shame

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The stereotyped Jewish mom may wish her son would become a doctor or a lawyer or a well-heeled stock broker, but in Athens, a sign in one hospital reads, "The doctors on duty have been unpaid since May. Please respect their work."

Interesting how what once seemed to assure stature in life -- money -- falls short when things get serious. Doctors and lawyers and stock brokers and bankers may not be trained to understand shame -- they've got theirs, after all, and the stereotyped Jewish moms applauded -- but the economic woes of the world throw their insouciant arrogance into relief.

A Zen Buddhist teacher once told a student, "In order to do this practice, you must feel shame." Shame, of course, can be as self-serving and arrogant as any other capacity, but I am wary of those who lack the capacity and do what I can to stay out of their path.

Something else for me to be ashamed of, perhaps.
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