Breaking Free of Old, Transitioning to New Paradigm

“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 is it needed in market buy-sell economy?
.  How does money (and credit) originate and put into circulation? Is money same as credit?
.  What prevents equilibrium in supply and demand of money and credit?
• What is fractional reserve banking?
. Why does money (and credit) originate as 'debt'?
• 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?
. Who is collecting all the public and private debts and assets? 
• 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 sustainability and human needs of this time.

Deep Crisis Is A Deep Creative Opportunity

"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