China – The Price of Progress

There has been a drastic increase in the number of extramarital affairs over a decade in China.
According to the China’s government-financed support centre that targets rising mental health problems in Shenzhen, about one-fifth of its cases are about extramarital affairs.

Kang Le Yuan psychological consultancy, one of the city“s largest organizations for marital relations, showed that about 80 percent cases handled last year were about extramarital affairs.

The dramatic increase in such affairs has sent the business of private detectives booming. A decade ago, detective Zheng Fan used to handle one or two extramarital affairs every month but now he receives at least six calls and five e-mails every day.

The number of such companies has also increased to more than 200 from less than 10 a before, reports a news daily. Zheng said that majority of the men with a “second wife” have good educational backgrounds, considerable incomes and have been living in the city for a couple of years.

Businessmen, public servants, and banking and IT workers have been topping the list. Moreover, the attitude of people towards extramarital affairs have changed.

“Men used to hide their lovers, but now their relations are open Even the security guards know who has a `second wife`,” he said. Zheng said that men with ‘second wife’ feel spiritually empty while becoming successful and rich.

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matrvat para-daresu
para-dravyesu lostravat
atmavat sarva-bhutesu
yah pasyati sa panditah

“One who considers another’s wife as his mother, another’s possessions as a lump of dirt and treats all other living beings as he would himself, is considered to be learned.”  (Chanakya-sloka 10).

Srila Prabhupada says, “Therefore in the Bhagavata they are called svajanakhya-dasyu. Dasyu means burglars. So the family members, they are legitimate burglars. Yes. If somebody takes your money from the pocket, he becomes pickpocket, criminal, but if your wife takes it away, you very become pleased. “Oh, how my wife is nice.” (laughter) So they are called svajanakhya-dasyu. It is taken as love. “How much my wife loves that she is taking all my money from pocket.”
(Lecture, The Nectar of Devotion, Vrndavana, October 21, 1972)

“Now they are, now the modern advancement is to be naked. So these people are going to be trees. You know Yamalarjuna. You have seen the picture. They were dancing and they were taking bath naked, and they were not ashamed when Narada Muni was passing. So he cursed them that “You are so fool, you have lost your sense. All right, next life you become a tree, immediately.” So these senseless, shameless persons who are advancing in their knowledge by becoming naked, they are going to be tree next life. The naked tree is standing naked for many thousands of years. Or animals. They have no shame. So if human being becomes so shameless, then next life is to become animal and trees.”
~Srila Prabhupada (Lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam, Los Angeles, June 8, 1972)