Why people cannot stop thinking:

Why people cannot stop thinking:

Their whole lives they have pandered themselves to thinking, they and others have trained or conditioned them to think and they perceive in delusion that thinking is good, wholesome, the way to solving problems when it leads to stress, restlessness and distracts them from their daily activities like driving.

THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES PEOPLE HAVE CONDITIONED THEMSELVES TO THINK, OTHERS HAVE CONDITIONED THEM TO THINK AND THEY THINK WITH A FORCE ADDED SUBSTANCE AND STYLE COMBO THAT HAS GREAT MOMENTUM THAT IS HARD TO STOP. WHATEVER ATTEMPTS TO STOP THINKING ARE HALF HEARTED, UNSUSTAINED AND ONLY WHEN THEY ARE SEVERELY TROUBLED BY THEIR THINKING, LIKE TRYING TO STOP A TSUNAMI OF THINKING.

BECAUSE THERE IS A FORCE ADDED STYLE ADDED THINKING THAT HAS GREAT MOMENTUM THAT IS HARD TO STOP AND THEY HAVE TRAINED THEMSELVES TO THINK, THEY HAVE ACCEPTED CONSTANT THOUGHT AS A FACT OF LIFE, IT IS NOT SUPRISING THAT PEOPLE CANNOT STOP THINKING AND IT WOULD TAKE GREAT DEDICATED CORRECT EFFORT IF THEY ARE TO SUCCEED IN STOPPING THINKING. THEY MUST WEAN THE ADDED FORCE PROLONGING, CHANGING SPEED AND LOUDNESS IN THEIR THINKING AND KEEP STOPPING THEIR THINKING UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPS.

Germany 'cannot act alone' - PM

David Cameron says Germany cannot be expected to resolve the eurozone crisis on her own as he says its financial problems are the "biggest threat" to global prosperity.

Reflecting people of no integrity, when it suits his purpose he can defend someone and when it doesn’t, he attacks.

He is defending Germany in this case and that is wrong. If what you say is the truth it is not to defend someone, you don’t speak to defend someone (Germany) but you speak to tell the truth that is beneficial to all.

Only fools will need him to tell them that Germany cannot act alone and so why is he saying so if he is not addressing fools? The purpose is not to tell the truth but to stand up for or defend Germany for reasons best known to him that he will not divulge nor would he state ‘I am defending Germany’.

‘I am defending Germany’ or siding with Germany is very different from Germany cannot act alone and so he is a hypocrite who does say what he means.

IF THE PURPOSE OF YOUR SPEAKING IS TO SIDE WITH GERMANY OR DEFEND GERMANY THEN YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING THE TRUTH, IT IS NOT A VALID REASON FOR SPEAKING.

Bank Negara’s past rogue activities:

Billions of the nation’s money may have been lost in reckless rogue activities of Bank Negara that defied global conventions in the 1980s.

THE ghost of Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) epic foreign exchange trading losses, said to have run into tens of billions during the 80s and 90s, has reawakened.
Like a dormant volcano whose time to re-erupt has come, the controversy involving the central bank’s infamous speculative practices blew up with such a shudder last weekend that even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was called to respond.
Mahathir, who was prime minister at the time, commented to reporters that he was not afraid to be investigated. The Opposition can open any file they had on him, he said in response to DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang’s assertion that Pakatan Rakyat, should it take over the federal government, must initiate a royal commission of inquiry into the affair.
Other key figures reportedly implicated are the then finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and BNM governor during that period, the late Tan Sri Jaffar Hussein. A fourth person, the then BNM deputy governor, Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yackop, is now a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Although the issue has been raised before, this time it was perhaps more damning and detailed. This is because the individual who spoke about it at a forum organised by the Penang Institute, a state government think-tank, on Saturday was privy to the internal happenings at BNM until 1994.
Dr Rosli Yaakob was a senior manager during the crucial years when the speculative practices were said to occur, and was even on the panel that prepared and presented the bank’s semi-annual brief. He is currently Negri Sembilan PAS deputy commissioner.
Incidentally, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was finance minister from 1991 to 1998, also spoke at the forum. Anwar maintained that the matter was kept from him after he assumed the post. He has however been accused of covering up for it, including by Lim – the opposition leader and DAP’s Tanjung MP in the early 90s – who held Anwar personally responsible for the losses.
The problem with this whole affair is that there has been neither an official investigation nor an inquiry into the matter to assuage public confusion and concerns. No one, aside perhaps from the perpetrators, knows how much money, if any, was lost or how this was done.
Rosli’s account, delivered to a packed hall seated in stunned silence, would have raised more curiosity about what could have occurred.
Even the volume of money that was supposedly involved has come into question. Lim has put the losses at about RM30 billion. Rosli, however, pointed out that it was once reported that at the height of the speculation BNM had spent RM270 billion. “This is no small amount,” he said.
According to Rosli, the market norm then was to trade in lots of US$1 million, US$5 million or US$10 million, but that BNM traded in US$50 million lots (up to 5-10 lots per call) and sometimes, a few “yards” (US$1 billion per yard) a day.
Its closest rivals were Japanese fund managers who also traded in lots of US$50 million, but only once or twice a year, he said.
If true, this effectively made BNM the largest player in the international currency market, as it is said to have competed head-on against the likes of George Soros.
And Rosli’s indictment was emphatic: “They did not speculate, they gambled and did so recklessly and irresponsibly with no regard for the safety of BNM assets.” Even Alan Greenspan of the US Federal Reserve had warned BNM to stop its speculative activities, he added.
BNM’s strategy was to hit a currency for a couple of yards, and once the initial transaction had gone through, hit it again with another couple of yards, normally only minutes later, Rosli alleged.
“This sent shocks through the market and dealers scrambled to buy the currency, sending it up. BNM sold the currency with a healthy profit,” he said. “But then, other dealers caught on to the scheme. They hit back.”
Rosli specifically pinpointed Jaffar’s appointment as governor in 1985 at the beginning of the foray.
“Previous governors were all against speculation and fiercely defended BNM against any undue outside interference,” he said. “Prior to this, the main thrust of reserve management had always been to preserve the value of the Malaysian ringgit and to maintain liquidity.”
The government should once and for all put this matter to rest with a proper inquiry, to address the inevitable public disquiet on the affair. For after having begun to spew smoke again, this billion-ringgit volcano is not likely to simmer down for some time to come.

Dowd: Is Pleasure a Sin?

Don’t you think you look foolish trying to decide whether pleasure is a sin if you do not know the nature of ‘pleasure’?

Pleasure has a nature and before you talk about pleasure being a sin or not you must first understand what you are talking about, what the nature of pleasure is.

Pleasure is merely the feeling generated by contact with mild to moderate self or other generated force and because it is harmful, extended pleasure leads to fatigue, stress, restlessness and distraction, it is harmful not beneficial for one who sees pleasure correctly.

Sin is about evil, whatever is evil is sinful and so because pleasure is a form of slow mild poison that is addictive, it is just as evil if not more evil than pain because it entices.

The Buddha said God’s thought that his existence is permanent and happy is evil because nothing in existence is permanent, only Nibbana the unchanging or changeless is true. Unlike your existence here, God’s existence seems everlasting, endless and free from suffering and so even God, according to the Buddha is deceived to think existence can be permanent and happy when it is fraught with future danger and insecure. Only nibbana, the changeless destination of no falling away is secure.

AND SO THE CORRECT ANSWER IS ‘YES, PLEASURE IS DECEPTIVE AND WHATEVER IS DECEPTIVE IS SINFUL AND SO PLEASURE IS A SIN’. YOU EXPERIENCE PLEASURE, YOU IRRESISTIBLY SEEK PLEASURE BUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND OR SEE WHAT PLEASURE IS? WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT PLEASURE IS, YOU ARE A FOOL TRYING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHETHER IT IS SINFUL.

Pleasure is deceptive, a bait:

The only correct way to see pleasure is that it is deceptive and a bait. Because pleasure is derived from force that is blind, meaningless and harmful, it is always meaningless and harmful (at least in the long run) and people who are drawn to pleasure are deceived, baited and so pleasure is evil. Further pleasure always leads to difficulties and suffering later on, directly or indirectly.

WHATEVER IS MEANINGLESS AND HARMFUL THAT IS A BAIT IS EVIL AND WHATEVER IS EVIL IS SINFUL WHEN PLIED TO OTHERS.

Nowadays my thinking is directed, orderly and sparse:
Gone are the days when my mind is riven by haphazard, irrational thoughts, entertaining farfetched or absurd possibilities, rambling, frenetic and wandering.

Nowadays my thoughts are directed, when there is a problem that requires thought and it is orderly and sparse not frenetic. And it is a far saner, happier existence.

AND SO A PERSON’S PRESENT AND FUTURE SUFFERING OR HAPPINESS IS ALL IN HIS HANDS, DEPENDENT ON HOW HE CONDUCTS HIS LIFE NOW, HE WILL BE REWARDED BY FUTURE HAPPINESS OR PUNISHED WITH SUFFERING.

That is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher, said further:

If you hold yourself dear
then don't fetter yourself with evil,
for happiness isn't easily gained
by one who commits a wrong-doing.

When seized by the End-maker as you abandon the human state,
what's truly your own?
What do you take along when you go?
What follows behind you like a shadow that never leaves?

Both the merit & evil that you as a mortal perform here:
that's what's truly your own, what you take along when you go;
that's what follows behind you
like a shadow that never leaves.

So do what is admirable, as an accumulation
for the future life.
Deeds of merit are the support for beings
when they arise in the other world.

China cuts interest rates to counter slowing growth

This is a very risky move, not the move a wise person will make because by cutting interest rates you are trying to promote spending by mostly promoting debt, lower interest rates promote borrowing to spend. It is likely if not certainly that most of the spending will end in consumption not on something constructive that will repay the money spent plus earn more and it is dangerous if not suicidal to borrow to spend on consumption.

The only premise is that this promoted spending will tide things over until something somehow happens that will boost the economy.

BECAUSE CUTTING INTEREST RATE WILL PROMOTE CONTINUED OR BOOSTED SPENDING BASED ON BORROWING AND IT WILL NOT BE SPENT ON THINGS THAT WILL ADD VALUE TO THE ECONOMY, THE ONLY RATIONALE IS TO PREVENT THE ECONOMY FROM SHRINKING AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, SOMETHING WILL COME ALONG MIRACULOUSLY TO BOOST THE ECONOMY.

IT IS DANGEROUS, FOOLISH TO CUT INTEREST RATES TO SUPPORT A FALTERING ECONOMY BECAUSE IT PROMOTES SPENDING DRIVEN BY DEBT THAT IS FOCUSED ON CONSUMPTION THAT WILL NOT EARN BACK THE BORROWED MONEY. ITS PREMISE IS THAT SOMETHING WILL SOMEHOW HAPPEN TO BOOST THE ECONOMY WHILST IT IS BEING SUPPORTED. THE WISEST OPTION IS TO ALLOW THE ECONOMY TO COOL TO A LOWER SUSTAINABLE LEVEL WITHOUT THE STEROID OF DEBT. 

HERE AS EVERYWHERE MANKIND THINKS IT HAS TRUE LOGIC BUT IT IS MAD, A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

Buying time riskily even suicidally:

Lowering interest rates to stimulate a slowing economy only serves to buy time for the economy to somehow recover on its own and it is achieved foolishly by encouraging borrowing to spend (eg credit card) on items that will not repay the debt.

Only when you spend the borrowed money on things that will recoup the borrowed money plus more should it be encouraged.

DO YOU SEE ANY GOVERNMENTS OR BANKS ANYWHERE SCRUTINIZING CUSTOMERS FOR WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND ON BEFORE THEY LEND? IT IS ONE THING BORROWING TO BUY A LUXURY CAR OR HOUSE AND ANOTHER TO BORROW TO BUILD A FACTORY.

If governments have not grossly mismanaged economies so badly that they fear a downturn will turn into a rout they would not have to resort to panicky foolhardy lowering of interest rates to support the economy by debt and if the economies are dangerously overstretched they need to be lowered down, not propped up by more debt.

Here again mankind’s logic and understanding is bizarre. Now they have led themselves into a big mess that it is checkmate, there is no palatable way out.

LOWERING INTEREST RATE IS A FORM OF BUYING TIME WITH SOMETHING DANGEROUS, UNDERTAKING MORE DEBT NOT FOR PRODUCTIVE USE BUT FOR CONSUMPTION THAT WILL NOT REPAY.

Krugman: Reagan Was a Keynesian

By Keynesian is meant Reagan contrary to his republican credentials, was a big spender.

It is not harmless but an exercise in false logic and perception to bring Reagan into the debate whether the US should spend more money it does have to stimulate the economy.

IT IS NOT THAT REAGAN AN ADVOCATE OF SMALL GOVERNMENT WAS HIMSELF MORE KEYNESIAN THAN OBAMA THAT THE US SHOULD ADOPT BIG SPENDING TO BOOST THE CURRENT FLAGGING ECONOMY BUT IT IS A MATTER IF DEFICIT SPENDING IS RIGHT, THE INDISCRIMINATE SPENDING WITHOUT REIGNING IN UNAFFORDABLE WORTHLESS PROFLIGATE EXPENDITURE ELSEWHERE (EG ARMS, OVERSEAS MILITARY ADVENTURES, OVERPAYING FATCAT BUREAUCRATS TO DO NOTHING). BY SACKING THOSE ON FAT CAT PAY AND USING THAT MONEY TO EMPLOY CHEAP LABOUR TO DO ESSENTIAL SERVICES YOU CAN STIMULATE THE ECONOMY MORE THAN BORROWING MORE MONEY TO SPEND. ONE SACKED BUREAUCRAT’S PAY MAY GO TO PAYING A FEW LABOURERS’ WAGES. IF ALL THOSE TALK SHOWS HOSTS WERE DISMISSED AND THE MONEY SPENT ON THEM DIVERTED TO MORE USEFUL EMPLOYMENT MUCH COULD BE DONE WITHOUT DEFICIT FINANCE.

BECAUSE KRUGMAN IS EXERCISING FALSE LOGIC AND PERCEPTION AND ADVOCATING THEM FOR OTHRS, HE HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH INSANITY.

Bankers’ remunerations could employ a lot of people:

For most purposes, you can program a computer to run a bank better than greedy money stealing bankers and the prodigious money paid them as wages that would be saved can be used to employ a lot of people who are out of work.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN INDUSTRY AND SERVICES WHO ARE PAID VERY HIGHLY WAY BEYOND WHAT THEIR WORK IS WORTH AND THIS DRAINS WEALTH FROM THE SYSTEM THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE USED TO EMPLOY MANY WORKERS. THIS SHOULD BE REDRESSED BEFORE YOU TALK ABOUT DEFICIT SPENDING ESPECIALLY WHEN THE US ALREADY HAS A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT TO REPAY.

The social costs of fat cats:

By drawing huge salaries and bonuses, fat cats siphon off wealth from the system that makes it less able to employ people who would do essential jobs (like sweep the roads) and so society suffers from inferior amenities. Fat cats are like parasites. Better one unemployed talk show host than 10 unemployed street sweepers.

Krugman too is a fat cat:

Krugman is paid considerably to be a professor and what not related to his hyped celebrity when he may be contributing little if any apart from hot air and confusing others.

Thus better an unemployed Krugman than the number of unemployed workers whose cause he champions hypocritically.

Priced out of employment:

How much is the UN chief paid in salary and perks? Sure he is a very important man but is he worth the salary he draws?

If everyone in this world took a 10% salary cut there will be money to employ many jobless people.

THUS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PRICED OUT OF EMPLOYMENT AS A RESULT OF THE EVEN ABOMINABLY EXCESSIVE SALARIES PAID TO MANY (EG FOOTBALLERS DRAWING $100,000 PER WEEK).

IT IS ALL ABOUT HYPOCRISY FINDING EMPLOYMENT FOR THE UNEMPLOYED WHEN THOSE WHO ARE EMPLOYED WANT UNRIGHTEOUSLY HIGH PAY FOR THEMSELVES.

IT MAY NOT BE SO MUCH BAD ECONOMIC CONDITIONS CAUSING MASS UNEMPLOYMENT BUT MANY ARE PRICED OUT OF EMPLOYMENT BY THE EXCESSIVE, UNRIGHTEOUS SALARIES PAID TO FAT CATS WHO PIOUSLY SEEK TO REDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT.

NATO says sorry for killing civilians in Afghan raid

KABUL (Reuters) - The commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan apologised on Friday for killing civilians, including women and children gathering for a wedding, in an air strike this week that has stoked Afghan anger against foreign forces in the country.

He should save his sorries for himself because he and those responsible are going to feel very sorry for themselves when they get roasted in hell and become victims of others’ ruthlessness in future lives.

Barry Gibb: Robin now in heaven with Maurice

Barry Gibb paid an emotional tribute to brother Robin at his funeral saying he had been reunited with twin Maurice

Without knowing it is true that they are in heaven, anyone saying so must experience self resistance that is training yourself to speak with self resistance that is the cause of stress that leads to torment and ultimate insanity.

UNLESS YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE IN HEAVEN, IF YOU SAY SO WITHOUT KNOWING YOU MUST GENERATE SELF RESISTANCE WHILST SAYING IT THAT IS THE SOURCE OF STRESS THAT IS NEVER WONDERFUL BUT TERRIBLE, TORMENTING.

Even if you turn out right they are in heaven, if you speak without knowing you are guilty of falsity subject to punishment and suffering.

The aetiology of high unemployment:

Because of inflation it costs more to employ a labourer today than in the past but the labourer cannot help it because he needs more to survive and so because labourers cost more, employers cannot afford to hire more than they should. And those in the lower rungs have little clout and they cannot pull strings to get themselves employed, they are dispensable, discarded by the system that prefers to keep itself fat rather share the spoils.

And there is another pool of labour that is deemed elite, has clout to maintain themselves in work even parasitically at the expense of the system, people like CEOs, politicians, office holders, executives, singers, actors, sportsmen and what nots. It is the excessive demands and self rewards this pool has bestowed on themselves that is depriving the larger employment market of wealth needed to employ those who are needed to do essential services.

TODAY’S MASS UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOT JUST BECAUSE OF BAD TIMES BUT THE CHRONIC BUILD UP OF WAGE INEQUITIES, OF THE EXECUTIVE CLASS RELENTLESSLY REWARDING THEMSELVES EXCESSIVELY FOR THEIR WORK OR EVEN WITHOUT DOING WORK AND THE ORDINARY WORKERS (CLERKS, SALES PERSONNEL) WHOSE WAGES ARE HIGHER BECAUSE THEY NEED MORE TO SURVIVE CONTRIBUTING TO REDUCED AFFORDABILITY TO EMPLOY THEM FINALLY PRECIPITATING INTO A CRISIS.

Many women prefer to be paranoid than to be sorry

Only a person without true understanding will utter that, only a person without true understanding will accept what is said as true.

Paranoia is suspiciousness, it is a programmed state of the mind of someone who is a robot to be distrusting or suspect, it is blind and indiscriminate.

The reason based response is to be aware of dangers that may lurk in car parks, it is impossible to be totally safe walking in car parks and so if one cannot avoid, one has to be mindful that there may be predators hiding and to walk paying attention to potential ambush points, where it is possible to walk in paths with much traffic, avoid dark places, walk mindfully rather than preoccupied.

THE CORRECT RESPONSE IS TO BE MINDFUL OF THE POTENTIAL DANGERS LURKING IN CAR PARKS AND TO TAKE MEASURES WHERE POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE RISKS AND IT IS IN THE NATURE OF THIS WORLD THAT YOU CANNOT ESCAPE DANGER AND SO IF YOU SEEK SAFETY, GET OUT OF THIS CUT THROAT WORLD, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NOT CREATED DEBTS TO BE REPAID BY ASSAULT.

IT IS POINTLESS BEING PARANOID, THUS AGITATED AND SUSPICIOUS YOU CANNOT SEE AND REASON CLEARLY, IN YOUR PARANOIA INDUCED HAZE YOU MIGHT FAIL TO CONSIDER EVEN OBVIOUS STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM.

BETTER TO BE PARANOID THAN SORRY IS A RULE, ROBOTS LIKE RULES. A PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS DOES NOT NEED RULES, HE IS MINDFUL OF THE POTENTIAL DANGERS LURKING IN CAR PARKS AND HE TAKES MEASURES TO MITIGATE WHERE POSSIBLE. JUST ONE LOOK FROM AFAR CAN TELL HIM THE GUY IS DANGEROUS AND SO MOVE IMMEDIATELY AWAY THAN TOWARDS HIM.

The heedful are on guard always:

It is a matter of being careful in car parks, not paranoid which is self defeating because the jittery suspicious mind is handicapped in its efforts to avoid even obvious dangers.

The Buddha said you have to be on guard always, you have to guard your sense doors all the time, it is being watchful and mindful rather than distracted, carried away, preoccupied.

THAT YOU MUST BE CAREFUL (NOT THE SAME AS PARANOID) IN CAR PARKS IMPLY YOU LET DOWN YOUR GUARD (CARELESS) ELSEWHERE AND THAT IS THE WRONG ATTITUDE, ALWAYS YOU MUST BE ON GUARD, ATTENTIVE, BE AWARE OF WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND THAT IS ON IMPORTANCE TO YOU IN TERMS OF YOUR WELFARE.

Lunch with Warren Buffett auctioned for $3.5M

It is because of such crass abuse of monetary values that there are many unemployed, the money wasted on such grossly overpriced deals can go to employing many people.

There will be karma for those involved including Buffett who is deluded to see nothing wrong even right because his head is on the chopping board.

It is a waste of money paying so much to have lunch with him and those who see nothing wrong will go mad and that is never pleasant.

Spain rescue 'a victory for euro'

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy says a decision by eurozone ministers to help Spain shore up its struggling banks is a "victory for the euro".

Do you understand the falsity or delusion of what is happening?

People are celebrating and shares surge in response, but what has happened?

The euro has printed money that it does not have to bail out Spain’s banks but it remains to be seen whether the printed money will be repaid.

RATHER THAN TAKING IT SOLEMNLY, FULLY COMPREHENDING, PEOPLE ARE IRRATIONALLY CELEBRATING THE BAILOUT WITH PRINTED MONEY WITHOUT BACKING AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF SPAIN CAN REPAY THE BAILOUT.

THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT DISASTER HAS BEEN POSTPONED (NOT AVERTED) BUT HOW LONG CAN DISASTER BE POSTPONED?

The trickle down myth and lie:

It is often touted especially in the US the virtue of tax cuts in the face of economic bad times because it will spur capitalists and ‘captains of industries’ to be productive and make money which will have trickle down effects on the economy and the feeding chain below them. This is a lie and excuse for the rich to reward themselves with tax cuts that would heighten the sequestration of wealth in the higher strata of society.

Whatever trickle down is insignificant, most of wealth created if any remains in the upper reaches of society.

When you buy an iPhone, little of the money go to the workers assembling the units but most go to the fat cats in Apple, the CEOs. When the rich spent $100,000 on a Hermes handbag, little of the money go to the labourers who make the bags but most of the money remains in the higher reaches of society.

THE TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT IS AN EXCUSE, A LIE SPREAD WITHOUT SUBSTANTIATION TO JUSTIFY TAXES CUTS THAT FAVOR THE RICH MORE THAN ORDINARY TAX PAYERS AND WHATEVER TRICKLE DOWN IS PUNY COMPARED TO THE WEALTH LOCKED PERMANENTLY IN THE HIGHER REACHES THAT GETS WORSE WITH TIME AND NOW TOO MUCH MONEY IS LOCKED IN THE UPPER REACHES WHILST THE LOWER REACHES ARE FACED WITH A FATAL DROUGHT.

When the rich spend they mostly benefit their cohorts:

When a deluded rich man pays $3.5 million to have dinner with Buffett, little of the money is seen by those below looking for crumbs but most of the money is passed from one rich man to another rich man or his cronies.

AND SO IT IS THAT THOUGH RICH PEOPLE MAY BE VERY RICH AND THEY HAVE GREAT SPENDING POWERS, BY THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY PURCHASE (EG FABULOUS BIG HOUSES FROM FELLOW RICH PEOPLE, LUXURY CARS THAT BENEFIT RICH FERRARI MAKERS), THERE IS LITTLE TRICKLE DOWN OF THEIR WEALTH TO THE MASSES BELOW.

Upstairs downstairs:

The reality of society is as depicted in upstairs downstairs, there is the upper crust and there is the plenty crumbs below and there is little communication between the two except when the upper crust need the masses below to provide for them services and goods (slaughter the pigs for them to eat).

Wealth by preponderance passes one way, from down to up rather than up to down and once it has passed upwards it tends to remain there. Some may graduate from the masses to the upper crust but they are merely taking the places of others who may have lost fortunes or they continue the continued segregation and subjugation of the masses whose savings have been squandered by bankers and now reside also in the hands of the upper crust.

Nothing not even love gives happiness as concentration can:

This was said by the Buddha, nothing can give a person as much happiness as his concentration can, the higher the concentration he develops the higher his happiness and escape from suffering. The Buddha says he knows everything, there is nothing he does not thoroughly know and he says the higher the concentration a person has developed the higher the happiness and absence of suffering he obtains.

The Buddha has dwelt on the subject of happiness and he said material happiness dependent on sensate pleasures is the lowest, shallowest.

NOT EVEN LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF HIGH LET ALONE HIGHEST HAPPINESS.

THE FIRST HIGHER CONCENTRATION AND THEREBY HAPPINESS IS SERENITY OF MIND THAT REQUIRES THE ABSENCE OF STYLE, THE PERSON MUST SUCCEED IN NOT STRETCHING HIS SYLLABLES, NOT CHANGING (ACCELERATE) IN SPEED AND LOUDNESS THAT CHURNS OUT INSOLUBLE RENEWING STRESS, RESTLESSNESS AND INABILITY TO CONCENTRATE.

THE SECOND HIGHER CONCENTRATION AND HIGHER HAPPINESS IS THE FULLY CONSCIOUS CESSATION OF THINKING THAT UNIFIES THE MIND TO BECOME ONE POINTED, FOCUSED ON THE PRESENT IN FRONT OF HIM.

THE THIRD HIGHER CONCENTRATION AND THUS HAPPINESS IS WHEN A PERSON’S MENTAL FORCE HAS STOPPED STIRRING TO LIKE OR DISLIKE THINGS HAPPENING.

THE FOURTH HIGHER CONCENTRATION AND HAPPINESS IS WHEN HE HAS CUT OFF ALL RECEPTION OF FORCE WHICH IS NECESSARY TO FEEL PAIN AND PLEASURE. PAIN AND PLEASURE ARE BOTH PRODUCTS OF FORCE RECEIVED THROUGH THE SENSES AND BY CUTTING OFF ALL PERCEPTION OF FORCE THE PERSON ACHIEVES THE FOURTH HIGHEST CONCENTRATION CHARACTERISED BY NEITHER PAIN NOR PLEASURE.

A PERSON WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION HAS A MIND THAT IS UNMOVABLE LIKE A MOUNTAIN, NOTHING EXTERNAL CAN DISRUPT HIS CONCENTRATION AND THUS HAPPINESS AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE BUDDHA.

ANYONE WHO SEEKS HAPPINESS ELSEWHERE APART FROM DEVELOPING HIS CONCENTRATION IS BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE HEADING FOR SUFFERING AND DEATH. NOT EVEN LOVE IS THE FOUNTAIN OF HAPPINESS BUT THE HIGHEST HAPPINESS IS TO BE FOUND IN DEVELOPING AS HIGH A CONCENTRATION AS YOU CAN. THIS I CAN TESTIFY BECAUSE MY MIND NOW CAN REACH QUITE HIGH CONCENTRATION AND IT IS A DELIGHT TO RESIDE IN HIGH CONCENTRATION UNPERTURBED BY THINGS THAT PERTURB OTHERS.

LOVE IS A FEELING AND WHATEVER IS A FEELING CANNOT BE INDEFINITELY SUSTAINED, IT IS A FEELING DEPENDENT ON THE SELF GENERATION OF MILD FORCE AND SO IT IS ULTIMATELY TIRING, UNSATISFACTORY APART FROM BONDING ONESELF TO OTHERS. THE BUDDHA SAID HE HAS CUT OFF ALL TIES, THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS DEAR OR NOT DEAR TO HIM AND SO IT IS, IF ONE IS TO PERMANENTLY ESCAPE SUFFERING HE MUST CUT OFF ALL TIES AS THE BUDDHA TAUGHT.

Love is the greatest happiness you will find?

In various forms the above has been stated. What they call love is actually lust, like or attraction often of a sexual nature to possess and use another person.

Without knowing what you say is true you are speaking blindly to stir self resistance that results in stress and you are deluded that is the path to torment.

THE BUDDHA NEVER SAID LOVE IS THE GREATEST HAPPINESS YOU WILL FIND. HE SAID THE HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS ARE INCREASINGLY GREATER HAPPINESS. IF LOVE WAS THE GREATEST HAPPINESS YOU WILL FIND HE WOULD HAVE SAID SO SINCE HE HAS THOROUGHLY KNOWN EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW.

LOVE (NOT LUST) IS A FEELING CAUSED BY THE GENERATION OF MILD FORCE IN A PERSON IN RELATION TO ANOTHER AND BECAUSE IT IS DEPENDENT ON GENERATING FORCE, HOWEVER MILD, IT LEADS TO SUFFERING AND STRESS AND CANNOT BE INDEFINITELY MAINTAINED AND SO FOR ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS CORRECTLY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR LOVE TO BE THE GREATEST HAPPINESS YOU WILL FIND AND YOU ARE SPEAKING FALSELY GENERATING STRESS/DOUBT AND UNCERTAINTY AND DELUDING YOURSELF AND OTHERS SAYING SO.

‘Too much democracy’ hampers progress, says Dr M

‘Progress’ is nonspecific and people who are not robots speak specifically in a case by case basis, not in generalities ‘progress’.

Exactly what you have in mind as progress can be determined, what you call progress may not be progress but detrimental, it may be material progress for a privileged few even at the expense of the many eg toll roads penalize the masses for the benefit of toll collectors.

And so if your progress is material for the welfare of the privileged few at the expense of the many then it is progress in name not substance and too much democracy does not ‘hamper’ this ‘progress’ but hinder this plunder.

IF PROGRESS IS EUPHEMISM FOR PLUNDER THEN TOO MUCH DEMOCRACY HAMPERS PLUNDER NOT PROGRESS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE ROBOTS ARE FOND OF TALKING IN GENERALITIES ‘PROGRESS’ WHEREAS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ROBOTS PREFER TO TALK IN A CASE BY CASE BASIS. THERE MAY BE SOME CASES WHERE DEMOCRACY HINDERS PROGRESS AND OTHER CASES WHERE DEMOCRACY PROMOTES PROGRESS.

IT IS FALSE OR WRONG TO INDISCRIMINATELY SAY DEMOCRACY HINDERS PROGRESS BECAUSE SOMEONE MAY COME UP WITH AN IDEA OTHERS NEVER CONSIDERED. IF SOMETHING YOU SAY IS FALSE OR WRONG, YOU ARE ASKING FOR SUFFERING IN REPAYMENT.

Material progress is food that perishes:

All material progress is food that perishes and Jesus said do not go after food that perishes. And so all those who cherish material progress are headed for suffering; bonded to this world of perishing.

Thus if this progress you have in mind is not wholesome (the fact that you perceive it as good reflects delusion not reality), then it is good not bad for democracy to hamper progress or it does not matter.

MATERIAL PROGRESS FOSTERS ATTACHMENT TO THIS WORLD AND SO IT IS NEVER GOOD AND IF IT IS NOT GOOD, WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF DEMOCRACY HAMPERS IT?

YOU MARVEL AT INTERNET PROGRESS BUT THERE MAY BE THINGS FAR MORE MARVELLOUS THAN THE INTERNET IN HEAVEN. GOD CAN INSTANTLY CREATE (AND DISAPPEAR) A FERRARI OR PALACE AND SO YOU ARE A FOOL TO MAKE MUCH OF MATERIAL PROGRESS. YOU WANT FOOD AND FISH, GOD CAN INSTANTLY CREATE AN ENDLESS STREAM OF FRESH BREAD AND FISH FOR YOU TO HAUL IN.

Self serving and vested:

When it is the progress championed by himself or those he is aligned with, he is critical of democracy but when it is the progress of his enemies that is hampered by democracy he is all for greater democracy.

Only concentration gives true happiness, long life, supernatural powers and wisdom:

This was said by the Buddha, who claims to be the highest, who knows everything: only developed great concentration gives the highest/stable happiness (and thus freedom from suffering), long life (even for 60,000 eternities or Ages), supernatural powers (move mountains, stop someone lifting something, fly in the air, walk on water) and highest wisdom.

There is true and false happiness.

False happiness is shallow, fleeting (easily lost), deceptive in that it leads to suffering afterwards and these are happiness related to sensuality (great food, great sex, great sights and sounds).

True happiness is deep, stable and does not lead to suffering in the aftermath. And high concentration is itself great happiness. The person who experiences the first higher state of mind (serenity with discursive thinking which necessitates no stretching of syllables, changing speed and loudness) automatically is incomparably happier compared to those mired in style, in incessant mad prolonging, changing speed and loudness. The second higher state of mind or the fully conscious cessation of all (distracting) thinking automatically gives an even higher happiness, ditto neither stirring one’s mental force to like or dislike, neither pain nor pleasure. Pleasure must not be mistaken for happiness, pleasure itself is painful and leads to pain because it is mild force that gives pleasure and sustained pleasure leads to pain.

Whatever other happiness you can obtain here does not give you long life greater than your span of life here. The concentration that gives the happiness of the first higher state of mind gives that person a lifespan of one Age in heaven free of disease, decay and death. The Buddha said one Age is a very long time, if you take out one mustard seed per 100 years from a room filled with mustard seeds, you will run out of seeds before the Age comes to an end. Again the concentration associated with the cessation of thinking gives even higher happiness and a lifespan of 2 eternities in heaven according to the Buddha, the concentration of neither liking nor disliking gives an even higher happiness and a lifespan of 4 eternities. Neither pain nor pleasure gives a lifespan of 500 eternities in heavenly bliss.

It is concentration and nothing else that endows the person with even great supernatural powers like walking on water, flying through the air, stopping anyone from splitting a log using an axe, disappear and reappearing in another place, creating bread out of nothing. The Buddha can make someone sitting beside him invisible to others.

According to the Buddha, without developing great concentration you cannot develop great wisdom, with great concentration comes great wisdom, it is impossible for someone with great concentration to be a fool.

YOU MAY HAVE YOUR OWN IDEA WHAT CONCENTRATION IS (THAT MAY OR IS DELUSION) BUT ACCORDING TO THE BUDDHA CONCENTRATION COMES IN FOUR PROGRESSIVE STATES, SERENITY OF MIND WITH THINKING (NECESSITATES NO STYLE OR USE OF FORCE TO STRETCH SYLLABLES, CHANGE SPEED AND LOUDNESS), THE FULLY CONSCIOUS CESSATION OF THINKING, NEITHER STIRRING YOUR MENTAL FORCE TO LIKE OR DISLIKE, CUTTING OFF ALL RECEPTION OF FORCE TO EXPERIENCE NEITHER PAIN NOR PLEASURE.

IT IS GREAT CONCENTRATION (AND NOTHING ELSE) THAT GIVES GREAT STABLE HAPPINESS, GREAT LONGEVITY EVEN UP TO 60,000 ETERNITIES IN HEAVEN FREE OF DISEASE, AGING AND DEATH, GREAT SUPERNATURAL POWERS AND GREAT WISDOM.

THUS YOU ARE A BIG FOOL PREOCCUPIED WITH MAKING MORE, SEEKING SENSUAL PLEASURES AND MAXIMIZING THE MATERIAL GAINS (MONEY, PROPERTY, WIVES AND CHILDREN, FAME, STATUS) OF YOUR BRIEF EXISTENCE HERE.

Deep stable happiness cannot be found without concentration:

If you think you can find comparable even superior happiness without developing concentration, without achieving the four higher states of mind, you may be right or a big fool.

IF TRUE, DEEP STABLE HAPPINESS IS WHAT YOU WANT, YOU CANNOT OBTAIN IT BY ANY OTHER MEANS EXCEPT BY DEVELOPING PROGRESSIVELY THE FOUR HIGHER STATES OF MIND IN YOU UNTIL YOU BECOME SKILLFUL AT CONSISTENTLY RAPIDLY ENTERING THESE HIGHER STATES, NAMELY NO STYLE (NO STRETCHED SYLLABLES, SPEED AND LOUDNESS CHANGES), NO THINKING, NO LIKING AND DISLIKING, NO PAIN NOR PLEASURE.

Salvation cannot be found through food:

Jesus said you shall not care for what you will eat and wear because what you eat and wear is of little true or everlasting consequences.

There are many who do not realize they are deluded in believing that if they are careful in their eating, if they eat certain foods and avoid certain foods they will preserve their health and prolong their lives here.

THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN EAT THAT WILL PRESERVE YOUR HEALTH AND PROLONG YOUR LIFE HERE. IF YOU TRULY WANT TO PRESERVE YOUR HEALTH AND PROLONG YOUR LIFE HERE, YOU ARE MUCH BETTER SERVED ADDRESSING THE MORALITY OF YOUR SPEECH AND DEEDS BECAUSE THE BUDDHA SAID HOW SICKLY AND HOW LONG A PERSON LIVES IS DEPENDENT SOLELY ON KARMA. IT IS YOUR KARMA THAT DETERMINES WHETHER YOU ARE SHORT LIVED OR NOT, SICKLY OR HEALTHY.

EVEN IF THE FOOD INDEED PROLONGS YOUR LIFE HERE AND PRESERVES YOUR HEALTH, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE CERTAIN, CANNOT SEE IT DOING SO EXCEPT IN FALSE PERCEPTION, YOU ARE EMBRACING DOUBT AND UNCERTAINTY, STIRRING SELF RESISTANCE THAT LEADS TO STRESS PRACTICING SOMETHING YOU CANNOT SEE IS TRUE.

It is impossible that food can be salvation because foods are a matter of chemical reactions and processes that release force or energy to be utilized as power, such force reactions no matter how beneficial must also wear or degrade the body.

FOODS ARE ABOUT CHEMICAL REACTIONS AND CHEMICAL REACTIONS ARE FORCE REACTIONS THAT NO MATTER HOW BENEFICIAL, SUBJECTS ONE’S BODY TO FORCE THAT WEARS OR DEGRADES IT AND SO IT IS DELUSION TO SEEK SALVATION THROUGH FOODS.

Not a matter of faith to me:

As the Buddha said below, for those who have realized or tasted it, it is not a matter of faith, it is only those who have not tasted it themselves who must take it on faith from others that it is so.

It may be a matter of faith to you that abolishing style or the constant use of force to stretch syllables, change speed and loudness is the key to the first higher state of mind that is incomparable freedom from stress, restlessness, inability to concentration and the robotic rehashing existence but to me, it is reality, I have achieved and make it known for myself.

Pubbakotthaka Sutta: Eastern Gatehouse

I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Savatthi, at the Eastern Gatehouse. There he addressed Ven. Sariputta: "Sariputta, do you take it on conviction that the faculty of conviction, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation? Do you take it on conviction that the faculty of persistence...mindfulness...concentration...discernment, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation?"

"Lord, it's not that I take it on conviction in the Blessed One that the faculty of conviction...persistence...mindfulness...concentration...discernment, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation. Those who have not known, seen, penetrated, realized, or attained it by means of discernment would have to take it on conviction in others that the faculty of conviction...persistence...mindfulness...concentration...discernment, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation; whereas those who have known, seen, penetrated, realized, & attained it by means of discernment would have no doubt or uncertainty that the faculty of conviction...persistence...mindfulness...concentration...discernment, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation. And as for me, I have known, seen, penetrated, realized, & attained it by means of discernment. I have no doubt or uncertainty that the faculty of conviction...persistence...mindfulness...concentration...discernment, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation."

"Excellent, Sariputta. Excellent. Those who have not known, seen, penetrated, realized, or attained it by means of discernment would have to take it on conviction in others that the faculty of conviction...persistence...mindfulness...concentration...discernment, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation; whereas those who have known, seen, penetrated, realized, & attained it by means of discernment would have no doubt or uncertainty that the faculty of conviction...persistence...mindfulness...concentration...discernment, when developed & pursued, plunges into the Deathless, has the Deathless as its goal & consummation."

Proficiency in English leads to better salaries

PETALING JAYA: A research study has confirmed that there is a correlation between English language skills and the salary gap between those who are proficient in the language and those who are not.

Proficiency in English does not always lead to better salaries and so you are wrong to say so, it may lead to better salaries.

To be proficient in English just to increase salary is an incorrect reason to learn English, it is calculating and because it is wrong, it is controlled insanity that ends in insanity.

BETTER SALARIES IS AN INVALID REASON FOR BEING PROFICIENT AND IT IS CALCULATING AND THUS IT IS THE PRACTICE OF FALSITY THAT ENDS IN INSANITY. IT IS A FORM OF ROBOTIC PROGRAMMING SUCH THAT SOON THE PERSON IS ALWAYS CALCULATING, SEEKING WAYS TO MAKE MORE MONEY. IT IS THE MONEY MADE THAT COUNTS.

Practicing what is stressful and only correcting later:

Ordinary people are deluding themselves if they think they know how to take care of themselves because every posture they take, everything they do or take is not easeful but stressful but they do not pay attention, they are preoccupied in their greedy pursuits and only much later when the stress or tension of their postures or actions have built up to painful levels do they take action to adjust by which time it is too late because it would take much time for the built up stress or tension to unwind.

Sitting slumped or stylishly with feet propped on the table and chair tilted backwards is stressful, not easeful or comfortable but ordinary people do so out of habit or to impress people how stylish or casual they are.

Crossing the arms firmly across the chest or bending wrists and rotating forearms are not the most easeful postures but people do it out of habit and to appear stylish and they only adjust much later when it becomes tiring even uncomfortable.

Talking animatedly, charmingly with constant stretching of syllables, changing speed and loudness is not easeful but immediately causes stress but ordinary people do so out of habit and they only shut up much later when the stress becomes too much.

WHETHER IT IS THE POSTURE OF THEIR HEADS, BODIES OR LIMBS, HOW THEY SIT OR STAND, WHAT THEY SAY OR DO, PEOPLE PRACTICE WHAT IS NEVER THE MOST EASEFUL EVEN WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE BUT THEY PTRACTICE WHAT IS STRESS INDUCING, OUT OF HABIT OR FOR SHOW AND THEY ONLY TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS MUCH LATER WHEN THE STRESS OR TENSION HAS BUILT UP TO LEVELS THAT DEMAND CHANGE BY WHICH TIME IT IS TOO LATE AND THEY NEED MUCH TIME TO RECOVER.

IF YOU THINK THE POSTURES YOU ASSUME ARE THE MOST COMFORTABLE FOR YOU TO ASSUME, YOU MAY BE DELUDED BECAUSE YOU ARE A MASOCHIST, ASSUMING POSTURES THAT MAY BE STYLISH BUT ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, LEADS TO STRESS BUILD UP EVEN WHEN THERE ARE POSTURES THAT ARE MORE SUSTAINABLY COMFORTABLE.

BY WILFULLY SUBJECTING YOURSELF TO STRESS EVERYDAY, YOU ARE WILLING YOURSELF TO STRESS AND THAT IS NOT THE PATH TO HAPPINESS LATER BUT EVEN ETERNAL STRESS AFTER YOU DIE.

There is no happy or easy way to perish:

The Buddha said the vast majority of people perish; few make it to safety and the eternal happiness of heaven.

Whatever your suffering now cannot compare with the difficulties and suffering when you perish and the ocean of suffering that must be negotiated before you return here as a human again.

IF IT IS YOUR LOT TO PERISH THEN DO NOT EXPECT IT TO BE EASY OR HAPPY, IT MAY FAR EXCEED WHATEVER SUFFERING YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED HERE. AS JESUS SAID, FEAR HIM (GOD) WHO CAN DESTROY YOUR SOUL IN HELL.

This was said by the Blessed One: "Suppose a man was being carried along by the flow of a river, lovely & alluring. And then another man with good eyesight, standing on the bank, on seeing him would say: 'My good man, even though you are being carried along by the flow of a river, lovely & alluring, further down from here is a pool with waves & whirlpools, with monsters & demons. On reaching that pool you will suffer death or death-like pain.' Then the first man, on hearing the words of the second man, would make an effort with his hands & feet to go against the flow.

"I have given you this simile to illustrate a meaning. The meaning is this: the flow of the river stands for craving. Lovely & alluring stands for the six internal sense-media. The pool further down stands for the five lower fetters.* The waves stand for anger & distress. The whirlpools stand for the five strands of sensuality. The monsters & demons stand for the opposite sex. Against the flow stands for renunciation. Making an effort with hands & feet stands for the arousing of persistence. The man with good eyesight standing on the bank stands for the Tathagata, worthy & rightly self-awakened."

Even if it's with pain,
you should abandon sensual desires
if you aspire to future safety from bondage.
Alert, with a mind well-released,
touch release now here, now there.
An attainer-of-wisdom,
having fulfilled the holy life,
is said to have gone to the end of the world, gone
beyond.