| Humanity takes itself much too seriously and | | | | the TV because we are too tired to interact |
| every experience does not have to be a life | | | | with others. The virus has a strong hold and |
| and death situation. Before the industrial | | | | the middle class has shrunk to almost |
| revolution came along, humanity was involved | | | | non-existence. The middle class was duped |
| with living. Half the world's population | | | | into believing it was not happy and happiness |
| produced all the food that would supply the | | | | could be found in consumerism. Humanity |
| other half. Rural residents produced their | | | | now finds itself searching for what it |
| own food and in doing so they maintained | | | | already had-happiness. It has tricked itself |
| their connection with the earth. When I | | | | into believing things will bring it |
| was growing up, we always had a garden. | | | | happiness. "I will be happy when I get my new |
| Everyone had fruits trees of some kind | | | | car." "I will be happy when I purchase my |
| growing in their yards. Listening to the | | | | new 72" plasma TV." "I will be happy once I |
| radio or watching television was something | | | | move into my new home." But people are |
| you did after supper when all the chores were | | | | finding out happiness doesn't always come |
| done-it was kind of a reward for work well | | | | with the new product or is very short lived. |
| done. When we went to bed at night, we | | | | We have convinced ourselves into believing |
| slept well. Our minds were at peace knowing | | | | only "things" bring happiness. All of us |
| when we go up everything would be as it was. | | | | have experienced being excited about |
| People were content and happy to do a good | | | | acquiring something new, only to find it |
| days work. The middle class families | | | | didn't live up to our expectations, was |
| demonstrated the good life. The very poor and | | | | defective, or not as advertised. Were we |
| rich were struggling to maintain what they | | | | happy? The illusion of acquiring more |
| had. They were always under stress to improve | | | | happiness outside of ourselves has not worked |
| their lot-always wanting more-always worrying | | | | and it is observable-something went wrong! |
| about keeping what they had. All classes look | | | | How were we tricked? We experienced |
| at each other with fear and envy. The rich | | | | happiness when we were not too busy looking |
| envied the middle class for their freedom-the | | | | for it. By nature, happiness is what we are |
| middle class envied the rich for what they | | | | naturally and what we do expresses our |
| had. They both envied the poor for their | | | | happiness. Happiness is a choice we make |
| perceived lack of responsibility and freedom. | | | | first and then we express it. In your mind |
| The poor wanted to be recognized and treated | | | | you must be happy and then you seek to do |
| fairly-they wanted a part of what the other | | | | things which reflect your happiness-you do |
| two groups had. Yet it was the middle class | | | | happy things. We have it all backwards, and |
| who separated the rich and poor. And it was | | | | it is why we are suffering now. We are |
| the middle class who was the most prolific in | | | | experiencing consumerism induced happiness-it |
| symbolizing how man should live. The rich | | | | is synthetic and unnatural, and it is |
| always eager to collect more introduced a | | | | designed to drain you and take all your |
| virus into society called consumerism. | | | | energy and resources. The new religion of |
| Consumerism was the next great plague that | | | | consumerism has not enlightened us. In fact |
| would kill off the middle class. As the | | | | it has taken us away from enlightenment. It |
| middle class turned their heads away from | | | | has taken us down a path of searching for |
| what they had and focused on what they could | | | | what we already are by nature, and it is the |
| have, they found themselves wanting more. | | | | reason we cannot find it. You cannot find |
| They turned away from the simple pleasures | | | | what you already are. To experience happiness |
| which were expressions of their happiness and | | | | you must be happy first and then express it |
| become addicted to the new wave of | | | | physically in what you do. Enlightenment |
| materialism that would consume them and | | | | does not bring you happiness. Searching will |
| destroy their way of life. The rich | | | | not bring you there. There is a Buddhist |
| introduced new products and services they | | | | expression; "Before enlightenment comes |
| said would free up middle class. All this | | | | chopping wood and carrying water, after |
| extra time would be spent leisurely with | | | | enlightenment comes chopping wood and |
| friends and family. However there would be a | | | | carrying water." It is all there is, and |
| hefty price for all these goods and services. | | | | somewhere in between you experience |
| This required the middle class to move from | | | | happiness. Happiness will always lead to the |
| their fields and gardens to find good paying | | | | simpler life. It does not mean we have to |
| jobs in the cities to pay for the new | | | | give up the things we desire. It simply means |
| consumerism. The quality leisure time | | | | we should not take on more than what we are |
| traditionally spent with family, friends, and | | | | able to manage while maintaining our ability |
| community was now spent working harder to pay | | | | to experience happiness. |
| for the goods and services. We are isolated | | | | |
| and cocooned ourselves. We live in front of | | | | More articles from this pro: E. |