Happiness And Suffering

Happiness multiplies when shared. We have heard so many versions of this quote. There is a similar sentiment that sorrows end on sharing. Or that sorrows get less. Or something like this. However, on looking closely we find that happiness and sorrows are totally, totally unrelated to sharing. In fact, most of the pain and suffering in this world is hidden from us. Most of our happiness in a so called connected world comes from materialistic things. The procurement and manufacturing of most of these materialistic things is the source of a lot of suffering. Mining, agriculture, horticulture, fishing/fisheries, shipping, manufacturing, and even in some cases the domestic help we use are full of suffering. This suffering usually manifests in the form of low pay, low time for leisure or even sleep, and in most cases even the choice to quit work is not there. Dignity, education, healthcare - these are not even afterthoughts. Thinking about these things becomes a burden after a while. Realising that the food we eat has led someone to forego education, that the jewellry we wear has led people being displaced, that the laptop I am writing my stupid thoughts was most likely at some point in the hands of multiple Chinese workers in an assembly line can not be easily ignored. The scary part is that in a couple of minutes I am going to watch some football, have something to eat and then completely get off this train of thought.