The Buddha Walks into the Office

July 14, 2014
Rinzler (The Buddha Walks into a Bar...) once again offers practical life advice from a Buddhist perspective, emphasizing compassionate, harmonious thoughts and actions in the everyday hustle and bustle. This time, Rinzler turns his attention to the new generation of young adults leaving college and entering the professional workforce for the first time. The book is organized according to the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions, which he interprets and employs as practical methods for cultivating oneself, relating better to others, and doing compassionate works for improving society. For example, in situations involving difficult co-workers, Rinzler teaches young professionals to engage with the fact that they themselves can be jerks just as much as their colleagues, and so to empathize with them despite disagreement. He remains realistic about navigating workplace tension, but insists that the practice is as much for the betterment of oneself as for others and for the greater society. Rinzler offers spiritual guidance for young people who have forgotten something important in the midst of career advancement and professional networking: that it is not what they do that defines them, but rather who they are. With that focus, cultivation and enlightenment can be brought to any job and any experience. Agent: Stephanie Tade, Stephanie Tade Agency.

August 1, 2014

Rinzler's (The Buddha Walks into a Bar) latest effort at incorporating Buddhist principles into life in the Western world mines the use of these tenets in the workplace. The mind-set is "how not to be a jerk" and work well with others. The book is divided into four parts: "Hinayana: Live with Purpose"; "Mahayana: On-the-Job Compassion"; "Mahayana: Six Tools for Compassionate Leadership"; and "Vajrayana: Be Awake for Every Moment," each with several chapters dedicated to the overarching theme. The Eastern way of thinking is present throughout the book, encouraging us to be mindful and aware, while the text also delves into a further examination of real-life issues. Rinzler uses his experiences as examples of how to apply Buddhist notions to your workplace routine. The ease of reading the short sections contained within the chapters will help readers to focus on all of the elements needed to establish a peaceful and cohesive environment. VERDICT This book is great for individuals looking for a different perspective on "the daily grind" of the typical office. It also provides useful team building activities for groups of employees in need of establishing workplace unity in a new way.--Annette Haldeman, Dept. of Legislative Svcs., Maryland General Assembly, Annapolis

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