Final answer:
The intense awareness of the emptiness of luxury refers to the realization that luxury does not bring lasting happiness. This awareness is associated with the recognition that the craving for and attachment to material possessions can only lead to a temporary and superficial sense of satisfaction. It is a deep understanding that material possessions and status do not lead to true fulfillment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The intense awareness of the emptiness of luxury can be best described as a realization that luxury does not bring happiness. This understanding may occur when an individual becomes acutely aware of the impermanence of material goods and the ultimate dissatisfaction that comes from trying to fulfill one's cravings with such temporary possessions. This awareness may include elements of feeling a sense of dissatisfaction with material possessions, a belief that luxury is unnecessary, and a recognition of the superficiality of luxury, but at its core, it reflects a deep understanding that material luxury cannot provide lasting happiness or fulfillment.
The second noble truth in Buddhism teaches that the cause of suffering is the craving for things that cannot truly satisfy us. We mistakenly attach our sense of self to material possessions and status, which only leads to increased craving and separation from the true nature of existence. This misguided attachment overlooks the impermanence of both the self and material items. Understanding the impermanent nature of luxury items can provoke an experience of dukkha, a Pali word that encompasses the dissatisfaction and suffering that arise from this craving and impermanence.
Much of modern consumerism can be seen as an attempt to counteract feelings of dissatisfaction or emptiness with the temporary pleasure of buying and owning luxury items. This can sometimes provide a fleeting sense of relief, but often, the happiness derived from these acquisitions is short-lived. As John Stuart Mill suggests, it may be better to be a dissatisfied human, capable of introspection and of recognizing deeper forms of pleasure, than to be a satisfied being who solely pursues basic contentment.