Do you need to abstain from pleasurable activities like sex or food in order to reach enlightenment?

No, you do not need to abstain from pleasurable activities like sex or food to reach enlightenment. We explicitly state that the idea that renunciation is necessary for “spiritual evolution” is nonsense.

Forcing yourself to give up things like sex, delicious food, video games, or entertainment does not bring you closer to realization. When you use effort to abstain from pleasurable things, you are merely pretending that you do not want them, while deep down you still do.

Furthermore, this forced abstinence is a trap that creates a new, unhealthy attachment. By trying to prove that you are not attached to sensory pleasures, you become deeply attached to the idea of “non-attachment”. The only real reason to forcefully give up pleasurable activities is to boost your own ego, allowing you to tell yourself that you are more “spiritual” or “holy” than other people. In doing so, you lose real, enjoyable experiences just to acquire a fake “spiritual” identity.