High-frequency trading as a form of Nirvana

Ciro Santilli once talked to a man who had been working on high-frequency trading for the last six years.

He was quite nice.

Ciro asked him in what way did he feel his job contributed to the benefit of society.

He replied that it didn't contribute at all. It was completely useless. More than that, it so completely useless, that it was even pure. A bit like advanced mathematics, but not even providing beauty for anybody outside of the company, since everything is a closely guarded trade secret, unlike mathematics which is normally published for the vanity recognition.

And so, Ciro was enlightened.

A great mind can work in the most useless branches of finance, without the desire to improve the world, nor make it worse. Not to compete, nor be afraid, nor anxious. A Sand mandala.

Only being. Being, in the exact fraction of moment where bid meets ask.

Nirvana.