When asked what surprised him most about humans, the Dalai Lama, the supreme leader of Tibetan Buddhism, answered:
"Humans sacrifice their health to make money. Then they use that money to become healthy..."
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This famous quote, which was like a back-and-forth argument, made me think a lot.
It is said that in primitive times, the amount of calories consumed by humans was about 2,000 kcal per person per day. In modern times, it seems to be more than 240,000 kcal per person per day. I think we have certainly become richer thanks to industry, agriculture, commerce, transportation, etc.
On the other hand, I wonder if we are 120 times happier than in the atomic age. Can we wear 120 times better clothes, eat 120 times better food, and get 120 times better quality sleep? I think numbers are a really rough measure.
