The ideal or what is relished Sreya or Preya  

All     Glories to HDG Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Goswami Maharaj

All Glories  to HDG Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupada

The article or action that can bring about great benefit is termed as 'sreya' and what usually brings about some temporary passing enjoyment is the meaning of 'preya' .Actually according to the character of a person and and his beliefs these can take variety of forms according to the individual concerned. It is for this reason that intellectuals from the western regions may have completely different ideals from those of the east. Strangely  enough, people like Epicuras, Mil and Charavaka mistook the actual context of these words  instead labelling all that is to be enjoyed  as the highest ideal. Those believers in the void  claim that the highest is nothing but the void or nirvanna. Similarly ,the worshippers of the non dual Brahman  likewise state that knowledge of that Brahman  as the best state because of  being non differential in every possible way. The devotees of the Lord desire the  unalloyed service of the Lord and for them there is nothing greater. The Gaudiya devotees whose worshipable deity is Gauranga Mahaprabhu glorify the congregational chanting of the Holy Name as the highest process in this Age. The 'param' word is to denote that other unnecessary desires ,fruitive work and knowledge relating to impersonalism are not the method of practise rather the chanting of the holy name of Krishna is the best method and the highest ideal. In the Chaitanya Charitramrta, Ray Ramananda has given the highest ideal as the association of holy devotees of the Lord meaning the association of saintly personalities or the association of devotees. This is clarified in the Bhagavatam : tulyam api lavenapi na svargam na punar bhavam,bhagavat sangi sangasya  matyanam kim utasishah meaning  even in the fraction of time one is able to obtain the association of the great devotees, the amount of unlimited gain obtained by their association is no way comparable to destinations  as  residing in heavenly planets by pious works ,liberation through knowledge or vying for temporary positions as  being  king in the material world. In the Katha Upanishad there is discussion on these concepts relating to the story of Naciketa whose father was Uddhalal. Once his father being angry sent him to the planet of Yamaraja. So Nachiketa went to the planet of Yamaraja and stayed there for three days fasting without eating while waiting for the audience of Yamaraja. Finally Yamaraj returned and seeing the effulgence and power of his guest conducted the appropriate rituals with consenting to give three boons to Nachiketa. Nachiketa desired to know the actual identity  of the  soul of the living entity. Yamaraj on the other hand acting as if  reluctant to answer instead was ready to give him all opulence in the form of long living sons, grandsons, many animals,  gold ,kingdom ,wives, heavenly consorts ,the ability to die when one wished and all what people usually desired. But Nachiketa was adamant as he kept on repeating his question.

sreyascha preyascha manusyametastau samparitya vivinakti dhirah sreyah hi dhiroabhipreyaso vrnite prero mando yogkshesmad vrnite 

Here it means both what is relishable preya with   the ideal sreya are both available choices for the human being. The intelligent human being in consideration of both of these should opt to choose what is best for him as ideal for his future well being. In reverse, the foolish person would opt for what is pleasing to his body and for fruits that are meagre and temporary. Nevertheless ,both these can equally serve to be factors that bind the human being in attachment. We have discussed temporary enjoyment as preya and for the upliftment of one's soul  in spiritual advancement as sreya .Yet if the sights are not set on the highest ideal then anything less than that will ultimately bind the individual. It goes without saying that the highest ideal is loving devotion to the Lord with the  rejection of all other forms of cheating processes. As the verse of the Bhagavatam :surlabham idam bahu sambhavante manusya artahm idam anitya apihah dhirah

The living entity after many countless births finally after great fortune inevitably manages to obtain this  very rare human birth which can be utilized to obtain our highest ideal .However this is not permanent but very temporary as the newly formed drop of water, flickering and for some time only. Death is ever awaiting to pounce on the living entity from behind. Therefore those who are intelligent will not dally anymore but choose the highest path available to him instead of searching for the temporary fruits available in what is relishable for this body. The reason is that even material enjoyment can be obtained in the animal bodies as dogs and pigs and  except for the precious human body there is no other way to achieve the highest goal. Yamaraj then informed Nachiketa that those who desired their highest welfare are very limited in number as  demonstrated in the verse;

sravanapi bahubhyah na labhya ,srnavato bahavo yam na vidyah , ascaryo vakta kusalanyalabdhah ascaryo jnata kusalanusistha  meaning : The majority of the people are not interested in hearing about the science of the soul. Further many even after hearing  for some time do not come to the proper standard of surrender nor any  favorable mood to perform service to the Lord. The qualified person to speak on 'atmatatva' is rare so too in that respect, a surrendered disciple .In short ,only the surrendered disciple can be able to attain the highest perfection. In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Geeta ,we can perceive  how Arjuna in order to instruct the masses have shown how  the  conditioned soul bound by his mind have presented different types of shallow ideals  intended for his  highest welfare because of  being completely mislead. Even Arjuna pleaded with his guru SriKrishna then he would rather prefer to  remain as a beggar begging alms as the higher caste, brahmanas maintain their life rather then engage in that battle as a warrior thinking that to be the highest . Later when he understood that his decision was not befitting as to obtain any peace of mind  in the least, he surrendered to the Lord  ,accepting His command  to fight in the ensuing battle saying ,O Lord !For a long time, I in the mood of your friend have always been influenced by my mind as to  deciding what is best for me ,thereby becoming   befuddled by the effects of works. I am now your surrendered disciple ,please instruct me on how I may attain my highest welfare.!

Actually ,to pretend to ensure to come to that platform in determining our highest welfare with the aid of mundane knowledge and  simply dependent on our own efforts in totality will be in vain. What will be that outcome  other then to be simply become  a sense enjoyer or attempt to merge in that concept of liberation which brings about annihilation? That is why the Bhagavat advices : tasmad guru prapdyeta jijnasur sreyam uttamam  sabde pare cha nisnatam brahmayam upasrayam .That is why the most greatest inquiring soul will approach  and take complete shelter of a self realized guru who has controlled his urges, having mastery  in the revealed scriptures ,with being completely engaged cent per cent in the service of the Supreme Lord. Only such a genuine guru can assure  the highest welfare of a disciple which is not possible for one who is not on his level. Others in the garb of a guru will only give impetus for facilitating the demands of the mind and body in being able to obtain senses enjoyment or the non dual knowledge liberation. Therefore one who desires his ultimate welfare should approach a guru with all the three high qualities as described above.