Deep Conscious Capitalism > Mindful System Change; Transforming Self-Society-Economy: Buddha Way

The Millennium Koan & Playing with Wu Wei

2012-01-12T22:44:00.029-05:00

"The meditator abides independently not clinging to anything in the world." - Satipatthana, Buddha
The first inspiration for this blog in 2007 came from this riddle or Koan. May be it will occupy your Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. End Poverty by 2015 Campaign.

Contemplative Social Action-Non-Action~

Related Questions: Breaking Free @IMOW
Article Dharma Economics @Jagojjyoti
Exploring Right View @T.Wheel-BPF, p3

Can Spain and Greece learn from Iceland Revolution
Euro web of debt, Timeline, Roarmag.economy

Can we engage our collective attention, intention and wisdom to transform the Vicious cycle of debt, poverty, war, inequality to a Virtuous system of Dharma Economics which uplifts humanity above struggle for survival?
Can we begin to trust the basic goodness of people and society to seed and grow a virtuous economic system, that is wholesome in the beginning, wholesome in the middle and wholesome in the end? The entanglements of Crony Capitalism with Bill Moyer.

With Zen everything is a good thing. Without Zen even good things are bad things. ZEN Reflections

Dharma Economics: A Creative Approach to Mindful System Change

2011-12-04T00:11:00.041-05:00

We are living in the Dark Ages of Hi-Tech Low Ethics Financial Capitalism and witnessing the pain of being unethical and asleep (not recognizing the suffering, aversion and greed). Through speculative investments we’re operating our economies and societies at a scale that’s colliding with natural systems in myriad ways. For example, Enron's $65.5 billion bankruptcy in 2001 was the largest before WorldCom surpassed it in 2002 when it was worth over $100 billion, according to Business Insider. But in 2008, the $327.9 billion Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Washington Mutual and nearly $700 billion bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers would dwarf both.

Journalist Chris Hedges urges students to expose the 1% Plutocrats nourished and glorified by institutions like Harvard under the OccupyHarvard movement. "The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug." - Chris Hedges

Are We a Plutocracy? David Korten speaks on the structure of our democracy. 001% of the U.S. population owns 976 times more than the entire bottom 90% . Source: EcoLocalizer

"The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice. And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice there is little we can do to change until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds."
- Daniel Goleman, Vital Lies, Simple Truths: The psychology of self-deception

Not recognizing or connecting to suffering within self, sangha and society keeps us in delusion. Since delusion (misperception of reality) is the greatest corruptor of mind in Buddhism, according to Thich Naht Hahn: "He who makes an effort to give up wrong (unwholesome) view and takes upon himself Right View (also called Right understanding) has Right Diligence. He who by means of mindfulness gives up wrong view and dwells on taking Right view upon himself has Right Mindfulness." So these three phenomena Right View, Right Diligence and Right Mindfulness revolve around Right view. - Mahachattarisaka sutta, Heart of Buddha' s Teaching, T.N.Hahn.

Some of my initial thoughts about how to approach the complex system appeared from simple questions that arose in my mind. Please address your question and comments to Dharma Economics here [ mitakyatmaildotcom ]. Thanks for sending it.

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Related Post: Breaking Free of the Old Colonial Paradigm. How can we move away from a scarcity, money, machine and thing oriented society to a self-sufficient, planet, people and life oriented society - an empathic culture of community that actively embraces diversity?
MIT Dictionary of Modern Economics, befines economics as, “the study of the way in which mankind organizes itself to tackle the basic problem of scarcity. All societies have more wants than resources (the factors of production), so that a system must be devised to allocate these resources between competing ends.”

Could Elizabeth Warren, with a Harvard ID save the Middle Class consumers from the predatory banks and financial products? The weakness of Law is that you are continually fighting an external enemy. Mindful system change must take root within our minds.

Note: For the non-Buddhist secular readers of this blog, the term 'Dharma' does not mean religion in its conventional sense. There are six attributes of Dharma that are closer to science than any speculative philosophy. Central to Gandhi's philosophy was the principle of 'swadeshi', which, in effect, means local self-sufficiency. Satish Kumar elaborates on this important concept here on Gandhi's Swadeshi. How are we to evolve as a living Republic of economic democracy?
Note: The change of wording in "Declaration of Independence" and the American Philosophy

Public Banking, Slow Money, Positive Money and The NEED Act, USA

2011-09-09T17:46:00.028-04:00

News Flash Occupy World Street is spreading...

Here in my Hometown too!

The Bank of North Dakota (BND), is America's oldest and only Public Bank founded upon a somewhat socialist vision. The bank was a cornerstone of the agenda of the Nonpartisan League (NLP), a farmers' political insurgency spawned by anger about outside control of North Dakota's credit and grain markets. Founded in 1915 by A.C. Townley, who became a Socialist Party organizer after he went broke raising flax in western North Dakota. Interestingly, the Bank gaurantees Student Loans. - [See more at Huffington Post and wikipedia]

North Dakota has had the lowest unemployment in the country (or was tied for the lowest unemployment rate in the country) every single month since July 2008. It also has the fastest job growth rate and have the distinction of being the only state to be in continuous budget surplus since the banking crisis of 2008. The state deposits its tax revenues in the Bank, which in turn ensures that a high portion of state funds are invested in the state economy. In addition, the Bank of ND is able to remit a portion of its earnings back to the state treasury (with 19% return on equity in 2010). - Source [ Ellen Brown, North Dakota's Economic Miracle, Yes Magazine]
In contrast California is the largest state economy in the nation, yet without a state-owned bank, is unable to steer hundreds of billions of dollars in state revenues into productive investment within the state. Here is a funny video on What if we had a public bank? See what's happening in your state.

We need to integrate public and local banking with local food or slow food movement and local small businesses. "During the past forty years of continued productivity improvements, we have made 30% of farmland unproductive. We lose as much soil every year as we emit carbon into the atmosphere. And then there is the issue of aquifer depletion due to intensive irrigation. Technology, scale, and concentration of capital and power appear to be driving both the productivity gains and the resiliency losses. Just like in finance."- John Fullerton, Slow Money Blog, 3/3/11, Wikipedia. Other Kinds of Alternative Banking that citizen activists need to study are Islamic Banking, Swedish interest free Banking JAK Report, Grameen Banks Comes to Queens, NY, ethical Triodos bank and Innovative Social Banking.

Armed with the groundbreaking research work of Stephen Zarlenga, founder of American Monetray Institute, Dennis Kucinich introduces Historic National Employment and Economic Defense Act to end Fractional Reserve Banking and Private Debt-based money (credit). Watch Part 3 First (pause to listen again around min 4 and 7). Important to note that Public Banking alone is not enough. It does not address the root of the problem, namely the Fractional Reserve System, but the NEED Act does. For example, in the United Kingdom, 75% of lending goes directly into fueling asset price bubbles such as housing, while only 25% is channeled to business and the productive sector. The banking sector is failing to fulfill its supposed role in a capitalist economy. [Source: Positive Money, UK]

America have had a long history of Public Banking starting before the American Revolution. From the perspective of money and banking American History looks very different, see youtube on the Real Tea Party. View articles on New Economy and how it is unfolding in YES magazine! Free Speech TV

In Buddhist philosophy, wholesome, mindful and skillful View without bias plays a key role in entering and walking the path of awakening and freedom for both the individual and society as a whole. Venerable Sariputta described, "A Nobel Disciple is one of right view, whose view is straight, who has perfect confidence in the Dhamma, and has arrived at this true Dhamma." My wiki take on Dharma is to cultivate the knowledge and practice of living principles that upholds the fabric of reality, natural phenomena and personality-gestalts of human beings in dynamic interdependence and harmony.

Globalization Forces Indian Farmers to Commit Suicides Daily!

2011-05-16T13:11:00.060-04:00

Smita Narula of NYU speaks to Democracy Now

about this distress call from the from the invisible bottom of our economic food pyramid.

"It is estimated that more than a quarter of a million Indian farmers have committed suicide in the last 16 years—the largest wave of recorded suicides in human history. A great number of those affected are cash crop farmers, and cotton farmers in particular. In 2009 alone, the most recent year for which official figures are available, 17,638 farmers committed suicide—that’s one farmer every 30 minutes. While striking on their own, these figures considerably underestimate the actual number of farmer suicides taking place. Women, for example, are often excluded from farmer suicide statistics because most do not have title to land—a common prerequisite for being recognized as a farmer in official statistics and programs." - Souce Document 50 pg. NYU Law School
See role of Monsanto in Indian Farmer suicide. Also their products, including Roundup, Agent orange, Nutrasweet and GMO (genetically modified foods). see the Documentary.
Prince Charles of UK has opened Bhumi Vardhaan Foundation to address farmer suicide.

Interestingly Tom Paine, one of the founding fathers of the United Sates wrote in Agrarian Justice (1776): "Men did not make the earth... It is the value of the improvements only, and not the earth itself, that is individual property... every proprietor owes to the community a ground rent for the land which he holds." He also introduced the concept of gauranteed minimum income from land (payment by all land holders to non-land holders). Paul Newman said, "I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer who puts back into the soil what he takes out."

Buddhist economics encourage sharing of gifts from the heart. The practice of daily alms giving by lay community to monks and nuns and the vinaya rules of modesty and virtue were given to develop and preserve the sanctity or sacred nature of a good virtuous society living in reciprocity, as well as, harmony with nature and all sentient beings. Buddha said: "Monks, householders are very helpful to you, as they provide you with the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicine. And you, monks, are very helpful to householders, as you teach them the Dhamma admirable in the beginning, admirable in the middle, and admirable in the end, as you expound the holy life both in its particulars and in its essence, entirely complete, surpassingly pure. In this way the holy life is lived in mutual dependence, for the purpose of crossing over the flood, for making a right end to suffering and stress. — Iti 107 Source Link
Can we co-create a dhamma economy that is wholesome in the begining, wholesome in the middle and wholesome in the end?

Also see 18,000 Children die of hunger each day, says UN. [Source] Could Basic Income Grant be a way out of the sick society? see Indymedia article by Harald Kother.

Universal Basic Income, Human Security & Real Economy of Peace

2011-04-07T19:09:00.012-04:00

Recently I had the privilege to present my paper "Global Citizens Manifesto: Basic Income as Basic Human Right" at the 10th USBIG Conference in New York. I just sent a proposal following a spontaneous impulse and to my surprise it got accepted. As a cyber activist and someone outside academia since 1988, I had some anxiety about economists and academics. I first came across the idea of unconditional basic income grant to all citizens without means test about 10 years ago and I always felt this is what is needed to heal humanity and restore ecological balance in the planet. I presented my ideas in the context of a new debt-free and sustainable economic paradigm, based on right understanding of currency.

Archbihop Desmond Tutu sent this address to 2010 Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) Congress

Dr Martin Luther King supported Basic Income for all in 1967. [see youtube]

There are many innovative ways to fund universal basic income, from land rent, to resource rent (on oil, coal, forest, airwave) to negative tax (via Taxation System and perhaps co2 emission) and direct issue of debt-free public currency. The last one requires civil society engagement to fundamentally shift the current predatory paradigm to a compassionate one by shifting the way we perceive and generate currency.

In October 2010, $1,281 went out to every man, woman, and child in Alaska. The history shows that any state could do the same. "Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend is closer to a basic income than almost any other policy in the world today." - Karl Widerquist, Georgetown University-Quatar

The pilot projects of universal basic income grant have been largely successful in Namibia. Targeted efforts are underway in South Africa, Brazil and perhaps Canada. Surprisingly Iran is ready to introduce the World's First National Basic Income. Following the recent popular uprising in North Africa and Middle East some are seriously considering basic income to relieve poverty.

I was fortunate to have a chance meeting and warm discussion with monetary historian Stephen Zarlenga of American Monetary Institute and Alanna Hartzog of Earth Right Institute. More later..

Meanwhile watch the energizing "Economics of Happiness" documentary in this website .
Buddha taught a way to complete freedom and happiness that comes from meditative reflection and concentration. He suggested cultivating a wholesome benevolent state of mind (equanimity) that is free of attachment to views and cravings for external things, approval or incentives. Here are some questions for men who see violence and accumulation of wealth as the way to happiness by Robert Thurman, a Tibetan Buddhist Scholar. See Buddha's view on freedom, inner security and Pursuit of Happiness.

Germany and Ireland have been discussing unconditional basic income for years as an alternative to dysfunctional social welfare system. For some proposed models in Germany visit here. Work is in progress in Canada , Brazil and Europe.

Euro 2010 Sovereign Debt Crisis and the Disease of Capitalism

2010-12-24T19:08:00.015-05:00

Update: As of January 31, 2011, the total Public Debt of the United States of America was $14.13 trillion and was 96.4% of calendar year 2010's annual (GDP) of $14.7 trillion.^[1]^[2]^{[3] (wikipedia) Also see National Debt Clock}

The Vietnamese Zen Monk and founder of 'Engaged Buddhism' talks about the deep spiritual crisis in the West and the need for living from our core spiritual values in a recent interview with UK Guardian. Thay talks about capitalism as a disease that has now spread throughout the world (even in countries that are home to Buddhism), carried on the winds of globalisation driven by mindless profit, production and consumption: "We have constructed a system we cannot control. It imposes itself on us, and we become its slaves and victims." [Guardian Link]. Thousands of students at UK protest rise in fees.[youtube]. For every US $1000 Africa receives in debt it owes $2300 to the World Bank and IMF [Link]

Can any Democratic Nation or any of her Citizen remain sovereign under debt-based currency? In early 2010 many countries in European union like Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain (Known affectionately as PIIGS) and Belgium started experiencing soaring public debt resulting in a Euro 2010 crisis. On May 9, 2010 Europe's Finance Ministers approved a comprehensive rescue package worth almost a trillion dollars aimed at ensuring financial stability across Europe by creating the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).

Here is an interesting image of the Euro Web of Debt, which appeared in NY Times, May 1, 2010 edition. Painful austerity measures imposed by IMF and EU upon these countries as a condition for rescue or bailout are not working. Iceland went under severe debt crisis two years ago and it had no option but to allow the private banks to fail and let its currency devalue. Iceland's president, Olafur R. Grimsson, spoke to CNBC about how the country is handling the debt crisis [More in Wikipedia].

Here in the US, the national cohort default rate on federal student loans is 7 percent for borrowers who entered repayment in 2008, which is comparable with the default rate for credit cards (8.8 percent) and home mortgages (9.1 percent). In fact, the total amount outstanding on student loans was $875 billion ($24K per graduating senior), which actually exceeded the amount that Americans owe on their credit cards. [Source IB times, 12/28/10]

Recently I came across this little known book called "Buddhist Catechism" written in 1908 by H.S Olcott

Question 55. Why does ignorance cause suffering?

Answer. Because it makes us prize what is not worth prizing, grieve for that we should not grieve for, consider real what is not real but only illusory, and pass our lives in the pursuit of worthless objects, neglecting what is in reality most precious. Col. Henry Steel Olcott

At the end of the interview Thay warns, "Without collective awakening the catastrophe would come". After a silence he adds 'we need many Buddhas, one Buddha is not enough".

On Liberation through Right (True) Realization
Owl said, “Then where does Right Realization come in?”
Brown Bear said, “Right Views! Right Views!”
Owl said, “What are Right Views?”
Brown Bear said, “We’re in it together, and we don’t have much time.”
— from Zen Master Raven: Sayings and Doings of a Wise Bird
by Robert Aitken [From Alan Senauke's blog]

Why fractional reserve banking is unsustainable?

Breaking Free of Old, Transitioning to New Paradigm

2010-06-11T15:28:00.013-04:00

“Everything you do will be insignificant, and yet it is crucially important that you do it.” - Gandhi

There has been a string of worker suicides at Foxconn, a computer and electronic manufacturing company in China, which supplies high tech companies worldwide, and produces Mac-mini, iPod, iPad and i-phone. Steve Jobs of Apple Inc. defended Foxconn as 'pretty nice' and 'not a sweatshop.' Between the beginning of January 2008 and the end of January 2010, thirty-four France Télécom employees committed suicide, some leaving notes blaming stress and misery at work. [Wikipedia]. Sweatshops and sweatfactories are no longer limited to garment or athletic products manufacturing. How do we begin to make a transition?

Our collective liberation awaits our collective literacy of economics and new found perception of currency. This is all possible without violence or force, but through knowledge and right understanding of the nature and function of 'real' economies. The best way to engage ordinary citizens, women, students, activists, social entrepreneurs and humanitarians everywhere is to simply begin discussions on the topics that has shaped our economic-financial world. To transform the 'capital' in 'capitalism' we must begin with the present socio-economic realities and our daily living situation. The following questions could be asked at the kitchen table, in the classroom, engaged citizen groups and throughout the dhamma community for contemplation:

• What is money? Why do we need it?
• Who is collecting all the public and private debts and assets?
• What is fractional reserve banking?
• In what context did central banking originate?
• What is usury? How is it related to both ancient and modern (wage) slavery?
• Why do we have ever-growing private and public debt?
• What gives money its worth or value?
• Is sustainability possible with unsustainable currency?
• What is the difference between a real economy and a speculative economy?
• How do we generate and circulate money so that all basic human needs are met?
• Do we need different types of currencies for different economic sectors?
• Did currency exist before modern economics?
• Why do we need literacy when it comes to economics and their function in society?
• What role can women play in a more compassionate, humanitarian economy?
• What possibilities exist that we have yet to consider?

Asking profound questions is a way to generate a breakthrough, creative insights, and unforeseen possibilities. It is up to active, socially-conscious citizens to transform the system--not international banks, corporations and global institutions. The system is held both in our individual minds and our collective perceptions. When we become socially aware and engaged in making choices for the generations to come, our government and institutions are bound to change. The best part of such a transformative conversation: everyone has the opportunity to participate in shattering economic limitations and forging new pathways to a sustainable future. Read more at IMOW Economica New Visions Page here.

The whole Noble Eightfold Path laid out by Buddha is about liberation of mind (both individual and collective consciousness)through 'Samma' (i.e., correct, coherent, complete and true) understanding and release from unwholesome, unskillful mind-body habits and attachment to corrupt views, intention, speech, conduct, and livelihood. A dharma-based economic system must aspire to be good in the begining, good in the middle and good in the end, it must eschew extreme imbalances of rogue Capitalism or Communism and incorporate the best of human values, cross-cultural wisdom of ages and the urgent needs of this time.

Is our Economic System Liberating or Enslaving Us?

2010-03-23T14:13:00.034-04:00

A British Researcher compiled a survey of the Happiest Countries in the world. The criteria and methodology is not all clear but seemingly includes education, public health and longevity. Among the top 12 happiest countries most are from Europe, Canada is the only large nation to make the list and surprisingly Bhutan came 8th, followed by Brunei (monarchy). USA ranked 23rd. Some of the countries at the top also have high suicide rates, high drug and alchohol addiction and perhaps high national debt. Of course what constitutes happiness is quite intangible and very much influenced by both personal and cultural value systems. This survey have omissions and biases, yet it is a refreshing change of view from the usual national GDP or GNP statistics. [Source: Businessweek]
The Happy Planet Index, by the New Economic Foundation takes per capita ecological footprint into account and this gives a quite different view of the world.

The Buddhist approach to happiness, well-being and contentment lies in training, mastering and knowing our own mind through the practice of mindful-awareness. Many university studies have found Buddhist meditators' brains show noticeable differences than non-meditators in terms of mood, emotional balance and brain coherence. and anger. Use of antidepressant in US has doubled from 1996-2005. Professor Flanagan writes: "Antidepressants are currently the favoured method for alleviating negative emotions, but no antidepressant makes a person happy. On the other hand, Buddhist meditation and mindfulness, which were developed 2,500 years before Prozac, can lead to profound happiness."

How can we be prospering in any real sense while remaining trapped by the chains of mounting debt? Visualeconomics site shows the national debt as percentage of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) for different countries. The Debt Clock mirrors what is called 'monkey mind' in Buddhism. PBS Frontline inquires into the problem of looming debt-crisis overshadowing the current financial mess. Even before this mess our Government was borrowing money from foreigners to fund essential programs. At the end of FY2009 Gross US debt was 83.4% of GDP (50% of it was public debt and 30.4% intra-govermental loans).

Total U.S. consumer debt stands at $2.46 trillion, as of January 2010 and average student debt is rising. FDIC Current list of Failed Banks.

Other interesting news below the radar: There is a recent private summit of Central Bankers in Sydney. Police chiefs across USA are resigning or being replaced [Link]

Blessed Mindful Engagement

2009-11-23T22:22:00.028-05:00

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

2009-11-17T00:25:00.020-05:00

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".

The Vision & View of Native American Elders

2009-10-20T22:57:00.011-04:00

Listen to his comment on leadership and responsibilty and his advice to a CEO. I am enjoying browsing the autographed book 'Blessed Unrest' by Paul Hawken that I received recently from wiserearth facebook passion challenge. When we kill, injure or harm another person we are impacting the entire community around that person.

"There is vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique...You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open...no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than others." - Martha Graham to Agnes de Mille, Dance to the Piper

Dhamma is the path of truth (self realization through mindful-awareness), freedom (from ill will, greed and delusion) and non-violence (of body-mind-speech) that is aligned with the universal cosmic principle of life. Can we collectively co-create a mindful system that is aligned with dhamma? As intelligent humans, we are not just interested in survival. We are interested in meaningful survival. When we lose meaning, we lose the will to live.

"Believe me when I tell you, after 60 years of personal experience, that the only real misfortune is to abandon the path of truth....Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time. I must, therefore, continue to bear testimony to Truth even if I am forsaken by all. Mine may today be a voice in the wilderness, but it will be heard when all other voices are silenced, if it is the voice of Truth." - Gandhi on Truth

Who are responsible? What can we learn?

2009-10-07T00:08:00.019-04:00

The Time Magazine identifies top 25 leaders and their policy decisions leading to the current economic collapse. The top 25 to blame includes leaders of both parties, a wide variety of institutions, and not just white men. And consumers (all of us) also figure at the top of the list.

The following Bill Moyer interview with William K. Black, a senior former bank regulator about the systemic fraud rampant in our financial institutions is worth watching. How do the banksters, CEOs, rating agencies do it - make bad loans (called Ninja loans, liar loans, toxic assets in inside jargons) and get away with it? Bernie Madoff is only a piper compared to the ponzi scheme of major banks that is systemic. The bailout covers up the real situation from the public and violates existing law of receivership (nationalization) of failed banks.

I learned a new thing or two from watching 'Capitalism: A Love Story" the other day. Corporations are busy buying and profiting from big life insurance known as "Dead Peasant Policy" on their workers. Women and young workers are worth more when they die and the worker's family don't get to see a penny of the tax-free windfall corporations receive. This is all done without the knowledge of the employee. When are we going to stand up or sit down and take ownership of our own life, our own mind, our thoughts, prejudices, perception, speech, livelihood, action or non-actions?

See the result of a recent factory sit-in by laid off workers in Chicago. Visteon Auto workers in London and Belfast, UK occupies several plants over a month before ending sit-in. What is the most ethical action we might take as citizens?

We are the world, We make the choice, Lets Start Giving

2009-08-24T16:58:00.014-04:00

Life is for~giving.. Just Listen from your heart...

"Give and it shall be given to you..in good measure, well pressed and overflowing. In whatever measure its given, will be given back to you." - Jesus

Buddha nature and Christ consciousness is our deepest nature (spectrum of consciousness). If all human beings are made in the image of 'god', how are we imaging the divine in the mirror of our own mind? Do we have a choice? What is the way out of our personal and collective obsessive compulsive mental habits, unconscious attitudes and reactive behavior that leads to agression, separation and mindless cycle of accumulation, production, consumption, destruction, stress and insanity? Does the external social, ecological, and environmental situation mirror the state of our collective mind and mental pollution?

Mindfulness is the ariya (noble or ideal) way of life, the brahma (sublime) way of life, the Tathagatha's (an epithet for the Buddha) way of life. All reductionist and partisan views and concepts leads to wrong views, error in perception, wrong thinking, unwholesome view of life and world, unsound state of mind, unskillful speech, and harmful actions. Application of correct mindfulness sharpens the power of observation, assists in right thinking, correct understanding, non-dual knowledge, inner peace, joy and freedom. An untrained uncultivated mind is easily overwhelmed by greed, ill will, ignorance, conceit, envy, jealousy, worry, restlessness, and skeptical doubt. These are the driving forces behind all conflicts, sickness and suffering we are witnessing in the world today.

Buddha said, "By protecting self one protects other; by protecting others one protects self". The greatest protection we can give ourselves is by protecting our mind from greed, hatred and ignorance.

"Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own thoughts, unguarded. But once mastered, no one can help you as much, not even your father or your mother." - Dhammapada

Baudda said, avijja (ignorance and obscured awareness) is the root of all dukkha. Greed and confusion arises from taints or unwholesome states of mind with strong attachment or aversion to views, events, objects and phenomena.

Redemption comes from an enlightened choice we can make now. Could we collectively design a currency system from an empty mind without getting mired in any concepts, ideology, theology or dogma or without discounting our human experience now?

Is Sustainability Possible Without Sustainable Currency?

2009-03-25T10:06:00.036-04:00

We hear so much about sustainability these days as all human organizational systems - social, economic, political, educational, health complexes and their ecological footprints are becoming more and more unbalanced and unsustainable.

What would a 'mindful economy' look like? Can we use some principles of living systems to create a functional currency and fair economic system based on a creative application of Buddha's wholesome understanding (Right View) of human economy and Right Intention for currency free from greed, ill will and harm?

Could we start a collective appreciative Inquiry of 'Transforming the Capital in Capitalism? Can we see the true as true and false as false and use 'Right Speech' in our financial and business dealings? 'Money as debt' is not freedom yet and State-supported bailout of fraudulent banks and crony capitalism is communism of the rich.

The Chinese President wants IMF to start a new Global currency. But would it be wise for leaders of developing world to rely on IMF or World Bank, when so much of their policies to end poverty and speed up development in third world countries are actually deepening and perpetuating the viscious cycle of poverty, corruption of political leaders and massive transfer of wealth from poor to the rich countries. Ron Paul is for phasing out World Bank.

The EU President, Czeck PM calls the US plan to spend its way out of recession a 'Road to hell.'

Our president Obama is graciously receiving online questions on economy from us today. I asked "Mr president have you watched the Youtube Zeitgeist- On FED? What would you do to free 'we the people' and our governmnet from debt-based fractional reserve currency as Presidents Lincoln, Jackson, Kennedy aspired to give us and world's children?"

Here are two books that are addressing unsustainability of Capitalism as it functions now.
Mindful Economics by Joel M and Agenda for a New Economy : From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth by David Korten.

So what is the Buddha way? The Buddha Way is to understand how systems like capitalism are constructed within the human mind and perception both at the individual and collective level, so we can create a mindful Wikinomics of compassion, generosity and right understanding.

Here's a playful inquiry of the Bailout Bull Economics & The Cow Economics
And renewed protest against War-economics on 6th anniversary of Iraq war.

And G-20 summit in London takes place amid public protest and pre-summit low expectation of economists.

Pictures of 2009 G-20 summit. Leaders pledge 1.1 trillion dollar to IMF and other Global financial institutions. Other News: Biden's Pre-summit meet. Popular Obama, unpopular plan.

Look which group of plutocrats and technocrats has a summer meetup at Athens, Greece?

Some call them the High Priests and Control Freaks of Globalization. Is our Government bailout succeeding in taking back partial ownership of mega banks by 'Breaking the Bank?'

So how do we stop cooperating with and move away from the war-military-intelligence-prison-big pharma-media-think tanks complex and begin to put our collective attention, intelligence and energy towards creating an Economy of Peace ?

And what role we as engaged buddhists, conscious citizens, women, youth, people of color, LGBT can play? IMAGINE a world living in peace and harmony, no need to kill, die, deceive, delude, persecute or oppress self and others.

Restoring the Spirit of Currency: Loving Kindness

2009-01-16T14:59:00.019-05:00

I have been wanting to write something soulful and a positive vision to hold onto this year of 2009, which offers us many wonderful expansive creative energies. We have the opportunity to breakthrough the energies of lack, fear, scarcity and greed! The financial breakdown is heightening stress and anxiety. The best way to counter this constricting energy is to simplify our life, be appreciative of what we have and give a little more than we usually do. Since this collective system change intention experiment and discussion was launched after What the Bleep do we know movie, in December 2006, I have seen wonderful things and co-creation taking place in magical ways.

Just wanted to share with my readers a soul infused book Money is Love: Returning to the Sacred Origin of Money by Barbara Wilder. I came to this book via my soul friend and author Jamie Walters, who recently had a conversation with Barbara.

Humanity and Money Share Common Essence and Purpose

Our Source, Infinite Intelligence and Creativity, is also money's source.

Our Essence, Love, is the same as money's essence.

All of life is meant to remember its Source, and fully express its Essence.

When both Source and Essence are shared, there exists Oneness.

This union makes it possible for understanding, communication, and

cooperation to develop between humanity and money. [source]

Our ego-mind does not want to get into those dark, stuck, lost places of deep anguish, hurt and pain, yet that is the only way to dive deep into the heart. So let us all clear the wounded, stuffy, claustrophobic energies around our soul that has so long confined us, limited us and dimmed the light of our own soul. As a child I was afraid of the dark goddess Kali and identified (still do) with goddess Saraswati . Now I find myself more and more accepting and be ONE with Kali.

Let us release those deeply entrenched habitual pattern of command and control, victimization, mean spiritedness, secrecy, shame, blame, guilt and accumulation of power over others. It is time drop our masks and our need for external validation through power, money, position and irresponsible sex and invite the power of love into our hearts and homes, our communities and heal all our wounded relationships. Money as 'debt' has been responsible for a Century of War, poverty, crime and injustice.

Recent studies find huge rise in male mortality rates in working aged men (15-69 years) in post-communist countries in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union between 1989 and 2002, following policies of rapid privatization of formerly state own enterprises (shock doctrine).

Can we restore the lost spirit of money through mindful inquiry, wholesome view, skillful speech and putting loving-kindness in action? Yes we can and we must. The great thing about a Mindful Revolution is that it is all about a mind-shift and shifting perceptions within our individual and collective mind. Once we see and accept the possibility in our minds, changes start happening like magic in the outside world. All we need is to plant the vision and gain understanding of the root of the dualistic conflict ridden man-made system of 'money as debt'. We just need to direct the power of collective loving attention to this issue, allow our basic wisdom and deep co-intelligence to arise through mindfulness, and this self-emergent process of conscious co-creation can self-organize itself in our communities, sanghas, social networks, peace and justice groups, green enterprises, interfaith groups, fair trade, labor unions, non-partisan groups, independents, artists, activists, human rights, equality and dignity advocates in science, technology, business, banking, and government.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix

Some Not So Visible News

2008-12-06T18:24:00.016-05:00

Just gotten a note from a friend that Amero may be coming sooner than you think! Don't count on me. Do your own research starting at Wikipedia

Conscious Media network is featuring a video on Amero and Lou Dobbs of CNN
and Dennis Kucinich on bailout and debt-based money system.

As conscious citizens and consumers we are now becoming increasingly aware that political democracy alone becomes meaningless without economic democracy and economic justice. Wait a minute! Do we even have a political democracy? Why Amero is not being as publicly discussed as Euro has been? Who ultimately benefits from such secrecy?

As Ron Paul says, the power to regulate the value of money, does not mean the federal Government can debase the money. Right now our Government is borrowing $2.2 Billion everyday mainly from china and Japan to pay for our overseas empire. As our dollar value declines, we cannot expect these and other countries to hold onto theirs for ever, and when they decide to dispose dollars, our fantasy world comes crashing us. No more empire, no more pledging trillions more in entitlements...if people wants to be free from a state apparatus that that threatens their liberties, squanders their resources on endless wars, destroys their values of dollar and spews forth endless propaganda, there's no force that can stop them...let the Revolution begin. - The Revolution, Ron Paul.

We cannot solve poverty and economic injustice . Yet we seem to have endless supply of debt-currency for the military-intelligence complex, War on Terror exploits, manhattan project, big pharma, destructive derivatives, or adventures in Science like CERN Hadron Collider!

The Buddha Way is the compassionate way of a peaceful warrior, a warrior who has conquered all ignorance, passion and agression through realization of impermanence of all phenomena, interdependence of all life and primordial non-duality of samsara and nirvana. The Buddha way is to be constantly mindful in the way we perceive, think, speak and act in the world and whether our unexamined views, ideas, attention and mindless actions are generating more stress, delusion and dukkha or alleviating them for the well being and happiness of all?

Can we save ourselves from our collective ignorance regarding man-made currecy? Can we make the radical shift from the old invisible, unconscious and false paradigm of 'money as debt' to the new luminous and compassionate paradigm of 'money as trust' through collective learning. YES WE CAN! Reach the Millenium goals and save our planet.

Let us hold that Vision for 2009! May all beings be free from suffering and the root of suffering!

Free Market Theology & Priests of High Modernity

2008-11-08T10:43:00.014-05:00

Thirty five years of free market ideology and the many intellectual cross currents and 'isms' of High Tech Modernity (postmodernism) with its common traits of individualism, political liberalism and economic capitalism is failing miserably to improve the human situtaion at the most basic level of collective survival and social well being. Law, regulation, violence, revolutionary ideologies, science and technology are not sufficiently addressing or affecting the roots of injustice in social political structures (including democracy, socialism, communism) and bases of economic system and foundations of society.

Ken Jones in his book the New Social Face of Buddhism comments on high modernity's personal identity crisis and its attendant inner void that insatiably needs to be filled. These needs previously addressed by community, religion [and nationalism] are increasingly being commodified into whole culture of consumerism. Consumerism is winning more converts more quickly than any other previous belief or value system in human history (David Loy).

Ken urges Buddhists to renew their understanding of dukkha (suffering) by looking deeply into our contemporary global society, reflecting on how it can be healed. My sense is we need to go back deep into our collective unconscious and develop a deep understanding of our inner journey and outer social institutions begining with gender based patriarchy and ending with class based elitist supremacist global-imperialistic capitalism. With the advent of internet and web 2.0 history is being rewritten from persperctives not explored and disseminated before.

Listen to this surprising admission from Alan GreenSpan.

Asian and European Markets Fall with Greenspan's remark.

<> G20 Summit was a failure <>

Here are questions posed by engaged Buddhist Robert Thurman in Dropping knowledge

Bloggers Bear Witness to Poverty & Inequality

2008-10-15T16:44:00.026-04:00

I am about to leave for a four day dzogchen retreat, and wanted to drop a note in support of Bloggers and Site Owners all over the world bringing attention to the cause of poverty and injustice embedded in and perpetuated by our dysfuntional and fraudulant financial system. The burden of poverty heavily falls on world's women, children, minority and marginalized classes, especially in developing countries.

AT Ariyaratne, Founder of Sarvodaya movement sees the root problem of poverty coming from a sense of personal and collective powerlessness. Money itself is empty, yet not understanding its fundamental nature and function as a collective social agreement, as a medium of circulation and a measure of value through which all human exchange of labor, goods, service, ideas and creative thoughts take place, keeps us from exercising our own power to collaborate and create the sustainable reality we like to live in with basic dignity, happiness and joy assured for all.

If power and wealth is getting concentrated in few despite overall sign of prosperity, could it be that the majority do not see or understand the basis of power or where they have unconsciously given away that power?

Where wealth is concentrated, the people are dispersed. Where wealth is dispersed, the people are brought together. - Confucius

The original Buddhist concept of emptiness and the sanskrit term Sunyata carries the meaning of swollen or pregnant - and it is indeed pregnant with a liberative potential when energizing creativity. it points the way out of the oppressive prison that self-protecting unconscious ego supposes to be reality.

Based on a new understanding of our social and historical and experiential realization the time is pregnant NOW for a new world and a new humanity capable of functioning and creating new systems from the holistic, non-dual and interdependent understanding of the whole living systems. This is a deep Now moment when many things are converging in many dimensions, historically, psycho-spiritually and evolutionwise.

{Listen to Chogyam Trungpa and also see this 2 minute clip from movie zeitgeist addendum] about this NOW moment}. We must unite through our common humanity in basic goodness, courage and intelligence and not give in to panic and fear or deceptive distractions and delusions.

Search Transforming Money: From Debt to Empowerment: Susmita Barua (see comment on sidebar)

On NPR Economists Explain How To Save Capitalism, 10/20/08 . But do we need to save an unjust unsustainable system that rewards greed and speculation by the rich and sucks money away from real people and real economy? Our ignorance is the root cause of "dukkha".

A new film They Come in The Name of Helping

The Chinese word for transformation consists of two ideograms that
translate as - danger and opportunity. There is no question that we
are entering into dangerous times. But there are deep opportunities as
well. The evolutionary question is: will you, me, and we put our
wholesome attention, intention and energy towards birthing a new
dhamma world or keep holding on to the old pardigm that is simply
unsustainable and breaking apart under its own weight of living
contradictions.

Search Transforming Money: Debt to Empowerment: 
Susmita Barua

Deep Crisis Is A Deep Creative Opportunity

2008-10-05T12:39:00.029-04:00

"Three things cannot be hidden for long. The Sun, Moon and the Truth" - Buddha

In the Buddhist Pali canon, satisfaction of basic material needs is seen as a pre-requisite for sila or moral development. In Mahayana scriptures there a broad concern for poverty as an obstacle to spiritual progress and a clear call for direct action/relief as mandatory for addressing the more subtle roots of samsara.

Some of the popular headilines appearing in major news media is worth pointing out. There is great chaos and confusion now as to why exactly capitalism needs a hand-out or bail-out from big government and the people. Why free market mechanisms and financial markets are not self-correcting in democratic systems?

Newsweek predicts the New age of Global Capitalism Begins Now.

To face this Deepest Crisis in Capitalism French President Nicolas Sarkozy, current president of the European Union, has spoken of a need "to rethink the entire financial and monetary system...to create the tools for worldwide regulation."

We need to be careful about the worldwide top-down regulation the French president suggests. Regulation do not promote understanding. Open sharing of knowledge does.

60 Minutes Interview: Shadow Market of Wall Street 10/05/2008

Some are predicting the Crisis Could Shake Nobel Economics Prize
Financial wizards like George Soros, or Corporate and Technology Icons like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and Nobel Laureates do not seem to have any feasible answer for the long haul.

This is a great puzzle and a human conundrum that require many skillful engaged minds especially minds that can see things "as they are" and function in a wise, unbiased and non-dual way. What kind of mindful system change could meet both the basic needs and higher needs of people everywhere, their elected goverments, the Millenium Goals and sustainable ecology/environment?

What if we as enaged citizens and advocate for transparent debt-free currency system, who feel deeply called to respond to this crisis could make this happen together, just by simply putting our collective attention and intention to understand this issue.

We do have this opportunity NOW! Stay alert but keep the humor

Another View of Poverty: Spiritual, Material and Institutional

2008-09-06T23:09:00.021-04:00

It is important to distinguish "living in poverty" from "being poor". The people of Cuba have a percapita income that is 1/20th of the USA. Yet there is little malnourishment or homelessness in Cuba, and everyone has basic health care. Infant mortality and life expectancy in Cuba are near identical to what they are in the USA. Cuba's community response to severe fuel famine and food shortage in 1990's is inspiring and exemplary.

The Institutions of New Imperialism are located within a square mile of Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Instead of poverty reduction World Bank and IMF policies have fueled social-political turmoil and economic collapse in many developing countries around the World. Ford's empire is bigger than the economy of South Africa. Tiger Woods is paid more for a Nike Commercial than the laborers in Indonesia making Nike products. United States gave money to IMF to fix Russian elections. See the Truth. about WTO

Former World Bank Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz describes how our common economic accounting procedures and statistics hide and distort the real picture and advocates alternative measures like Green GDP, Median Income, GNP instead of GDP and other measures that reflect the health and well being of people not captured by GDP. Countries like Costa Rica may be quite high in Green GDP. It remains to be seen how the Happiness Index holds up in a traditional monarchy like Bhutan undergoing a voluntary(?) political transition now.

The greatest inability of the human race is to understand the cumulative enslavement effect of usury, exponential growth in debt (exceeding money put in circulation) via compound interest. Take a peek at our credit card industry.

Listen to "All I see is Spiritual Poverty", a song by Bijean

Unveiling the Deluded World of Finance & Banking

2008-06-26T17:19:00.031-04:00

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

-- Margaret Mead

I was surfing the web today on the subject of money after my six weeks trip to India to get over my jetlag. This may make you laugh and cry or make you both sad and mad but we must not go back to sleep and miss this great historic opportunity to come out of our unconscious collective mind prison/poison of delusion, greed and aversion. It is time to wake up!

Some naughty Englishmen making a pun of "structured investment vehicles" or products of American Financial Ingenuity here on youtube to enlighten the rest of us financially impaired about the recent subprime mortagage crisis that turned Bear & Stearns belly up.

Read Excerpts of a new book on monetary reform "Web of Debt" by Ellen H. Brown, J.D. She also have a blog with many insightful comments.
What is the reason for a central bank? It's connection with the American Revolution
Have you heard of the new currency Amero, Vchip and NAU like the European Union?[View CNN Report Clips, after 1st minute]

Buddha taught dukkha arising fundamentally out of ignorance (avijja) and false view of reality. He also encouraged the spirit of open and free inquiry (Kalama Sutta) in evaluating the merit of any doctrine, teacher or teachings.

Since economics have almost acquired the status of a modern secular religion with its own church and priests aka the Chicago Boys and Jeffrey Sachs, we can take the cue from Kalamas and need not stay confused and ignorant and extend the globalization of empire and dukkha for our children and the planet.

In the News: Beware The Chicago Boys by Naomi Klein, The Gaurdian June 14,08 [link]

Before we can create a new fair currency system for the welfare and happiness of many, we need to develop sammaditthi or right view (wholesome view, vision and understanding) of money itself. Developing Right view and Right Understanding takes patience, persistence and insight (panna) into our collective reality and collective experience as it is unfolding now, and the nature of our collective mind conditioning.

Tao of Sacred Currency & Sacred Commerce

2008-04-13T18:03:00.012-04:00

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 somewhat 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?

2008-04-02T21:59:00.015-04:00

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

2008-02-27T10:03:00.013-05:00

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?

2008-02-20T21:52:00.013-05:00

"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?

2008-01-18T12:50:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-10T18:32:00.000-05:00

"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?

2007-11-22T08:56:00.000-05:00

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

US National Debt and Third World Debt

2007-11-12T15:17:00.001-05:00

The debt-burden of national governments of the richest and poorest are growing exponentially!

How could that be? Do you ever wonder, who are owning all these debt's?

Why Governments under free market capitalism and democratic systems are going under mounting debt simultaneously? Where is this illusion of freedom and free market leading us into?

Helpful Links on Third Word Debt and US National Debt

UNICEF reports 11 million children under 5 die each year , and Oxfam projects 45 million children may die in next decade due to poverty and debt-crisis.

Money (as debt) is a new form of slavery, and distinguishable from the old simply by the fact that it is impersonal -- that there is no human relation between master and slave." - Leo Tolstoy.
see more quotes on Money and Banking

The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics by Raine Eisler

Waking Up from our Affluenza: Mass Consumption and Farmer Suicide

2007-10-14T09:43:00.000-04:00

Is there a connection between the two?

US Photographer Chris Jordan talks about the collective impact of individual choices in our consumer culture littering the planet and our habitat with massive waste. But are we choosing? Choice requires reflection. Watch the PBS video, see the last 3 minutes a few times.

One of his images called "Prison Uniforms, 2007" depicts 2.3 million folded prison uniforms, equal to the number of Americans incarcerated in 2005. "We have the largest prison population of any country on earth. There's also no other country that has that percentage of its population in jail. And that includes all of the dictatorships that we think of as the enemies of freedom." - Chris jordan

A debt-based, usury based, fractional-reserve based monetary system keeps the system of mindless production and consumption growing exponentially. People lose their freedom of choice. All our media, academia, think tanks, political-economic institutions are feeding this mindless system without realizing it.

An independent citizens tribunal in India finds World Bank's structural adjustment policies promising alleviation of poverty have directly contributing to dislocating the lives and livelihood of millions of farmers and rural households in India, which lost its former self-sufficiency in food production. Between 2001-2007 over 137,000 poor Indian farmers have committed suicide because they cannot afford the increased cost of imported seeds, which require more irrigation water, power, fertilizer and pesticides. Poor farmers with declining access to low interest loans and government subsidies could no longer compete openly with heavily subsidized farming in Europe and the USA. See the two page report here.

Other links: Seeds of suicide: India's desperate farmers, PBS frontline

Canada lost three-quarters of its farmers between 1941 and 1996 and the decline continues. In 1935 there were 6.8 million working farmers in the US; today the number is under 1.9 million - less than the total US prison population. Suicide is now the leading cause of death among US farmers, occurring at a rate three times higher than in the general population. In Britain farmers are taking their own lives at a rate of one a week. In China an estimated 400 million farmers are in danger of losing their livelihoods entirely. Everywhere small-scale farmers are being 'disappeared'. In Australia, one farmer takes his life every fourth day.

Question: Is it possible that our centralized debt-based money system that we collectively participate in contributes to farmer suicide? When our farmers die, who are going to feed us?

The Shocking Side of Free Market

2007-09-19T20:36:00.000-04:00

Naomi Klein 's new book, The Shock Doctrine, details the rise of disaster capitalism with painstaking care, showing how big business often steps in after global misery - a detailed analysis of how corporations manipulate natural and manmade disasters to line their pockets and further their privatizing agenda, is not a marginal, academic treatise by a lefty think tank targeted at a small, like-minded audience. She blames Milton Friedman's "Chicago School" of economists for harming many nations they set out to help.

Klein traces the doctrine of economic and military violence back more than half a century in which the desire for profit and power have propelled evil geniuses to use the world’s poor as their lab rats, from Latin America to Africa, the Arab world and the former Soviet Union.
Aftermath of shock doctrine

Discussion: Questioning the BOX called "free market"

Also see how modern financial empires are build through Economic Hit Men

How to Transform the System?

2007-08-17T16:20:00.000-04:00

Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be changed by our minds. -original crazy wisdom of Buddha

The systemic blindspots of capitalism has long been overlooked by experts, economists, management- fianancial gurus and progressives alike. It is not easy to see one's own eye except through a clear mirror or mirror-like mind. Is it possible to co-create a sane economy that works for the benefit and welfare of all without taking away from the individual's freedom to choose and create right livelihood? Such a system is very much possible when a critical mass of middle class take the time to mindfully study this issue. Unlimited greed and scarcity is built into the current commercial monetary-banking system monopolized by the central banks under fractional reserve system which issues fiat money as compound interest (usury) bearing "debt" that grows exponentially over time and mathematically impossible to sustain in the long run. This is the Real Inconvenient Truth.

Debt-based fiat money put into circulation as principal always stay in short supply than compounded debt payable at any given time, by design. This highly skewed, inflationary and volatile system allows systematic concentration and shifting of wealth from the actual productive labor, sectors and entrepreneurial class to a few maga-rich people, banks and corporations and financial Institutions. A large part of the compound interest (unearned income) and savings goes to create, support and sustain the unreal speculative economy dominated by stock market, currency market, mutual funds, insurance, commodities and financial derivatives of all kinds, leaving very little in the hands of actual consumers and producers making the real economy. The first step is to get educated, so when the top heavy current debt-based unsustainable system crashes under its weight (as being forecasted by market insiders), conscious citizens everywhere are prepared to jump-start a local economy through debt-free local currency and avoid much panic, pain and suffering.

On Survival

2007-08-10T00:52:00.000-04:00

"Survival means the survival of human kind as a whole, not just a part of it. If the South cannot survive, then the North is going to crumble. If countries of Third World cannot pay their debts, you are going to suffer here in the North. If you do not take care of the Third World, your well-being is not going to last, and you will not be able to continue living in the way you have been much longer. It is leaping out at us already. You cannot leave the job to the governments or the political scientists alone. You have to do it yourself."

- Thich Naht Hahn,
The Heart of Understanding, Commentaries on Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, 1988 p36

The Co-creative Experiment: To change an all encompassing system like capitalism inside out our collective mind and collective will must be engaged. The outer reality will shift effortlessly, when a critical mass of engaged citizens get enlightened about inherent contradictions and unsustainability of our existing system. Nothing is impossible in the vast fearless and luminous space of mind!

"With the insight into our profound interrelatedness you know that actions undertaken with pure intent have repercussions throughout the web of life, beyond what you can measure or discern." - Shambhala Prophecy

State Of The Union's Health

2007-07-27T11:37:00.000-04:00

Watch Trailer of Michael Moore's Sicko

Discussion at Moore' site and U.Mich

Some leading economists project that health expenditures, which already constitute 16% of the US economy, will rise to 30% of gross domestic product by 2030, and perhaps approach 50% later in the century. [source]

This Educational Blog is launched simultaneously with the 11th Hour Action Projects launched organically by awake planetary beings, peace warriors and global citizens around the planet.

60 million Americans on $7 a day : NY Times

2007-06-15T12:11:00.000-04:00

The Times article notes that the bottom fifth of all taxpayers average reported income was only $5,743 each. Because the IRS includes a single individual or a married couple in its definition of a “taxpayer” the poorest 26 million taxpayers account for the equivalent nearly 48 million adults and about 12 million dependent children. According to the Times analysis, this means the poorest 60 million Americans have reported incomes of less than $7 a day! It is often noted that 3 billion of the world’s poorest people live on less than $2 a day. In the US, where the cost of living is far higher, $7 a day is only enough to guarantee a life of destitution. The fact that 60 million people live in such dire poverty—and tens of millions more could face the same fate if they lost their jobs or confronted some other financial catastrophe—is a damning indictment of American capitalism and the free market model it touts around the world.

Sources: NY Times Report
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/dec2006/ineq-d12.shtml
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16760690.htm (McClatchy Report)

The Human Rights Record in the U.S. in 2006

China's report on Human Rights Violations in America

by China's State Council
The U.S. Justice Department reported on Sept. 10, 2006 that there were 5.2 million violent crimes in the United States in 2005, the highest rate in 15 years. The United States has the largest number of privately owned guns in the world.

The United States has the world's largest number of prisoners. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Nov. 30, 2006, by the end of 2005, nearly 2.2 million inmates were held in state and federal prisons or country and municipal jails. The adult U.S. correctional population, including those on probation or parole, reached a high of more than Seven million men and women for the first time. About three percent of the U.S. adult population, or one in every 32 adults, were in the nation's prisons and jails or on probation or parole. A report, issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Sept. 7, 2006, said that more than half of the inmates in U.S. prisons suffered from mental problems.

The Americans in poverty constitute the “Third World” of U.S. society. A report released by the U.S. Census Bureau on August. 29,2006 said there were 37 million people living in poverty in 2005, accounting for 12.6 percent of total U.S. population. The report also said there were 7.7 million families in poverty and one out of eight Americans was living in poverty in 2005. The poverty rates of Cleveland and Detroit were as high as 32.4 percent and 31.4 percent respectively and nearly one out of three was living under the poverty line.

There are 600,000 or so homeless people nationwide, including 16,000 homeless in Washington D.C. and 3,800 in New York City, and 88,345 in LA area.

The United States lags behind most countries in legal protection for labor and family-friendly policies in the workplace. The Voice of America reported on Feb. 4,2007 that a study of 173 countries with high, middle and low income jointly conducted by Harvard University and McGill University found the United States is one of the only five countries that do not guarantee some form of paid maternity leave, the other four countries being Lesotho, Liberia, Swaziland and Papua New Guinea

Unequal Access

According to U.S. Census Bureau's 2005 data, in the United States more than half ethnic minority males dropped school before high school graduation, 67.5 percent Hispanics and 53 percent blacks got no further education after graduating from high school. White Americans were more likely to hold a graduate or professional degree. At least 30 percent white adults held a bachelor's degree, compared with 17 percent black adults and 12 percent Hispanic adults.

According to a report released by the Human Rights Watch on Dec. 1, 2006, the number of black inmates was 6.6 times that of whites and the number of Latino inmates was 2.5 times that of white inmates. Statistics showed that about one out of 12 black men were in jail or prison, compared with one in 100 white men. Researchers pointed to poverty, a lack of opportunities, racism in the criminal justice system for the black-white prison gap 12.9 million children under 18 lived below the poverty line by the end of 2005 and 8.3 million children uninsured.

Psychological Stress and Health

Each year in the U.S., thousands of teenagers commit suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds. Over sixty-percent of teens who kill themselves use guns.No doubt, China has its own share of problems with human right violation.

Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide.^{1 -}Canadian Mental Health Asso

Financial and Job Stress

The leading cause of stress poll by LifeCare cites 1) finance, and 2) job and careers as primary causes of employee stress. The poll was open to employees of LifeCare's 1,500 client companies nationwide via its web site, http://www.lifecare.com/, during the month of April, 2005.

The human costs of outsourcing, offshoring and downsizing manufacturing, high-tech and high skill jobs from developed to developing countries are being increasingly felt everywhere. Having one or two dominant world currency for international trade and Third-world debt may not be a good idea after all!

And what all the above economic, social, mental health dysfunctions got to do with enlightened capitalism or changing the macro system from inside out??? Hmm…may be a whole lot and more.