You are always going to have those out there who talk of enduring pain as being their way to show devotion to their mistress. Mistresses giving out torture to access their own personal high.
I've always said (in the good old days) handing over the tribute was about as much pain as I could ever stand.
Its not something I could ever comment on. Never having felt the need to feel this endorphine rush that others speak of.
Its been explained to me several times by friends who are into the more painfull side of things......................just goes over my head I am afraid.
As for accessing spiritualistic portals through torture (given or self inflicted).............Until someone actually shows me God, The devil, Different parallel universes and the like. I aint believing it.