"Infected by Light" Chapter 17 | The Happiness Merchants

The fact that there are those who sell happiness is, in itself, proof of unhappiness.

2025.9.28

It seems that I
must become happy.

That is what society says.

Television, the streets, and smartphones,
all of them, in unison, urge happiness upon me.

"You are wonderful just as you are,"
they say, while
"however, if you have this, you will be even better,"
they always add.

I see.

I am complete, but
it seems I am also incomplete.

A truly clever logic.

The spiritual people
are smiling again today.

In strangely calm voices,
"vibrations,"
"the universe,"
"awakening,"
they whisper.

I tilt my head.

Are these people
really talking to the universe?

Or are they
simply talking to customers?

But it doesn't matter which.

They only approach
people who are anxious.

In front of those who are fulfilled,
they remain silent.

It is well-crafted.
As a business model,
it is truly correct.

Religious figures, too,
have a similar scent.

While speaking of God,
they handle cash.

While preaching salvation,
the fee structure is transparent.

I wonder.

Since when,
did God become a subscription service?

If God truly exists,
He should,
scold this commercial spirit first.

But God remains silent.

There is nothing easier to handle,
than a silent God.

Politicians,
are even more blatant.

They say.

"For the people"
"For the future"
"For hope"

And then,
they do nothing.

No, to be precise,
they work very hard at just talking.

The subjects are grand,
the responsibility is small.

The words are many,
the actions are few.

I see.

This is not politics.
It is the speech-making business.

Spirituality,
religion,
and politics,

are all doing the same job in the end.

"Happiness is just a little further ahead"
is the job of pointing that out.

They never,
place it here.

Always, a little further ahead.
Always, at an unreachable distance.

Because the moment a person is fulfilled, their turn is over.
their turn is over.
their turn is over.

They do not save.
They make you chase.

However, there is one thing here that I must confess.
I must confess.

I have almost never needed them.
I have almost never needed them.
I have almost never needed them.

I don't have many memories of feeling unhappy.
I don't have many memories of feeling unhappy.

Rather than misfortune, good fortune has continued.
good fortune has continued.

There are no great miracles, but there are no fatal collapses either.
but there are no fatal collapses either.

In other words, I was not thirsty from the beginning.
I was not thirsty from the beginning.

Perhaps that is why.

Their words sound hollow to me.
sound hollow to me.

For a person who has never wanted to be saved, the business of salvation does not work.
the business of salvation does not work.

For a person who does not want to chase, advertisements for happiness do not strike home.
advertisements for happiness do not strike home.

Indeed.
This, too, is a structure.

I am happy today as well.
I am happy today as well.

But I have no intention of proving that to anyone.
proving that to anyone.

I do not chase.
I do not pray.
I do not expect.

I simply accept it as something that has existed from the beginning.
as something that has existed from the beginning.
accept it as something that has existed from the beginning.

With just that, one can live quite quietly.
one can live quite quietly.

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