Family First

My Father In-Law is have heart surgery today, so I won't be posting until tomorrow. Wish him good feelings.

Namaste'

// Jaye Morris, Curator
// digitalZENDO

Debbie Shank Wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Keith Olbermann and many others protesting Walmart and their mis-treatment of Debbie Shank, they have officially dropped their claim against her, as of this afternoon. Right on! This is the right thing for Walmart today. I myself sent them an email and also made some posts on Digg.com and thankfully many, many others did the same. I'd like to believe that we made a difference for someone who deserves the help. For everyone who participated in the process, good job.

As for my encouraging and participating in a boycott of Walmart, that is now over. Fair is fair.

Happiness,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Lesson | What is Wrong with Big Business and Us

I was watching Keith Olbermann's "Worst Person in the world." He talked about Debbie Shank who was severely injured when she was struck by a vehicle. Walmart successfully sued her for her settlement to get back what they paid through her medical insurance, as a Walmart employee. It turns out the settlement was 417,000 dollars that would be used for ongoing medical services, life expenses, etc... Walmart sued her for 470,000. Adding insult to injury, her 18 year old son was killed in Iraq.

Her family has paid the ultimate price so that we can live and we live and do as we would like to do. She is in the process of paying a terrible price due to her accident, yet there is no mercy. This is what is wrong with so-called "Big Business." There is no heart, no respect, no compassion and definitely no character. Pathetic. I find it sad and appalling that in so many instances, life has become what we can extract, instead of what we can give. There is something deeply wrong about this and if we continue to shop at Walmart, it is like support an entity that is not only inhumane but inhuman.

In closing please keep in mind that Walmart's did 348.7 Billion (yes I said billion) last year. I think they may not have needed Mrs. Shanks money all that bad. Use your head and your wallet. Stop support the social irresponsibility of Walmart, until they correct their behavior. If we turn our head and look away, there is something gravely wrong with us. For those who may argue that Medicaid will kick in, remember this has absolutely nothing to do with expenses of life. Remember that she is not brain-damaged, due to her tragic accident.

For More on this store, check out these links:
AFL-CIO Blog
Mother Jones
MSN Money

Sincerely,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Positive Samadhi

One thing that I really look forward to every month is the teisho from Genjo Marinello Osho that I download from iTunes. At least once a week, I listen to one of them when I am doing Zazen. It really helps to direct my mind and encourage my Zen practice. I've come to regard this as invaluable and essential.

Over the weekend, I downloaded Genjo Roshi's latest teisho entitled "Positive Samadhi." His expression of Dharma gave me some new things to consider and use in my practice. One small example is the use of the word "Samadhi" itself. I have always be taught and heard this word to mean "complete absorption," or "one pointed, undivided, stabilized mind." Genjo Roshi however translated the word to mean "Harmony." He then goes on in a lively way to demonstrate this. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. This simple translation completely flipped my approach not only to the word "Samadhi," and his given me a new point of reference that impacts how I face my life. For me to say more would prove foolish. You will have to see what you can discover for yourself. If you do, please share it here with us.

As ever, if you want to listen, please know the following:

1. You don't need an iPod to enjoy podcast. All you really need is a computer.


2. You can download it from iTunes for free. Look in the podcast directory.


3. If you don't use iTunes, you can listen and download it for free at switchpod.com

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

A Little Fun?

Which side of your brain do you operate out of? Here's quick visual test from the Daily Telegraph that might help you figure it out. Let me know your results. I'm interested to hear.

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO.com

As Einstein See's the World

I came across "The World As I See It," by Albert Einstein. Though short, he opens some interesting rooms to explore.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

Thinking about Burma

“If you assume that there is no hope, you guarantee that there will be no hope. If; however, you assume that there is an instinct for freedom and opportunities to change things, there is a chance that you may contribute to making a better world. That is your choice.” -Noam Chomsky

In Burma the struggle to change and evolve into something new... hopefully better continues. Over the weekend, there where many marches and protests, hoping that it would be strikingly clear to the Burmese Military that the world is watching and expecting peaceful action.

Though it may often seem as though our efforts towards peace go unheard at this moment, that does not imply that they won’t be heard later one. The ever so critical key is that we repeat our message over and over, like a mantra, so that the flame of truth does

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Cruator
digitalZENDO

What is Wrong With People?

An African American Woman, was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, multiple stab wounds and other lacerations, part of her hair ripped out and psychologically assaulted in many ways, by a group of 6 males and females in West Virginia. Click here to read the story.

What is wrong with people? Though the potential "hate crime" charges where placed aside for different charges which are "stiffer," this is nothing but hate and insanity. I am stunned by this sort of behavior and it causes me to question what in our culture breeds such things where not one but six people think up and commit such an atrocity. We need some serious work in our so-called "culture."

September 11 | A 2007 Reflection

It's September 11th and I'm thinking about what does it mean. Given the current state of the war and how the Bush administration has managed to conflate 9/11 with the Iraq war, I feel a little odd about it all. For me Iraq has changed the feeling around 9/11 for me. It's difficult to explain how, but I feel like the tragedy has been used like marketing to justify all sorts of things that don't necessarily fit together. On top of all that, Bin-Laden is still out there somewhere and it's like there is no emphasis on bringing the real master-mind of this horror to justice. I find that kind of odd. No-one really seems to talk about that. This issue is like looking through a pair of blurry glasses or dense fog. There's not a lot of definition and many things are unrecognizable to us, including certain aspects of American culture.

By our nations actions and response, I wonder if we have given the surviving family, significant others and friends any sense of comfort or embrace. They still must carry a deep sense of sorrow. I have a lot of questions and thoughts about it that I'm not sure if it's really okay to speak, because others might be offended.

May all beings be happy. May all beings be free.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO

How to Do the Wrong Thing

I am amazed, shocked, surprised and disappointed by the Israeli governments response in turning away to 50 Darfur refugees (survivors of the current genocide) seeking asylum. When the world said, things like genocide would never be permitted to happen again, odd that it is those that it was purported against the most are will to support it happening again. One would think that they more than anyone else could identify with experience of genocide, but it seems that reliance on “policies” has helped them to avert both their hearts and eyes to compassion.

Read the CNN report by clicking this link.

Related Content:
Save Darfur
Darfur Genocide Intervention
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Namaste’

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO.com

It's a Process, Not an Event

As you can see, I began redesigning the layout. This will be a part of a phased process. I will begin adding the "Library" and "Zen Center" resource list. Please stay tuned.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please let me know by way of comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO.com

Pownce on It

For those who are in the look, I received a Pownce invite last week and started using it. It you happen to have one and are would like to share discussions on Buddhist practice and related aspects, add me to your friends list. I'm finding Pownce pretty cool.

// Jaye Morris, Curator
// digitalZENDO.com

I know this is about Zen but...

I received a letter from Verizon Wireless regarding my cell phone insurance. As I was reading the new contract, I saw some interesting things in there. There are some things that your phone is,not covered by:

A. Governmental authority (including seizures and destruction of property)
B. Nuclear hazard (including Nuclear reaction and radiation.
C. War (both declared and undeclared...Warlike action, insurrection, rebellion, revolution, usurped power or action taken by governmental authority.

Basically after you get through reading all the stuff, nothing is covered. But the above was very striking, given that I live in America with a highly stable (though crappy... Go Progressives!) government. I'd hate to seriously consider a time when something like that stuff could seriously happen here. Talk about impermanence.

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO.com

Mothers Day

For all those mothers who have carried, supported, nurtured, parented and help to sustain life, thank you. I say this because to be a mother can be an amazing act of compassion that we can sometimes easily overlook.

Namaste'

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO.com

And Moving Right Along

My apologies for being down for the last week. I had a technical problem with the company where digitalZENDO is hosted. Most of the technical glitches have been worked out, but I will have to rebuild some of the content. Because of this, I had decided to take advantage of the situation and convert the blog to a different look and style. As ever, I've been so busy that I have not been able to complete as much as I would have liked. Please be patient as I get all the systems back up and online.

Gassho,

Jaye Morris, Curator
digitalZENDO.com