Chopping Wood and Carrying Water

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