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