptation itself is formless. Then what is it about the temptation that makes it so toxic? Is it the bottle of whiskey or the fantasy of drinking the whiskey? And there it is….. The word fantasy. In this article, I will use the term “fantasy” and “thought” interchangeably. Because after all, fantasy is but a vision conjured up by one’s thoughts.

Now, most people, when they hear the term “Fantasy”, the image of the lovely shooting star that shoots over the Disney Castle that you’ll see at the beginning of a Disney movie will come to their mind, including me and as such fantasies are marketed to those of ages between 3 to 10.

But does anyone dissect the fantasy of an alcoholic sitting at home after a week being sober and all he can fantasize about is the taste of a tumbler of whiskey, or the gambler fantasizing about the gambling slots intertwined with the sound of winning in the background 5 days before pay-day?

Is there a connection between fantasy and the object of temptation, or is the object of temptation but merely an object, and our fantasies are what fuels the temptation?

For a sober person who has never tasted alcohol, there would be very little to no fantasies about drinking alcohol whatsoever versus a person who is an alcoholic. This brings me to the title of the blog. Is Temptation Internal or External? I would beg to argue that temptation is always internal. But let’s not go blindly on my opinion and let us investigate.

After all, if the temptation is external, Is the solution to alcoholics striving towards sobriety to enact a worldwide ban on alcohol? or is the solution to do internal healing and understand how alcoholism entered the alcoholics’ life?

I am no psychologist and would for my protection and yours, steer away from advice on discussing topics such as addiction as a professional would. However, for the sake of the article, I will make references to articles on the subject written by professionals.

My approach is more from a practical/spiritual point of view and it’s with that intention I am writing this blog.

Triggers and their role in Temptation

Now to some the word “Trigger” might have popped up in your mind by now and jumping right into the clinical definition of the term “Trigger” along with its autonomy published by the Vicente Hernández-Rabaza from the Departamento Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain and José Víctor Orón Semper from Centro Universitario Santo Tomas, Universidad Católica de Ávila, Ávila, Spain

The current maladjustment between the neurobiology and the subjective human condition can be observed in the concept of “trigger.” Understood as “a stimulus that elicits a reaction” (APA dictionary, 2019), the trigger is considered a key element in the craving response showed by addicts. This external stimulus would lead the individual to repeat drug use or relapse after a period of abstinence. Addiction models constructed upon this observation consider the trigger as a stimulus able to activate drug related memories leading to reward anticipation and craving responses. As a consequence, derived therapeutic approaches suggest to avoid the trigger or provide the individuals with cognitive capabilities to control that emotional response provoked by the trigger. Such cognitive-behavioral therapies include operant conditioning, contingency management or coping skills training (Witkiewitz et al., 2019).

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In this way, where “trigger” is considered as an “external” stimulus inducing a reaction, its scope is only at the psychological level and does not address the uniqueness of complexity. Instead, we offer a re-understanding of the “trigger” as something “internal” that relates all levels of complexity and requires dialogue between different levels mentioned above. Moreover, the stimulus-response association was already questioned by PK Anokhin (Egiazaryan and Sudakov, 2007), who proposed to come out of a causal reading (the trigger provokes a behavior) and assumed a systemic conception in which the behavior is due to a global situation of the whole system (Thelen and Smith, 1994; Smith, 2005; Anderson et al., 2012).

Now, the snippet above doesn’t refer to the term “temptation” nor does the complete article if you read it in your own time, but they are referring to how the “external stimulus” i.e. in my words the “Object of Temptation” has the power to activate the memories related to the drug-related memories of the said person in the snippet i.e. in my words the “Fantasies”. In the snippet above, one could easily replace the word “Trigger” with “Temptation”. Here I find some backing to support my theory on temptation being internal, but let’s carry on with investigating.

Referring back to my earlier question:

“Is there a connection between the Fantasy and the object of temptation, or is the object of temptation but merely an object, and our fantasies are what fuels the temptation?”

Given what we’ve learned, the object of temptation would have a memory attached to it on a psychological level, that is why the object of temptation makes it appears as if though the temptation is external, but in reality, the memory of its use is in the mind buried in the subconscious carved out with neuro pathways in the brain, making temptation indeed internal.

Dopamine and its vital role in Temptation

If one has to search the internet on addiction, you’ll come across a sea of articles on the topic of addiction. But one of the things I want to highlight from my understanding of reading some of those articles is the unique role that the “Neurotransmitter Dopamine” plays when it comes to addiction. This is what Psychology Today has to say about Dopamine:

“The brain chemical that plays a starring role in addiction is the neurotransmitter dopamine. Addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and many others — and eventually, just the anticipation of consuming those agents — cause a flood of dopamine to be released in the nucleus accumbens of the brain, creating an intensely pleasurable sensation. That pleasurable reward reinforces the behavior, motivating the user to seek the experience again and again. Dopamine is released in response to sex, accomplishment, winning, and other positive experiences, creating the sensation of reward and motivating the desire for repetition of the experience, but the dopamine response to drugs like heroin and cocaine is especially fast and intense.”

“The neurotransmitter glutamate is also involved in addiction. Widely distributed in the brain, its general role is to activate the firing of neurons; it’s called an excitatory neurotransmitter. Glutamate helps mediate the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse and speeds the hard-wiring of substance response into the brain.”

What does dopamine have to do with fantasies and temptation? Well, the following sentence makes my case:

“and eventually, just the anticipation of consuming those agents — cause a flood of dopamine to be released in the nucleus accumbens of the brain, creating an intensely pleasurable sensation.”

By this article, the fantasizing of the “drug-related memory” actually causes the release of dopamine, the “Award hormone”, making you want to seek out that which you fantasize about therefore making the person “tempted” to use more drugs and therefore the “drugs” (in this example) is what’s used to cause “Temptation”.

To extrapolate another sentence:

“That pleasurable reward reinforces the behavior, motivating the user to seek the experience again and again.”

This is essentially the definition of temptation!

The Merriam-Webster defines temptation as:

1: the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil: ENTICEMENT

2: something tempting: a cause or occasion of enticement

Now obviously, these fantasies have to be strong and be backed up by actual repetitive experiences for them to be so powerful. Coming back to my “sober person’s” example, there will be no release of dopamine as the act of drinking alcohol has never been committed therefore the brain has no relation of reward to it as no neuro-pathways exist.

But what about our fantasies that are backed up with a GOOD number of experiences along neuro-pathways formed in our brain stating, Damn, that’s nice???!!

According to neuroscience and behavioral science, one can safely assume that Temptation is internal and that the fantasies we entertain will create our reality especially if those fantasies are supported by actual repetitive experiences.

Here is a snippet of an article written by Andrea Kuszewski, Cognitive Scientist and Behavior Therapist on The Science of Pleasure: Part II — Your Brain On Sexual Imagery”

“Even continual, repeated fantasies about the same person or activity can trigger dopamine and oxytocin to a degree that you actually start psychologically and biologically bonding with that person/image/idea. Once that bond is formed, it is more difficult to just let it go. Viola! You are officially hooked.”

I have heard so many times on youtube videos, by reading motivational books and from people claiming that “Thoughts become Things” that it almost becomes a cliche. If you google “Thoughts becomes Things” and click on the “images” icon, you will be blessed with hundreds of pictures with the words “Thoughts become Things”, however, sadly if you do the same with “Fantasies becomes Things” or “Fantasies Create Reality”, then you will find nothing.

Then why is there such a vast distinction between “Thought” and “Fantasy” when fantasy is essentially thoughts being projected into the vision? Another thing I have now stumbled across is what is Reality and what is Fantasy?

Here is another snippet from Andrea’s article that covers the question of whether the brain cares about what is Reality or what is Fantasy?

“As long as there is a stimulus-response cued reaction, your brain could care less if it was induced by a steamy night with a Russian supermodel, or by looking through the Victoria’s Secret catalog. Dopamine and oxytocin aren’t snobby that way. They just want to come out to play, no matter who or what invites them.”

Also, do we need to create different categories for fantasies? Such as Child-Like Fantasies and Adult-like Fantasies or what the realists would call “Realistic Fantasies”. Topics that deserve their own blog!

One thing is certain, we can conclusively say, that we have a vast amount of power to create our destinies as science has proved it so. Yes, they have proved is from a negative i.e. Addiction, but does the same science not support it from a Positive?

Let us look at tennis stars for example:

Firstly, to be a Roger Federer, one must think, eat, sleep and breathe tennis. Right?? No star or expert in his/her field can live otherwise. What science has taught us is, when we do something and it brings us a reward, neuro pathways are formed and subsequently, the neurotransmitter dopamine is released giving you that high, and so the cycle begins and continues.

Let’s say I want to become a tennis star. I will be talking as myself in the third person, yes, I might sound crazy!!

Example:

• Simon practices like crazy and wins his first Tennis Match — here comes the Dopamine Influx
• Next thought, I must practice harder if I want more winning!
• Whilst practicing my tennis skills, I relive the memory of Holding the trophy from winning the last match which in essence releases more Dopamine.
• Now I am forced to keep on practicing, as my body wants to relive that high, that reward,
• Making it my destiny to pursue this journey of becoming a Tennis Star.

This whole scenario could be replaced by a Rugby Star, a Cricket Star, a person who has been sober for 12 years, or simply a mother loving her children and her family.

The dopamine hack on a positive scenario I would say is not only possible, but science also supports it.

Is placing temptation as something internal a good thing or a bad thing?

Well, to answer this, we need to go back to the science of the brain and what it says about addiction. Here is an explanation on neuroplasticity according to Psychology Today:

Calling addiction a brain disorder means, for one thing, that the machinery of addiction is complex and subtle because the brain is complex and often subtle. Addiction comes about through the brain’s normal pathways of pleasure. It is known that addiction changes the circuitry of the brain in ways that make it increasingly difficult for people to regulate the allure of an intense chemical rush of reward.

In response to repeated use of a highly pleasurable experience — drugs, gambling — neurons adjust their wiring to become increasingly efficient at relaying the underlying signals. They prune away their capacity to respond to other sources of reward. And a neural connection to the brain centers of impulse control and decision-making is weakened. The brain is set to stay stuck in its habit.

But, unlike in disease, the brain changes that occur in addiction are not a malfunction of biology. Rather, the changes reflect the brain’s normal processes of changeability — called neuroplasticity — its capacity to change in response to every-day experience, which is the basis of all learning. Unlike other organs, the brain is designed to change, because its mission is to keep us alive, and in order to safeguard us, it needs to be able to detect and respond to the ever-changing dynamics of the real world.

It is important to know that recovery from addiction also relies on neuroplasticity. Changing behavior rewires the brain.

So basically, the brain can change and as our actions change our brain adapts for our survival. So yes, classifying temptation as internal is both beneficial and fortunate.

Processes on how to take on new actions and dealing with them need more focus and in some cases professional help. Telling an alcoholic to stop drinking simply will not work. This is where rehab centers come into play, as they work on therapy along with detoxing the brain from a high dopamine influx and help to identify ways to rewire the brain under their supervision.

Here is another piece of hope from Psychology Today:

“Addiction is a learned response involving several key areas of the brain and changes to the neural circuitry connecting them. Through the actions of the neurotransmitter dopamine, the brain becomes extremely efficient in wanting the drug effects and eventually becomes imprisoned in the wanting. Nevertheless, the ability of the brain to adapt to changed circumstances always keeps the door open for the possibility of recovery.”

For the extreme cases of addiction and less extreme cases of habits that might need changing, there is hope in knowing the brain can adapt. New habits can be formed. For some, the practice of self-discipline might be the solution and for others, therapy and clinical help might be required. Nonetheless, we must avail ourselves in hope where it is possible.

And ultimately, with hard work, we can turn something that was once an object of temptation into an object that no longer holds the same power over us as it used to.

The remaining hindrances and their link to temptation

Circling back to the Master’s teaching on the 5 hindrances as my attention was solely focused on the 1st hindrance called “Sensual Desire”.

Here are the remaining principles:

• Ill Will / Aversion
• Dullness / Heaviness
• Restlessness
• Skeptical Doubt

These, however, should be looked at in-depth as the Master has some great insights on them. Perhaps the only thing I will say about temptation, and its connection with the remaining hindrances is the following.

One can be tempted into being restless through too many distractions with specific reference to the role that social media plays in our lives. Then there is FOMO — Fear of Missing Out. FOMO is polluted with obsessing and fantasizing about things you could miss out on, things you have done before that as we have learned now can release dopamine by just thinking about it.

FOMO is destination Temptation! The Apple & Eve scenario basically spells FOMO!

As we have learned, temptation itself can take on a tangible form such as a beer bottle, however, intangible forms of temptation should not be taken lightly! Ever noticed how tempting it is to complain when everyone else is complaining? Or how tempting it is to get angry when you notice a bar fight where two guys are dishing our knuckle sandwiches? Or how tempting it is to be doubtful when you are down and out?

Pretty scary right!

One last comment regarding the “Restlessness” hindrance. The Master mentions the term “Monkey Mind” and it refers to the act of either journeying to the past, or to the future and how the mind and body can’t sync with each other if you keep jumping around.

The earlier snippet supports the “Monkey Theory” term:

“That pleasurable reward reinforces the behavior, motivating the user to seek the experience again and again.”

For example:

If you say to yourself, Friday I am going to stay at home and take it easy, but your mind keeps reliving all the fun times you were out on Friday drinking and partying, oftentimes your body will want to sync with the fantasy of the past, making you want to out and paint the town red. This creates a restlessness within you because you’re saying one thing, but you are biologically forced to do another thing.

Your body ALWAYS listens to your mind!

So here is what I have learned about temptation

Fantasies create Reality.

Fantasies Feed Temptation

Temptation is ALWAYS internal

Temptation is formless and can be both tangible and intangible

And the most important lesson I’ve learned.

What fuels our fantasies, is our state of being and,

What creates our state of being, is essentially our fantasies.

Yes, our state of being is very important.

Try feeling good and fantasize about something depressing and conversely, try thinking depressive thoughts such as “I am not good enough”, “I will never win” and monitor how you feel after thinking those thoughts. NOTE: this is not actual advice, simply a mere exercise to demonstrate my logic.

Why the need to classify Temptation as internal or external?

For those like me that was brought up with Christian mythology, the cornerstone prayer the Our Father contains two leading lines that concern temptation:

“and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Now, this raises some questions? What is evil? What’s temptation? If God is not leading us, who is?

I do not know about you, but it’s easy to assume from these lines that there is some outside force sitting there tempting us to do evil, giving us the impression that temptation is external.

When in fact, the object of temptation might be external, our fantasy or memory attached to it is internal. This places the responsibility on the person, and not on the external object/person/force.

As an adult, I have a much broader perspective on the concept of religion and spirituality and one thing I have stumbled across is those religious teachings are very much focused on placing the responsibility out there, whereas spirituality forces one to take responsibility for one’s actions. Both have their own merits, and I am not here to convince you on either one of them.

The responsibility of freedom and power lies within our own thoughts. We are the ones granting these objects of temptation the power through our thoughts and fantasies, take that away, and the object of temptation has no power.

In a sense, our job now becomes to tend to the garden of our thoughts.

As the Battlehymn of Republic puts it:

“Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;”

With the emphasis on the second line and replacing the phrase “grapes of wrath” with thoughts/fantasies, the question is posed? What grapes are growing in your vintage? Who’s responsible for the trampling?

To conclude

One needs to pay attention to one’s thoughts/fantasies, especially if those fantasies and thoughts are destructive and backed by actual neuro pathways in the brain with the potential to release dopamine. Some rely on self-help books and internet articles and some need stronger and more effective help such as therapy and the help of rehabilitation facilities.

My definition of strength is to admit your weakness and to admit to yourself that you need help and then seeking that help!

You define your goals, you define your destiny and if therapy is needed, then pursue it.

Do not be fooled by the apple or the snake in the tree, like so many of us were taught to believe, but set yourself free by taking responsibility for your thoughts and actions and learn to accept that the role you play in creating your reality is far greater than you might think.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7186308/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ie/basics/addiction/addiction-and-the-brain

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/temptation

https://www.science20.com/rogue_neuron/science_pleasure_part_ii_your_brain_sexual_imagery

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This post was previously published on Medium.

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