Tao of Sacred Currency & Sacred Commerce

I was eagerly waiting for sometime for this book "Sacred Commerce" since reading about it at Urth.TV a year ago. Now it is out!

Sacred Commerce reverses the common assumption that business and spirituality are mutually opposed, and instead looks at business as a path of destiny. Your professional and business activities need not be divorced from your “regular” or “family” life. The notion of capitalism infused with the sacred expands the notion of profit with the concept and the reality of the fourth bottom line. Sacred Commerce advances the idea that commerce can be a vehicle to raise consciousness as well as a path towards Self-realization

"The priests of ancient Egypt had vocations and roles above and beyond what we are accustomed to in our time. Some Egyptian priests never left the temple; they served by staying in perpetual dialogue with the universal current of life. Other priests were scribes, healers, teachers, mediators, and celebrants. Still others were known as Merchant Priests. Certain members of the priesthood took up Sacred Commerce as a mission to serve humanity.

The Merchant Priests traveled specific energy pathways that were known to them because of their high vibration. These energy pathways, or ley lines, became the trade routes that led from one temple to the next, allowing precious goods to be exchanged between regions. Turquoise, for example, would be exchanged for herbs or incense and fine fabrics would be exchanged for hand-woven baskets. Items of exchange were primarily those high vibration prized objects and elements that raised people’s consciousness, and whose presence made you feel more elated, either by their beauty or by their intrinsic resonance/vibration, like the healing vibration of precious essential oils from flowers.

Merchant Priests knew that a healthy society must have a solid foundation. Principles of flow, balance, and abundance were understood as essential, and commerce was a key means to that end." - Quoted from Free chapter, Sacred Commerce, Rise of Global Citizen by Ayman Swaf and R. Gabrielle

I believe the notion sacred currency also existed in many parts of the World including native cultures since Ancient times. Since currency or money is basically a human innovation or communication tool (as I see and define money in www tools for education) designed to overcome the limitation of direct exchange or barter. Money was not a usury bearing debt or IOU originally, but a product of sacred trust and collective agreement to use something as a universal medium of exchange. Currency itself was designed to function not only as a pure medium of exchange (with a measure of value), but also as a medium of circulation that allows goods and services to pass freely between developers and users. Human relationships, human labor and all creative gifts of human labor were considered sacred.

Usury, also called unearned income or the practice of making money out of money via exhorbitant compound interest was a corruption that happened with loss of sacred trust between heaven and earth within human psyche as some priests and religious and royal heads fell under the spell of three mind poisons of untamed greed, hatred and delusion. Misperception of money (as a commodity comes from goldsmith warehouse receipts and adopted by fractional reserve based colonnial industrial Bank of England in 1600. Modern banking, finance and usury seem to have first appeared and perfected in Sumeria, as evidenced by archaeological findings in the city of Uruk . Usury has been a source of concern historically, since the code of Hamurabi. Usury (in the original sense of any interest) was denounced by a number of spiritual leaders and philosophers of ancient times, including Plato, Aristotle, Cato, Cicero, Seneca, Plutarch, Aquinas, Muhammad, Moses, Philo and Gautama Buddha. (wikipedia)

Also you can download the colorful issue on complementary currency here
at DGCmagazine April Issue

Is Our Financial House in Order?

Some Scary Economic News

The Fall of 5th largest Investment Bank Bear Stearns and White Men Playing Bridge, a quickie time line by Daily Intel

Why aren't million of homeowners in jeopardy of losing their homes being bailed out by the Goverment? See the PBS analysis of the Domino Effect.

CNBC Jim Rogers: 'Abolish the Fed' Posted March 12th, 2008 by _lupester_

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke should resign and the Fed should be abolished as a way to boost the falling dollar and speed up the recovery of the U.S. economy, investor Jim Rogers, CEO of Rogers Holdings, told CNBC Europe Wednesday. Roger says bailing out of failed Investment banks by FED is not capitalism, it is socialism for the Rich and EU, China, Australia doing better job with inflation than US FED. See Youtube interview

US financial system overhaul plan gives more power to FED,

Dow rose in today's April Fool's Day rally, Wal Mart stock was up 2.3% - $1.40 per share, or $5.6 billion. Meanwhile, GM, Ford & Toyota all announced that their US car sales dropped by double digit

Banking Industry for the first time in 44 years faces revenue shortfall and 200,000 job loss

SHOULD THE US NATIONALIZE ITS OWN CURRENCY?

A debt-free usury-free national currency would restore true democracy and signal the end of centralized privatized fractional reserve banking, transform banking and finance globally and end suicidal imperialism of a few wealthy nations over many. don't sweat over Fed, Laugh!

Monetary Literacy, Education and Innovations

This is the most important subject conscious citizens, grassroot activists, socially responsible businesses and engaged spiritual groups need to focus on. How can we use our dhamma eye to create a debt-free money (abanya mula) and society (samiti)? See my latest post here.

I am happy to say that by some chance meetings or conspiracy of the Universe. I've been asked to be the first speaker in the newly formed Central KY Healing Arts Association

Topic: Deep Conscious Capitalism: Transforming the system mindfully

Venue: Tates Creek Public Library
Date: March 4, 2008 6-8 PM Actual talk will be 35 minutes followed by 15 minutes discussion.
Source Link

Also see other upcoming conferences on new money and economy here. March 4th talk would be my Third Talk.

Watch this educational Story of Stuff - the mindless chain of production to consumption, waste of resources, land, people and communities, externalization (hiding) of true cost by Annie Leonard

What is Deep Conscious Capitalism?

"Mindfulness must be engaged. Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise what is the use of seeing.? " - Thich Naht Hahn, Peace is Every Step

Buddha said, since all things are created in mind, all things can be changed in the mind. Maybe there is a way to deconstruct this modern mythical dragon of capitalism, once we are no longer afraid to look at it closely. Maybe we can all be part of a multipurpose solution rather than part of an ever growing boomeritis of poverty, war, injustice, pollution, institutional and social-mental dysfunctions of all kinds.

Here is a great blog on Social Entrepreneurism and Conscious Capitalism .

I have coined the term ‘deep conscious capitalism’ to distinguish it from ‘conscious capitalism’. The latter is about taking individual responsibility in making conscious choices about what to buy, whom to buy from, where to invest, how best to conserve energy, cut consumption, recycle waste, donate money, volunteer and take care of our health and our personal habitat. Deep conscious capitalism is about taking collective responsibility and engaging collective mind to look deep within our collective unconscious, mental perception and conditionings to find a shared solution to a universal problem. It is time for us to collectively tune into our hearts, listen to our inner knowing, guidance, and wisdom to examine our dominant modes of perception based on duality, reductionism, linearity, and solidified concepts that are not grounded in real life. As Dalai Lama said recently, “To meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for his or her own self, family or nation, but also for the benefit of all mankind. Universal responsibility is the real key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources and, through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment." Also see Gandhi & Buddhist Economics

Good News from DAVOS: Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates called for a new form of "creative capitalism" and pledged $306 million in grants to develop farming in poor countries, leading the charge for corporate responsibility at a major meeting of business chiefs. "If we are serious about ending extreme hunger and poverty around the world, we must be serious about transforming agriculture for small farmers, most of whom are women," Gates said. [Source: CNN].

I was inspired to email to Bill Gates in late 1998-99 that his surplus wealth has the potential to bring enormous well-being if directed towards empowering social entrepreneurs, and grassroot efforts by small groups and individual innovators, women and minorities across the globe. And that investment in 'building lives', 'basic infrastucture', local self-sufficiency, local skills, healthy community relations must accompany his emphasis on 'saving lives' in order to be effective in the long-run. A change of heart and expansion of consciousness is the best way to correct poor-rich imbalances. Great power always come with great responsibility. If that responsibility is not met, civilizations perish. Here's a Combat-Free Lessons from a Wombat!

Is Conscious Business enough, how "conscious" is conscious? Is it sufficient, superficial or authentic? See comment here.

Is Our Economic Model Working Without Harm?

Many American's are unaware today that our prosperity here is built upon empire, suffering and servitude of millions in the developing world. We have less than 5% of world's population, yet consume more than 25% of the world's resources and generate 30% of world's pollution and waste. Surely with our American ingenuity, enterprise and goodwill we can do better.

"Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. They funnel money from the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other foreign "aid" organizations into the coffers of huge corporations and the pockets of a few wealthy families who control the planet's natural resources. Their tools included fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder. They play a game as old as empire, but one that has taken on new and terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization. ...Although unconscious, deceived, and—in many cases—self-deluded, these players were not members of any clandestine conspiracy; rather, they were the product of a system that promotes the most subtle and effective form of imperialism the world has ever witnessed." - John Perkins

Here is a brief view from the insider about how our economic financial empire is actually built without the knowledge of citizens. For a longer version listen to John Perkins, author of Confessions of An Economic Hitman . The EHMs and Jackals works in subtle ways behind the scene and recruited privately while young via three personal weaknesses of power, sex and money, but paid and promoted with bonus by the US Goverment Agencies to saddle third world countries with long-term debt, predatory contracts and sweatshops.

Monsanto "patents" their DNA-altered seeds as "intellectual property." They have a $10 million budget and a staff of 75 devoted solely to prosecuting farmers. Since the late 1990s (about when industrial agriculture took hold in India),166,000. Indian farmers have committed suicide and 8 million have left the land. See Monsanto in India

"Never Been Wrong" Funds Manager Julian Robertson Predicts Utter Global Collapse Stemming From Bursting of Property Bubble. But not just economic collapse … collapse of epic proportions. Collapse and disintegration of all infrastructure, including government. Inflation will run into the double and triple digits. “Food production will fall. People will be carrying around U.S .dollars in wheelbarrows like Germany,” [source]

How can we change this model? What are the systemic problems in our economic system? Are we willing to devote our attention energy and intention to study, understand, imagine, play and create a new economy, culture and belief system for not only ourselves, but all children and all life interconnected into a dynamic seamless whole?

The Tantra of Money and Mindfulness

"I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for his or her own self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind. Universal responsibility is the real key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources and, through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment." - Dalai Lama

Like to weave a few threads from discussions at different palces (mostly Zaadz) for my readers here. The word 'currency' captures the alive quality and function of flow, circulation and exchange better than the word money. (see word origin of some common economic terms).

• To be mindfully engaged we need to use our attention as currency
• No money for peace, unlimited supply for war

Ho did we come to this moment of great crisis/opportunity in the history of humankind now?

Links: Mindfulness and Tantra

Who is your farmer, who is your banker, where is your money?

Here's the US Banking Tapeworm for your inspection, courtesy of Solari.com

Why as conscious engaged citizens we need to go local with Banking?

Also see this you-tube video on Small-Mart Revolution and my comment underneath.

Create Land Stewardship Project and Community Farm Alliance in your community with the help of student volunteers from local high school and colleges.

US House Mortgage Foreclosures up 90% in May, 2007. California, Nevadah, Florida remains hardest hit Nov. 29, 2007 msn.com

Beyond the apparent official reason of irresponsible lending, could there be other systemic design problem behind such man-made calamities?

Is there another kind of Banking that empowers and restores dignity of women and faith in humanity...

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead, anthropologist