{"product_id":"being-buddha-at-work-isbn-9781609942922","title":"Being Buddha at Work","description":"\u003cb\u003e“Skillfully integrate[s] timeless Buddhist wisdom with challenges faced by the present-day employee.” —\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIncludes an introduction by His Holiness the Dalai Lama\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFor thousands of years, Buddhism has provided a spiritual foundation for the daily lives of millions around the world. But does Buddhism have anything to offer us—Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike—in today’s world of work? \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFranz Metcalf and BJ Gallagher think it does. Spiritual wisdom, Western or Eastern, inspires and instructs us in living a good life. And that’s just as true at work as at home. Buddha mind—a source of calm, compassion, and insight—exists within each of us, not just the historical Buddha. \u003ci\u003eBeing Buddha at Work\u003c\/i\u003e shows how to embody that mind in the stress and clamor of the workplace—how to tap into the Buddha consciousness so we can relieve daily tensions and greet challenges with awareness, equanimity, and good humor. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe book’s first section, “Becoming a Mindful Worker,” covers Buddha’s wisdom for our own work; the second, “Cultivating Mindful Work Relationships,” focuses on how to work with other people; the third, “Creating a Mindful Workplace,” deals with broader organizational topics. There is wisdom here for everyone—from frontline workers and team members, to supervisors and managers, to top executives and organizational leaders.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“What do you get when a Buddhist scholar and a workplace expert write a book together? . . . A treatise with profound spiritual implications and practical applications.” —Marshall Goldsmith, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e-bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Earned Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“This little book is like having Buddha as one of your mentors or coaches—someone who can help you with real-world problems.” —Ken Blanchard, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e-bestselling coauthor of \u003ci\u003eThe One Minute Manager\u003c\/i\u003e®Foreword \u003cbr\u003e Introduction: Putting Buddha to Work   \u003cbr\u003e Part I: Becoming a Mindful Worker   \u003cbr\u003e CHOOSING MINDFUL WORK\u003cbr\u003e Advantages of mindful work   \u003cbr\u003e Choosing the right career or job   \u003cbr\u003e Becoming a great employee   \u003cbr\u003e Self-esteem   \u003cbr\u003e Dealing with distractions   \u003cbr\u003e PRACTICAL ENLIGHTENMENT\u003cbr\u003e Beginner’s mind   \u003cbr\u003e Establishing priorities   \u003cbr\u003e Time management   \u003cbr\u003e Procrastination   \u003cbr\u003e Too much email   \u003cbr\u003e Getting lost in cyberspace   \u003cbr\u003e Selling without selling out   \u003cbr\u003e Really distasteful jobs   \u003cbr\u003e QUALITY OF WORK LIFE\u003cbr\u003e When smart people do dumb things   \u003cbr\u003e Discouragement   \u003cbr\u003e Rumors and gossip   \u003cbr\u003e The company you keep   \u003cbr\u003e Achieving work\/life balance   \u003cbr\u003e The cost of integrity and wisdom   \u003cbr\u003e BEING SUCCESSFUL\u003cbr\u003e Achieving goals   \u003cbr\u003e Multitasking   \u003cbr\u003e Finding the “right” answer to a problem   \u003cbr\u003e Admitting mistakes   \u003cbr\u003e Getting promoted   \u003cbr\u003e Celebrating accomplishments   \u003cbr\u003e Happiness vis a vis success   \u003cbr\u003e MONEY AND HAPPINESS\u003cbr\u003e “The root of all evil”   \u003cbr\u003e Personal wealth   \u003cbr\u003e Creating a long-term spending plan   \u003cbr\u003e Greed   \u003cbr\u003e Getting rich   \u003cbr\u003e Financial setbacks and losses   \u003cbr\u003e Financial hardship   \u003cbr\u003e Planning for retirement   \u003cbr\u003e DEALING WITH CHANGE\u003cbr\u003e Resistance to change   \u003cbr\u003e Anxiety, fear and stress   \u003cbr\u003e Losing your job   \u003cbr\u003e Changing careers   \u003cbr\u003e Finding new work   \u003cbr\u003e Taking care of yourself in difficult times   \u003cbr\u003e Part II: Cultivating Mindful Work Relationships   \u003cbr\u003e WORKING WITH OTHERS\u003cbr\u003e Getting along with others   \u003cbr\u003e The golden rule   \u003cbr\u003e Influencing others   \u003cbr\u003e Doing something extra for others   \u003cbr\u003e Double standards between ourselves and others   \u003cbr\u003e Work spouses   \u003cbr\u003e The importance of listening   \u003cbr\u003e Receiving negative feedback   \u003cbr\u003e Teaching or training a coworker   \u003cbr\u003e Criticizing someone   \u003cbr\u003e Encouraging personal accountability   \u003cbr\u003e Helping others deal with change   \u003cbr\u003e DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE\u003cbr\u003e Dealing with jerks   \u003cbr\u003e Coworkers who lie   \u003cbr\u003e Handling people-pleasers   \u003cbr\u003e Being badmouthed   \u003cbr\u003e Anger   \u003cbr\u003e Adulterous affairs at work   \u003cbr\u003e Whiners and negative people   \u003cbr\u003e Conflict with a teammate   \u003cbr\u003e CUSTOMERS: LOVE ’EM OR LOSE ’EM\u003cbr\u003e The importance of customer service   \u003cbr\u003e Encouragement for customer service people   \u003cbr\u003e Handling an angry customer   \u003cbr\u003e Bad customer service   \u003cbr\u003e Public relations   \u003cbr\u003e Part III: Creating a Mindful Workplace   \u003cbr\u003e LEADERSHIP AND BOSSES\u003cbr\u003e True leadership   \u003cbr\u003e Identifying and selecting good leaders   \u003cbr\u003e Becoming a great employer or boss   \u003cbr\u003e Bosses who surround themselves with “yes” men   \u003cbr\u003e Tough, demanding bosses   \u003cbr\u003e Executive egos   \u003cbr\u003e Power struggles   \u003cbr\u003e Terrible bosses   \u003cbr\u003e THE BIG ISSUES\u003cbr\u003e Making a profit   \u003cbr\u003e Bottom line thinking vs. Buddha mind thinking   \u003cbr\u003e Writing a mission statement   \u003cbr\u003e Investing in the future   \u003cbr\u003e Developing a learning organization   \u003cbr\u003e Encouraging creativity and innovation   \u003cbr\u003e Corporate responsibility\u003cbr\u003e Going Green   \u003cbr\u003e WORK PRACTICES AND PROCESSES\u003cbr\u003e Short-term versus long-term thinking   \u003cbr\u003e Designing work processes   \u003cbr\u003e Technology   \u003cbr\u003e Business gurus and consultants   \u003cbr\u003e Improving communication within an organization   \u003cbr\u003e Running an effective meeting   \u003cbr\u003e THE CARE AND FEEDING OF EMPLOYEES \u003cbr\u003e Selecting and hiring the right person for the job   \u003cbr\u003e Motivating people   \u003cbr\u003e Expectations   \u003cbr\u003e Employee training   \u003cbr\u003e Increasing employee morale   \u003cbr\u003e Job security   \u003cbr\u003e Guiding career development   \u003cbr\u003e Incentives and bonuses   \u003cbr\u003e SOLVING PEOPLE PROBLEMS \u003cbr\u003e Policies and procedures   \u003cbr\u003e Employee diversity   \u003cbr\u003e Stereotyping   \u003cbr\u003e Sexism   \u003cbr\u003e Sexual harassment   \u003cbr\u003e Squabbling coworkers   \u003cbr\u003e Firing someone for poor performance   \u003cbr\u003e Lack of trust   \u003cbr\u003e ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE\u003cbr\u003e Reorganizing, mergers and acquisitions    \u003cbr\u003e Outsourcing and rightsizing   \u003cbr\u003e Corporate crises and scandals   \u003cbr\u003e Turning around a business   \u003cbr\u003e Starting a new business   \u003cbr\u003e Glossary of Buddhist Terms\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e About the Authors“This book, \u003ci\u003eBeing Buddha at Work\u003c\/i\u003e, attempts to relate the Buddha’s advice to the modern workplace. I trust that readers will find inspiration here and pray that those who do will meet with success in putting that inspiration into effect.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—from the foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “\u003ci\u003eBeing Buddha at Work\u003c\/i\u003e made me think; it made me chuckle; it made me reflect. This little book is like having Buddha as one of your mentors or coaches—someone who can help you with real-world problems.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Ken Blanchard, coauthor of \u003ci\u003eThe One Minute Manager® \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eLeading at a Higher Level\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Most of us could benefit from having a little more of Buddha in us during our daily lives. This is a great guide to transcending the tensions of the workplace and facing issues with humor and equanimity.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Walter Isaacson, President, The Aspen Institute, and author of the biographies \u003ci\u003eSteve Jobs\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eEinstein\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eBenjamin Franklin\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “What do you get when a Buddhist scholar and a workplace expert write a book together? \u003ci\u003eBeing Buddha at Work\u003c\/i\u003e—a treatise with profound spiritual implications and practical applications. Being mindful was never as important as it is in today’s high-stress business climate.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Marshall Goldsmith, author of \u003ci\u003eMojo\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhat Got You Here Won’t Get You There\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “As a Tibetan lama, I am happy that workers everywhere can benefit from Buddha’s teachings in their jobs and careers by reading this inspiring book. These same teachings have guided my Nyingmapa lineage for centuries, so it is richly rewarding to see them expanded into this new realm.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Tulku Tsori Rinpoche, founder of Yogi Tsoru Dechen Rinpoche Foundation\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “In a world where people are stressed, overworked, and constantly distracted by screens, this book is a gentle wake-up call. Written in a clear and loving language, it will bring a smile of recognition to your lips and help you wipe the dust off your mind’s mirror.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e—Dr. Cristina Rocha, Managing Editor, \u003ci\u003eJournal of Global Buddhism\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eFranz Metcalf teaches religious studies at California State University, Los Angeles. He is the president of the Western Region of the American Academy of Religion and an active leader in the Forge Institute. His books include What Would Buddha Do? and Buddha in Your Backpack.\u003cbr\u003e BJ Gallagher is a workplace consultant and dynamic workshop leader and speaker. Her clients include IBM, Chevron, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Chrysler, John Deere Credit, and the League of California Cities, among others. Her business books include the international bestseller A Peacock in the Land of Penguins and Yes Lives in the Land of No.Introduction\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Putting Buddha to Work\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e THIS BOOK IS for people who seek to apply ancient spiritual wisdom to current workplace situations. Sometimes this means ancient solutions to today’s problems. Sometimes it means new perspectives on timeless troubles. In all cases, we put Buddha to work because he was not some solitary hermit; he was the founder and CEO of a growing organization. As you get into this book, you’ll see what we mean.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Most people who perform paid work outside the home spend more of their waking time at work than anywhere else. They see their bosses more than they do their spouses. They spend more time and energy dealing with difficult coworkers than they do with their own difficult children. For many of us, work itself has become an important way to establish personal identity, to meet social needs, to build satisfaction through accomplishment, and to find purpose and meaning in life. It’s also a place where we face the fundamental truths of the world according to Buddhism: everything is frustrating, everything is interconnected, and everything is impermanent. (Note that these are translations of dukkha, anatta, and anicca, the “three marks” of existence. See the glossary for more information on these and many other Buddhist terms.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It should come as no surprise, then, that workers at all levels, in all kinds of organizations, are bringing their spiritual beliefs and values to work, or are seeking to discover new beliefs and values through their work. Many people see work as a place where they can live out their personal spirituality or their relationship with ultimate reality (however they define it); some even see their place of work as their primary spiritual community. We agree. We are trying to build the house of work on the rock of wisdom. This brings us to a vital question.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Buddhism has for thousands of years provided a spiritual foundation for the daily lives of millions around the world. But does Buddhism have anything to offer us—Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike—in today’s world of work? It does, and we offer it in this book. Such wisdom can inspire and instruct us in how to live a good life—a fulfilled, happy life. We offer you the teachings of the Buddha and his tradition, as well as our own application of these teachings to your work situations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Buddha and Buddhism\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Buddha was a human being, not a god. He compared himself to a doctor, dispensing the medicine of mindfulness—insight into our human problems, both as individuals and as groups. But more than offering insight into our problems, he taught us how to transcend them. Beginning with his own experience of enlightenment, or awakening (the word Buddha means “awakened one”), he created a system of thought—the Buddhist tradition—that provides helpful, practical answers to typical human situations we face in our work lives today. Buddhism is, above all, useful. It is not about pie in the sky; it is about here and now. It is not about theory; it is about practice. It is not just a way of thinking; it is a way of being and doing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Buddha was not born “Buddha”—he earned that name. He struggled with life just as we do today, and he discovered the keys to living. He sought to teach his discoveries to others, and we seek to continue his teaching by sharing it with you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The core of the Buddha’s teaching lies in his very first sermon. In it, he taught that both self-indulgence and self-mortification are useless. They do not, in the end, lead to happiness, no matter the context. He then went on to teach the four noble truths: (1) Life is full of dukkha. We suffer because we get what we don’t want; we don’t get what we do want; and, even if we do get what we want, either we can’t keep it or we just worry about losing it. (2) Dukkha is caused by desire for things and attachment to things. (3) Desire can be ended (and so dukkha can be ended!). (4) The way to end desire is by following the eightfold noble path of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration (again, see the glossary for more details).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It’s easy to see how relevant some of these aspects of the path are to the workplace. Others are harder. We’re here to help.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Buddha in You (and Us)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This book is founded on the belief that the Buddha was not just a historical figure who lived 2,500 years ago. We believe that in a profound sense, the Buddha also exists within each of us at every moment. The Buddha exists in what has been called the Buddha mind or Buddha nature, the mind of the Buddha that lies sleeping within us, waiting to be awakened. We’ve all had moments of awakening—even if we’re not Buddhists—when something has roused the Buddha mind from slumber; moments when we’ve lived outside our limited selves, in union with all things, flowing with the unending current of life. This liberation (Christians might call it grace) does not come when we ask for it but when we’re open to it. When we think and act with this freedom, we don’t just act like Buddhas, we become Buddhas. Not Buddhists—that doesn’t matter—just Buddhas. Of course, we fall back into ourselves, but this fundamental freedom remains in the moment if we can just expand into it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In this book, we draw on a wide variety of Buddhist texts, both ancient and modern, to help you experience that expansion. The dharma, the teaching of the Buddha, has grown through the centuries. In this way, Buddhism is a living thing, fostered by those who seek awakening in their own lives. A contemporary haiku by a poet writing from Buddha mind is just as sacred and legitimate as an ancient scroll by a venerated monk. Each inspired writer expands the dharma in his or her own work. We humbly try to expand the dharma in ours here.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This book aims to help you be the Buddha that you already are, to find your own Buddha nature, and to allow that nature to guide you in your workaday activities. The Buddha in you is your best teacher. We believe the workplace issues and challenges we’ve outlined here will help you bring that Buddha to life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A Note About Using This Book\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Our book is divided into three main parts. Part 1, “Becoming a Mindful Worker,” explores the Buddha’s wisdom for individuals. Here we cover such things as how to choose right livelihood, how to be a good employee, and how to be successful. Part 2, “Cultivating Mindful Work Relationships,” focuses on how to work with other people, including bosses, coworkers, work teams, difficult people, and customers. Part 3, “Creating a Mindful Workplace,” deals with broad organizational topics, including policies and procedures, human resources issues, technology, work processes, and organizational problems.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e If you have a specific work problem on which you’d like some guidance, just look it up in the table of contents and go straight to the answer. Of course, we can’t list every possible situation in one book, but 108 issues is a pretty substantial sampling. You can also read straight through the book to get the big picture and begin to put together your own thoughts and practices for becoming more mindful and more accepting, wherever you are.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e We have written for the broadest possible audience, from frontline workers to supervisors and managers to senior executives. There is wisdom and guidance here for entrepreneurs and small businesses, as well as Fortune 500 companies. Many of the ideas apply to nonprofit organizations as well as for-profit businesses. But of course, not all answers will be equally useful to all readers. Some are directed more to managers and business owners, while others are directed more to worker bees. But remember, like bees, we are all in this game of work together, so you may gain by reading answers that at first glance seem not to apply to you.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e We have also written for a broad audience in terms of familiarity with Buddhist teachings. Some readers are practicing Buddhists who seek to further their understanding of and commitment to the bodhisattva path; other readers may not know what a bodhisattva even is. Some seek to practice the Buddha’s teachings in every aspect of their working life; others may simply be seeking a few tips and tools to help them make it through the workday. We welcome all readers to these pages. We do not insist that you become a bodhisattva, but if you wish to do so, you can find many wonderful books that will take you deeper into this. Our book is a more applied, practical, how-to approach to workaday problems and difficulties—a Buddhist tool kit for the workplace.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Buddha isn’t here to answer our specific questions for us, but we have done our best to understand his teachings and apply them as we think he would. Some of these teachings are general and philosophical; others are detailed and specific. That’s because some workplace problems are basic or universal, so we can point to basic and universal solutions, while other problems are more complex and require more detailed answers. The wide variety of topics addresses the wide variety of situations we face in our different jobs, different organizations, different times, and different careers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Finally, it is important that you not accept the Buddha’s teachings just because he was the Buddha. He famously told his followers to think for themselves—to question his teachings and test them against their own experience and understanding, only retaining what worked. If that was true for the Buddha, how much more so is it true for us! Test the Buddha’s teachings and test this book’s. Your path is unique to you, and ultimately only you can decide what advice is useful and what advice isn’t on that path. Please take what you will, and use it as you want.","brand":"Berrett-Koehler Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46305208893669,"sku":"NP9781609942922","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781609942922.jpg?v=1767722390","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/being-buddha-at-work-isbn-9781609942922","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}