A man died at old age and arrived at the pearly gates, and told St. Peter that he had a hard life filled with pain and sorrow, irritation, upset, and anger, had many horrific experiences, lost children, been injured in war, lost the love of his life, lived under a bridge, homeless, hungry, destitute, no friends, no security, never accomplished anything significant, done terrible things, been diseased, disabled, and had been extremely emotional, and hated life, and really hated his life.
St. Peter, having empathy, said, “I can see you have experienced a horrific life, a monstrous life, pure hell on earth, a disgusting life, a totally pain-filled life where you experienced every human emotion, from exhilarating highs to depressing lows, love and hate, pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow. As a result of your extreme experiences, you are more knowledgeable, have more understanding, and are wiser than the previous millions who have passed through these pearly gates.”
“Yes, said the man, “and to what purpose?”
St. Peter said, “Come with me. Let me show you something.” The man followed St. Peter to a meadow filled with happy people.
St. Peter said, “Go ask one of them if he is enjoying his life?”
The man walked up to a man and asked, “Are you enjoying your life?”
The man smiled, and said, “What does ‘enjoying’ mean?”
The man returned to St. Peter, and said, “He didn’t know what ‘enjoying; means.”
St. Peter said, “These folks haven’t been to Earth. They are having a marvelous life. Everything they need is provided. They have no worries, no fears, no regrets, no pain, and NO appreciation, because they have no knowledge, understanding, and no wisdom. They are like a young child. They know nothing, and have no appreciation.”

The man said, “OK. I have knowledge, know things, so what now?”
“Do you not appreciate having knowledge, understanding and wisdom?” asked St. Peter.
“I’m not sure.” Said the man. “I still don’t get the point.”
“You have felt peace, happiness, joy, bliss, ecstasy. You know what those feeling like. Did you enjoy those feelings?”
“Yes. I did enjoy those feelings.”
“Your ability to have and enjoy those feelings are the result of feeling their opposites. Your experiences on earth provided you with the ability to feel bliss. The folks over there don’t know they are happy. You see, ignorance never was happiness.”
“You mean this whole hellish earth experience was just so I could know I was happy, so I could discern when I was happy or sad?” Asked the man.
“That’s the beginning. That’s what you have to go through to have more experiences,” said St. Peter.
“More hell experiences?” asked the man.
“Look,” said St. Peter. “You now have some knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Walk through the pearly gates and enjoy the feeling of getting everything you need and want. You won’t experience fear, distress, anxiety, no worries, no suffering, no pains and aches, no sorrows, no loss, you’ll be perfectly comfortable, perfectly at peace.”
“Sounds good,” said the man, as he walked towards the pearly gates.
“Just remember one thing,” said St. Peter, the law of diminishing returns.
The man stopped right at the gates. “Say what?”
“The law of diminishing returns,” said St. Peter. “You know it. You experienced it on earth. You only enjoy lobster, sex, sleeping, lounging around, and playing Chess, poker, or Monopoly for awhile, and after too long, you get bored and tired of them, need a break, sometimes a long break, and then you go back to them and it’s fun again.”
“You’re saying I’ll get bored of heaven?” Asked the man.
“Yes.”
“Great,” said the man. “Before I went to earth I had everything I needed but didn’t know I was happy, and now after going to earth I get to go into heaven but will only enjoy it until I get bored because of the law of diminishing returns.
“Yup!” Said St. Peter.
“Now I’m wondering if I wasn’t better of being ignorant, not knowing I was happy and content. Sounds like the whole purpose of a human life is to know whether one feels happy or not,” said the man.
“Not being ignorant, having some knowledge, understanding, and wisdom allows you to have new experiences, greater experiences, bigger adventures, for those times when heaven becomes boring,” said St. Peter.
“So you build a human, he’s innocent, doesn’t know he’s happy, isn’t sad, send him to earth, learns he can feel happy and sad, dies, goes to heaven, gets bored, has new experiences, comes back to heaven for a break, gets bored, goes out again, and that’s LIFE, over and over again?”
“True,” said St. Peter, “Not one person has chosen to stay in heaven continually. They all eventually leave to have more adventures, thrills and chills.”
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A JOYFUL MIND IS HAPPY JUST BEING ALIVE HAVING EXPERIENCES; has no way life must go; receives all things with thankfulness; does its best with whatever appears in front of it for the joy of doing its best; has no needs, wants, desires that must be met; DOES NOT USE PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS TO FEEL PLEASANT; IS THRILLED JUST BEING ALIVE HAVING EXPERIENCES.