Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 05, Text 21
When we enjoy materially, we often fail to notice that others have to pay for our enjoyment.
Here are a few examples:
1. When one team wins a sports championship, other teams are automatically deprived of that championship.
2. When we get or take a large helping of a delicacy, others have to settle for less of it.
3. When one person gets a particular attractive spouse, others don’t.
Those deprived not only miss the pleasure, but also incur the psychological cost of frustration. Additionally, several material pleasures cause the innocent to pay costs other than psychological. Let’s look at a few such examples:
1. When people smoke in public places, others have to inhale the toxic smoke and consequently pay in terms of spoiled health.
2. When car-drivers ride through crowded streets, those working, selling or living by the roadsides have to breathe the cars’ toxic excrement and consequently pay medical and physiological costs.
