Blessed Mindful Engagement

At the annual meeting of the American economists, "No one questioned their contribution to the current frightening state of affairs, no one humbled by events." - How the Entire Economics Profession Failed, by Jeff Madrick The Daily Beast, 2009-01-08. The profession can start reorienting itself with asking questions like What would be right (wholesome) view of Economy? The right view of Capital? Wealth? Profit? Currency? Growth? Fair Market? Fair Trade? Interest? Employment? Sustainable Economy? Welfare? Business ethics? Responsibility?

Also watch the PBS Forntline "The Card Game" and the unregulated effects of usury on vulnerable consumers.

Listen to the very inspiring words of Paul Hawken, Author and Inspiration behind WiserEarth
The Buddha mentions five specific kinds of livelihood which bring harm to others and are therefore to be avoided: dealing in weapons, in living beings (including raising animals for slaughter, slave trade, human trafficking and prostitution), in meat production and butchery, in poisons, and in intoxicants (AN 5:177). He further names several dishonest means of gaining wealth which fall under wrong livelihood: practicing deceit, treachery, soothsaying, trickery, and usury (MN 117). The United States expanded its role as the world’s leading weapons supplier. Last year the country signed weapons agreements valued at 68.4 percent of all business in the global arms bazaar reports New York Times


As Of December 16, 2009 U.S. Census estimates world population to be 6.8 Billion. The world military expenditure is over one thousand billion dollars. Also see Stockholm Peace Research Institute Figures. Take a pause to reflect on the significance of Now and the synchronicity at play. "To abstain from all unwholesome action, to cultivate the good, and to purify one's mind — this is the teaching of the Buddhas" (Dhammapada, v. 183).

One Woman Warned About Derivatives & Financial Meltdown

FRONTLINE has produced a remarkable documentary titled "The Warning" which documents how Lawrence Summers, Greenspan and Ruben attacked and blocked Mrs. Brooksley Born, who was in charge of the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) when she warned of the derivatives danger in the mid 90s and heroically fought to regulate them. The OTC (over the counter) Derivatives market represented a Black Box within the Wall Street, with very little information, reporting, knowledge or understanding by anyone in the Government and its Regulators. The toxic assets of Banks once considered 'too big to fail' consisted mostly of OTC derivatives.

See how Michael Moore tried to get a simple explantion of Derivatives which are complex financial Instruments or rather complicated betting schemes designed to escape regulation. The financial sector has five lobbyists behind every congressman.

Alan Greenspan, the wizard of Wall Street admitted that his worldview and ideology of 40 years about the self-correcting free market and unfettered capitalism is false. This brilliant presentation takes the problem that created the crisis back through the Greenspan, to its origin in his philosophical mentor, Ayn Rand. Watch the PBS Frontline "The Warning" here.

It remains to be seen how Obama fares with his top economic advisors Tim Geithner and Larry Summers! Are we as conscious citizens paying attention or willing to learn and grow in wisdom from our experience?

Buddha spoke about the importance of the practice of 'heedfulness' or the quality of 'appamada' that keeps both kinds of benefit secure — benefits in this life & benefits in lives to come. More on 'appamada'. Also see subtle meaning of 'pamada' and 'mada' in Pali Text society dictionary. Here's Bush's insight off the record.

A site with interesting links and perspectives on 'Physicists Play with Finance".