Practice

"Suppose a goldsmith takes his tongs and puts some gold into the furnace to melt it. If he blows on the heat too much, it will get too hot, but if he sprinkles too much water, it will cool down. If he constantly takes it out and looks at it, it will not reach refinement. But if he does all these things from time to time, aware of the nature of gold, it will become easily molded and bright. In the same way, there are three qualities that a practitioner should pay attention to--concentration, determination, and equanimity. If he pays the right attention to these at the right time, then his mind will become like gold, pliant and brilliant and pure." from Anguttara Nikaya, a collection of Buddhist teachings. 

I thought this quotation would be appropriate as the stockbrokers panic over the Double Dip. 

Practice is grounded in balance. Practice is living in change and actively becoming reborn through change. By attending to practice above all, I avoid being swept away by the tides of trends and crises. I know my way to my end. I am determined to walk the path, free from unnecessary burden and suffering. Materialism holds no attraction for me. It is a distraction from my path. Anger and violence have no hold on me. They are distractions from my path. Peace and love light my way and lighten my step.