Buddhism and Management – Balamadana

Dear Readers,

As you have noticed, Marcelo and I have been very quiet on this blog. This is due to some personal reasons.

Volker just got a baby boy, and he is busy with his family and writes a lot on his personal blog about personal development, search marketing and everyday things.

Marcelo, in June 2009, decided to be re ordained as a monk and would not contribute to this blog any longer.

Volker is sad to see Marcelo go away from this blog that brought you and us so many food for thought. There is so much I learned from Marcelo and I will now try to find a solution on how to proceed with this blog. Any suggestions and anyone interested in writing about Buddhism and Management, is more than welcome to approach me.

We want to wish Marcelo both luck and happiness, stamina and good health to find his path. He is so much in ahead of me, Volker, and I will stay in touch with him. However, it is with regret to miss his articles.

Please watch out for updates and follow me on my personal blog.

Love and Happiness,
Volker

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Dear Followers and Readers.

Today I am blogging from Oslo, or to be precise just North of Oslo from a place called Norefjell. I was at a conference in Oslo and we decided to stay a day longer.

So, I am blogging about Buddhism from the snow. I doubt that Marcelo has snow where he is at the moment. He promised me to blog but I know he is very busy, so I send him all my love and energy to find some time to blog his thoughts.

I discovered something new this week. Buddhist Geeks!

Wow, what is that? Buddhistgeeks offer podcasts, e.g. radio shows you can download anytime to your computer or to your mp3-player to listen to. The ones I have been listening to are interviews with Buddhist Monks or Buddhist Practitioners about certain topics of Buddhism. Very interesting and highly recommended.

You find the Buddhist Podcast for downloads on this link. There is the possibility to download older versions too, e.g. you can listen to all podcasts ever made. A great library to look into topics such as meditation, money and Buddhism, Dharma or Vajrayana.

So I highly recommend you check out that page.

I wish you lots of luck, peace and happiness for the next week.

Volker

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Buddhism and Management Buddhism, podcast

Hello,

Marcelo got back in touch and will write some thoughts shortly. He has been busy but will tell you directly.

I got a new book this week, the Dalai Lama’s Path of Tranquility. It contains daily wisdom quotes about Buddhism. I really enjoy reading those little daily reminders just before I put myself to rest at night.

Also, I bought a few CDs with Buddhist chanting on it. They are awesome, because you can have them running in the back ground whilst working and you get all relaxed. It is great and I would almost recommend them to enhance your performance at work.

It is one of those things where your unconscious listens to and relaxes you. The other day I was working on a PowerPoint presentation and put some classical music on. I didn’t even notice how much more productive I was until someone interrupted me.

Having a peaceful mind and a relaxed attitude to things, practising patience, makes you more successful. Another great example on how Buddhist principles can influence your performance at work.

Love and Kindness,
Volker

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Buddhism and Management, inner self, personal development chanting, dalai lama, improving work performance, music, relaxation

Hello, to welcome the new blog and your feedback about it, I want to recap on “why Buddhism”?

I grew up as a Christian, got baptised and went to the confirmation, e.g. became a full member of the church. Why? Because that is what we used to do. My parents and grand parents have done it and it was a natural part for me. Over time I noticed that I agree with the values but that most of the church activities are not fitting into my life. I started questioning what role “God” could play for me. So I became an atheist.

Can you really become an atheist? Are we all born atheists? I am not sure, but church wasn’t “cool” anymore and I went to the USA for an exchange year. Now, church had to be “in” again as I was living the Mid-West. No way I could have not gone to church every Sunday. However, I only prayed if I felt lonely or was scared. I thought to myself, that is not why I am a Christian.

So lets put it behind us I thought, I think the 10 commandments are great and I believe in the Christian principles, the Christian way of life but for me, I don’t need to go to church to practise to be a good kid, do I?

I came across various religions but Buddhism had a fascination for me. It was a way of life, a way of a moral life and develop a wisdom and understanding of “what’s out there”. It is about being mindful, aware of your thoughts and actions. Wow, that is what I was looking for. This is the idea I had, my personal development plan to be aware of what I do, how I do it and why I am doing it. I had a reason for things now, and if I didn’t, I had to find one.

Buddhism helped me to find a purpose in life and made me understand the purpose of every living being. It gives me guidance to pure happiness, teaches me patience and makes me happy on the way. I care less about my “luxury and my material values” but more about myself, my partner, my other living beings that surround me. Particularly with my first child to be born this year. Happiness for him, my family is priority number one.

Buddhism is placed around 4 noble truths:
1) life is suffering – Buddhism teaches you how to avoid it.
2) suffering is caused by craving and aversion – Buddhism helps you!
3) suffering can be overcome and happiness can be attained
4) There is a Noble 8-fold path that leads to the end of suffering. Being moral, focusing the mind on being aware of your thoughts and actions, developing wisdom by understanding the 5 noble truths and developing compassion for others.

Also Buddha suggested 5 precepts:
1) not to take the life of anything living
2) not to take anything not freely given
3) to abstain from sexual misconduct an sensual overindulgence
4) refrain from untrue speech
5) avoid intoxication (losing mindfulness)

That sums up my moral thoughts and my personal development – Buddhism helps me to combine my utterly drive to help others, to eliminate mine and other suffering plus my drive for personal development and happiness. Living by the above helps me to become who I am set out to be.

You find a lot of studies and questions answered on the “Buddhanet” .

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Buddhism, Buddhism and Management, helping others helping others, Why Buddhism

Hello Marcelo,

Good to see you back. Apologies for being not as good in replying as I used to be.

What are the reasons, and what is going on in my life? As discussed with you yesterday, the recession is hitting Britain hard. Whilst our industry is still growing faster than the overall economy shrinks and our jobs are safe, we are looking at longer sales cycles, longer decision making processes and overall more work per individual to get the same income.

Where does that leave me? Honestly. A bit stressed. But I am working on it and will actually soon write about some stress management over at my personal blog. But also, I have been looking into Tai Chi. Do you know why I like it?

I like Tai Chi as for 1 hour my mind is turned off. It is as if I meditate whilst moving slowly and do figures. It is amazing and I enjoy it so much. You know I had difficulties sitting down and meditate even for 10 minutes. But Tai Chi allows me to move and free my mind at the same time.

Now, that does not mean I am not going back to meditate additionally. I believe Tai Chi is just another form to do it, wouldn’t you agree?

Marcelo, it is all about stress management for me at the moment. My baby is fine, I am going to be a dad and I need to re-think my position. You often say I don’t change that much, and maybe you are right. Maybe I think I prepare myself for the big change in June. Then life might even be more stressful.

But, there is another thought. My mother in law does not like the word stress, and to be overly honest me neither. I like to think of it as a challenge. And sometimes this challenge goes above our horizon, our means and our capabilities.

When we have to meet this deadline and do 3 other things at the same time. Or just when we got on top of things we get thrown off the path again. Sometimes, these challenges are overwhelming, just like life itself.

But I believe that we need to counteract it. Tai Chi, Meditation, exercise, family life. The right life life balance, you remember we were speaking about it earlier?

Marcelo, I leave you with these thoughts for the weekend. Don’t forget to check my personal blog and remember that I am trying to move this blog to a new platform next weekend. Apologies in advance.

Love and Happiness to you.
Volker

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Spiritual Teacher, balamadana, love and happiness, tai chi, work-life

Good morning, or good afternoon.

I know this blog has become a weekly write up. And, there are several reasons for that.

Marcelo is very busy at the moment and has no time really.
Volker has been very busy but hopes to write more often now.

Maybe, for today, I would like to recap on what this blog is about. It is all about sharing thoughts, spiritual methods and how to use Buddhism in today’s world and in management in particular.

The above video shows an intro to Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, a great Buddhist teacher for the modern world.

I have read some books of his and my aim is to revisit passages and thoughts to improve my understanding of Buddhism and, to apply it more into my daily life.

Where do I see Buddhism fitting in these days? I am not 100% sure but Buddhism helps me to appreciate other thoughts, other meanings of life and perspectives. It makes me almost more tolerant towards people – not that I was intolerant.

But just recently I ran into a lot of differences with people and I decided to keep them happy by understanding their thoughts, needs and appreciate their doing. I was happy to share their thoughts and accept their opinion even if they weren’t identical to mine.

Does that mix with Management? Yes, it does. You cannot always force people to understand you or to work your way and you have to accept their way. You have to accept their opinion, and if you fail doing so, then there is another chance coming up. Is there?

What if we decided to only work by passively guiding people into some work that needs to be done and let them fail over again until they learn. Would that be sustainable business? Surely not. But that is not what I am trying to say. I am saying that you have to realise that your opinion is not always the right one or the ONLY right one. And that you have to find a mix of opinions, everyone is comfortable with. According to that mix, you still have to put the overall guideline on them to make sure things are going as planned. This is to ensure things are going the way they should be and you have to overrule people. But, in an understanding way.

This is the way you should think. Let them fail and let them have their opinion. And, if not too far out, let them make their own experience. Then make sure you can guide them to the right outcome and success.

Also, do not forget the other side. Do not treat your business partner in any wrong ways. Treat them with respect and with respect for their money and their ideals.

We will work on that theory and you will hear from me soon.

In the meantime, please leave a comment.

Volker

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Buddhism, Buddhism and Management, change management, geshe kelsang gyatso

Hello,

Marcelo and I have been very busy. Apologies for that. I try to keep this blog going in this transition period and would like to cover a post a week, mainly at the weekends.

If I say busy, what does that mean. Does not everyone have the same amount of time in a day? Yes, but some have more tasks than others and I for instance enjoy my work to the extend that it is mainly work I am doing. So no work-life balance because it becomes more of a work-work or life-life balance.

Karma, particular at the beginning of a year, pops up in so many discussions. Buddhism teaches us that it is not only our actions but also our intentions/thoughts that result in karma.

On a page about Taoism, I found the following information about Tai Chi.

In Taoism, Tao, roughly translated as path, is a force which flows through all life and is the first cause of everything. The goal of everyone is to become one with the Tao. Tai Chi, a technique of exercise using slow deliberate movements, is used to balance the flow of energy or “chi” within the body. People should develop virtue and seek compassion, moderation and humility. One should plan any action in advance and achieve it through minimal action.

That means by practising Tai Chi, my course starts in 2 weeks, I hope to be able to work my spiritual practise and my body in one way, to create a whole out of the both. I hope that makes sense.

Even years ago, long before I was introduced to Buddhism, I said that one is oneself if the body and spirit are a 100% match. If you are one. If the spirit is 100% inside you. Like Ying and Yang.

On another website I found a very interesting article on Tai Chi. It is meant to bring you self discovery, a part of self or personal development. It speaks about chakras and how your upright spine is helping you to let the energy flow and relax. Anger management comes naturally with that too I am looking more and more forward to this course so that I can get a weekly “workout for spirit and body” at the same time.

One benefit is outlined nicely as “The most important is that it helps you watch your mind. When you can control your mind you will become more peaceful and less likely to get agitated. From this state of mind it will then be much easier to practice patience and compassion, which I believe are the true results for any spiritual practice.”

That is definitely something I am looking for. Patience, Compassion and a mind at ease. A less stressful life.

I guess this is enough reading for a weekend. Have a relaxing one. I leave you with Buddha’s thought:

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

Love and Kindness,

Volker

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karma, tai chi, work-life, ying and yang

Marcelo,

How are you? Happy New Year to you.

My new year started with all the things I didn’t want it to start. Lots and lots of work.
Whilst in a recession I should not complain about it, the next 2 weeks will be busy too.

However, Marcelo, I am hoping the New Year brings to you what you wish for. Mine will be very excited with the expected birth of my son the beginning of June.

Also, I get more and more into “micro blogging”, Twitter. I wrote about it quite a lot in my personal Blurb Blog. I found a few people on there blogging about Buddhism so I get a new thought of Buddhism every day. That is nice and a nice reminder in this busy and difficult times.

I want to let you into a secret too. My plan is to join a Tai Chi class. I just don’t find the time nor the motivation to go to the gym, or to sit down and meditate. So I thought a combination of both would be good. What do you think of that? I have not discussed that with anyone yet, so not sure how many friends actually read this blog but….och well, if they know they know. Have you ever done that?

Other than that things are going well. If it gets quieter at work, I aim to read some more books and re-read books of Geshe. Any you could recommend.

For all our readers, have a great 2009, may all your wishes come true and please leave a comment on how you find this blog.

Love and Happiness,
Volker

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Buddhism, personal development, tai chi, twitter

Marcelo and I got an email from someone I will, for confidentiality reasons, call “John” – John asked about a career as a Buddhist and I answered the following, which in all fairness, opened up a lot of thoughts in my head about “how to integrate Buddhism in a career” and “how could we develop a careers as a Buddhist”?

Comments MORE than welcome.

Here we go:

Dear John,

Thank you for your email and the kind words.

I am not really sure how I best reply to your email as there is so much to say. [...]

Marcelo comes from a “monk background” whilst I come more from the “non monk” background, so to speak. However, we both are devoted to Buddhism, and as you might read, in different ways.

You are asking for career opportunities in Buddhism. I am sitting here, smiling with happiness, because it sounds like you are aiming to apply for a job as a Buddhist. That is a great thought that stimulates my thinking in 2 ways:

- can we create a path for Buddhism where we can offer that as a career choice outside the monkhood? If so, how could we set up a path like that.
- Buddhism should never be a career as it is a devoted path to happiness

The latter I think is true but can be supportive of the first. What am I trying to say?

In my next life I would not be surprised to become a monk. I had those thoughts many times before but in this life I am a devoted husband, father to be and love my commercial (sales) job. However, I can integrate Buddhist principles in my daily life that will enhance my career. And, therefore, become a career Buddhist. I like that thought.

[...]

Love and Kindness,
Volker

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Buddhism, career in buddhism

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Spiritual Teacher, patience