For many who have 'had' their wealth tied up in the stockmarket, commercial and residential real estate this time must be very painful. For others who have their $$IP tied to an SME or other, AND who have direct control over the fortunes of their enterprise, this time must be (is) EXCITING.

I read an article a moment ago - http://www.smartcompany.com.au/Free-Articles/The-Briefing/20090127-The-great-destruction-of-wealth-is-just-getting-started-Kohler.html?source=RSS&loomia_si=t0:a16:g7:r1:c0:b0    - by Alan Kohler, an Australian financial commentator. Its about the 'Destruction of Wealth' and the need to bring back a 'balance' between actual asset values and perceived asset values. Of course if one has a very Buddhist view of the value of assets, which is, that nothing has intrinsic $$ value only spiritual value, then, there is nothing to bother about right now, all is perfect!

Buddhism is all about balance and I am reminded of a tale about the young Siddhartha watching the sitar student and master floating down the Yamuna River  (in India) on a raft and hearing the old teacher gently pointing out 'that the sitar strings should be neither too tight nor too loose'. Extremism in $$ sense has always failed but then so does extremism in poverty (read hunger, malnourishment and ultimate loss of body).

Perhaps this is a time for balance to be regained - common sense to prevail and above all solid life ethics replace the greed and $$ hunger - I bet what will come from these times will be a truer form of life for humanity - something akin to 'Peace on Earth' (which is well overdue) and no more money changers tables being turned over and definitely no more 'knashing of teeth ' and wailing. I know what I'd prefer.

 

ENDS:

 

From Scott Mathias - Creator of the SeaFlower-Australia range of Skin Health products and the NEW AuraGold Farms range of AntiOxidant Functional Foods. Note: Some years ago I visited the Ganges at dawn. I had the opportunity to float in front of the hundreds of Holy Men at dawn as they did their 'puja' - washed themselves emmersing themselves in the waters of this Holy River - it was a moving experience as I made eye contact with many of these wonderful beings who to this day remainmy brothers and perfect reflections.