Marc Lesser's Blog

Be Confident. Question Everything

The Joy of Uncertainty

“The bad news is that life is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.

The good news is there is no ground.”

– Choyam Trungpa

In this issue:

Be Confident. Question Everything.Zen of Coaching: Course for Executive CoachesA Poem, by RumiHalf Day Meditation Retreat, October 12thCoaching In Complexity, Paradox, and Insight: A Free Webinar, October 10th

Our minds crave predictability. Certainty feels safe; uncertainty feels dangerous. That reflex once kept our ancestors alive, but today it often narrows our vision. It’s easy to cling to rigid beliefs or constant busyness, mistaking movement for mastery. We overvalue “knowing,” as if the right plan could protect us from life’s unpredictability.

Yet the more tightly we grip, the more anxious we become. Real practice begins when we notice the impulse to control and soften it. Instead of armoring ourselves with conclusions, we can engage in a blend of confidence and questioning.

Be confident, Question everything is a useful set of practices, a paradox, and an aspirational way to work with today’s rising levels of uncertainty. It was actually the original title to one of my books, which ended up being published as Know Yourself, Forget Yourself. Right now, there is no shortage of uncertainty. This is probably always true, but is more in our faces and on our minds in the midst of our current government and the events around our world.

Imagine, moving through your day with a sense of confidence – doing your best to show up, be aware, to feel, and act; knowing that you can meet more, control less, whatever comes your way. And, at the same, imagine moving through your day with a touch of humility, a sense of curiosity and wonder about what will happen next, and what it all means.

Confidence includes being confident enough to not avoid the pains and difficulties we are facing. Humility is allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and to find comfort in living with a sense of wonder.

Mindfulness practice and mindful leadership could be described as engaging with and cultivating being confident and questioning everything, finding our own presence and ground, and at the same time embracing the reality of uncertainty, the reality of change and impermanence.

Practices

Acknowledge that uncertainty is the way things are. Experiment with more confidence (more agency and less scarcity, less blaming) and more questioning everything. Explore what it’s like to be completely confident and completely uncertain, at the same time, the best you can.

Zen of Coaching: For Executive Coaches: Transforming Others, Becoming Your Best Self, Changing The World (Register now, by October 10th to save $100.)

An online course, beginning October 24th

Coaching is a way of helping others find the deepest places of their hearts.

Program Overview

Zen of Coaching is a transformational program for executive coaches and leaders who want to deepen their presence, expand their impact, and build a coaching practice rooted in wisdom, not just performance. Blending Zen principles, mindfulness, and real-world leadership experience, this course—created by Marc Lesser, the Zen teacher and CEO who helped bring mindful leadership to Google—supports you in cultivating stillness, navigating complexity, and coaching with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

To register and for more information.

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A Poem

The Hurt We Embrace, Rumi

The hurt we embrace

becomes joy. Call it to your arms

where it can change.

A silkworm eating leaves makes a cocoon.

Each of us weaves a chamber

of leaves and sticks.

Like silkworms, we begin to exist

as we disappear

inside that room.

Without legs, we fly.

When I stop speaking, this poem

will close in silence more magnificent . . .

 

Half Day Meditation Retreat, Sunday, October 12th

In person, in Mill Valley, and online.

In our world of busyness, of more/faster/better, this half-day retreat offers time to stop, reflect, and renew. We will explore the practices of effort and effortless as a path to well-being and “stepping into your life.” Together we’ll follow a gentle schedule of sitting and walking meditation, a talk, and some discussion. Anyone looking to begin or deepen a meditation and mindfulness practice is invited to attend.

Coaching In Complexity: Paradox and Insight: A FREE WEBINAR

Friday, October 10th, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PT

This free webinar is an opportunity to explore how to coach with more presence, curiosity, and trust — even when things feel complex or unresolved. We’ll explore how paradox can become a doorway to insight, and how to meet complexity not with fear, but with grounded awareness.

Register here.

Warmest regards,

Marc

The post Be Confident. Question Everything appeared first on Marc Lesser.

What Is Reality After All? Nothing But A Collective Hunch

In this issue:

What Is Reality After all?Zen of Coaching: Course for Executive CoachesA Poem. Accepting This, by Mark NepoHalf Day Meditation Retreat, October 12thCoaching In Complexity, Paradox, and Insight: A Free Webinar, October 10th

What Is Reality After all? Nothing But A Collective Hunch!

This is one of the more memorable (at least to me) lines from In Search Of Intelligent Life In The Universe, a play by Jane Wagner, originally starring Lily Tomlin.

I think of mindfulness practice and business practice as deep aspirations to understand and engage with what is real: How we live with the realities of pain and pleasure, change and impermanence, and of self and selflessness, as ways to reduce confusion and live from a place of more wisdom and compassion.

For example, I’ve been studying these two statements by Shunryu Suzuki from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind:

1) “Every existence in nature, every existence in the human world, every cultural work that we create is something which was given, or is being given to us…”

This is one of those simple, yet profound assertions about what is real. Imagine taking this in and living from this awareness — the reality that everything is a gift – our bodies and minds, the air we breathe…everything… It is more difficult to be grumpy, to complain, to feel a sense of scarcity.

Then, Shunryu Suzuki goes on to say:

2) “But as everything is originally one, we are, in actuality, giving out everything. Moment after moment we are creating something, and this is the joy of our life.”

This is an enormous “but” — “as everything is originally one” — again, another unsubtle, profound description of reality – that from a certain perspective (the perspective of reality?) there is no separation and no distinctions. There is a sense (a reality) that we and everything come from the same source. And, that all our actions are acts of creativity.

This may seem heady and philosophical. It might be a collective hunch, or a rather precise and profound description of reality.

I don’t see much downside to trying on these assertions that everything is a gift and that everything we do is an act of creation. Perhaps a collective hunch. Perhaps also profound Zen teaching, mindfulness teaching, and insight, with applications to our well being, relationships, and work.

Practices

Try on: Everything is given to us. What does this feel like to think, feel, and live from the perspective that everything is a gift?

And, try on, everything we do is an act of creation, that all our actions are gifts.

Zen of Coaching: For Executive Coaches: Transforming Others, Becoming Your Best Self, Changing The World (Register now, by October 10th to save $100.)

An online course, beginning October 24th

Coaching is a way of helping others find the deepest places of their hearts.

Program Overview

Zen of Coaching is a transformational program for executive coaches and leaders who want to deepen their presence, expand their impact, and build a coaching practice rooted in wisdom, not just performance. Blending Zen principles, mindfulness, and real-world leadership experience, this course—created by Marc Lesser, the Zen teacher and CEO who helped bring mindful leadership to Google—supports you in cultivating stillness, navigating complexity, and coaching with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

To register and for more information.

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A Poem

Accepting This, Mark Neppo

Yes, it is true. I confess,
I have thought great thoughts,
and sung great songs—all of it
rehearsal for the majesty
of being held.

The dream is awakened
when thinking I love you
and life begins
when saying I love you
and joy moves like blood
when embracing others with love.

My efforts now turn
from trying to outrun suffering
to accepting love wherever
I can find it.

Stripped of causes and plans
and things to strive for,
I have discovered everything
I could need or ask for
is right here—
in flawed abundance.

We cannot eliminate hunger,
but we can feed each other.
We cannot eliminate loneliness,
but we can hold each other.
We cannot eliminate pain,
but we can live a life
of compassion.

Ultimately,
we are small living things
awakened in the stream,
not gods who carve out rivers.

Like human fish,
we are asked to experience
meaning in the life that moves
through the gill of our heart.

There is nothing to do
and nowhere to go.
Accepting this,
we can do everything
and go anywhere.

Half Day Meditation Retreat, Sunday, October 12th

In person, in Mill Valley, and online.

In our world of busyness, of more/faster/better, this half-day retreat offers time to stop, reflect, and renew. We will explore the practices of effort and effortless as a path to well-being and “stepping into your life.” Together we’ll follow a gentle schedule of sitting and walking meditation, a talk, and some discussion. Anyone looking to begin or deepen a meditation and mindfulness practice is invited to attend.

Coaching In Complexity: Paradox and Insight: A FREE WEBINAR

Friday, October 10th, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PT

This free webinar is an opportunity to explore how to coach with more presence, curiosity, and trust — even when things feel complex or unresolved. We’ll explore how paradox can become a doorway to insight, and how to meet complexity not with fear, but with grounded awareness.

Register here.

Warmest regards,

Marc

The post What Is Reality After All? Nothing But A Collective Hunch appeared first on Marc Lesser.

Finding Your True Power

In this episode, Marc explores how wholeheartedness, generosity, and mindfulness help us find our true power. He reflects on the hero’s journey as a model for growth, weaving together the ordinary and the sacred. Through stories and teachings, Marc shows how challenges, resistance, and shifting our narratives can become opportunities for transformation.

Support the podcast by donating at marclesser.net/donate.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

[music]

[00:00:00] Marc: Welcome to Mindful Leadership with Marc Lesser, a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with leaders and teachers exploring the intersection of keeping our hearts open and effective action in these most uncertain and challenging times. Please support our work by making a donation at marclesser.net/donate.

[00:00:36] Marc: Yeah, so today’s practice episode is called finding Your True Power or Perhaps the Practice of Generosity and Wholeheartedness. We’ll begin with a short a short guided meditation, and then I’ll talk about this topic of. How to live and be more wholehearted through the [00:01:00] practice of generosity, through the practice of finding your deep fundamental purpose.

[00:01:06] Marc: Um, talk a little bit about some models like the model of, of the hero’s journey and some, some lessons from my welding teacher Harry Roberts about the fundamental malleability of. Our narrative and our emotions as a way of finding your true power. I hope you enjoy today’s practice episode.

[00:01:42] Marc: Welcome. I hope you’re doing well right now. And let’s let’s begin with a few minutes of sitting practice together.[00:02:00]

[00:02:04] Marc: So just taking a few moments to to arrive,

[00:02:14] Marc: just noticing what it’s like to be here breathing.

[00:02:28] Marc: Yeah. Can you feel your heart beating right now? So whether you can or not, just the

[00:02:41] Marc: stopping and looking inward. Feeling inward? Yeah. Yeah. Something about. The feeling of practicing together[00:03:00]

[00:03:06] Marc: as much as possible, letting go of the, the to-do lists, the activities of the day, and just. Trying on that. There is nothing to accomplish, nothing to change

[00:03:34] Marc: this practice of radical simple acceptance.

[00:03:46] Marc: Yeah, so checking in, you know, checking in with the breath, checking in with the body,

[00:03:56] Marc: being curious even about thinking mind,[00:04:00]

[00:04:03] Marc: and then seeing if if we can drop in to, you know, feelings. Whatever your feelings. Now

[00:04:17] Marc: any, you know, any sadness or grieving or joy or

[00:04:28] Marc: even some feelings of loving, loving this moment, loving of this earth, this life. Kind of wrapping, wrapping our, all of our feelings in this sense of wonder and appreciation

[00:04:57] Marc: and keeping it simple, [00:05:00] you know, just breathing, breathing in and breathing out.

[00:05:09] Marc: Breathing in, we’re aware that I’m breathing in and breathing out. I’m aware that I’m breathing out.

[00:05:42] Marc: I always often feel a little odd.

[00:05:49] Marc: Speaking, you know, during meditation and zen tradition, there’s usually only, only silence. So please feel free to, um, [00:06:00] stay. You know, you don’t need to. If it’s helpful, these words great. If not great, just um, tune it out, stay with your own. Your own breath, your own body.

[00:06:43] Marc: And I’m going to ring the bell and you can, continue with me as I do some short presentation practice session, or you can continue to sit if that’s the right.[00:07:00]

[00:07:22] Marc: I wanna talk a little bit about a favorite topic of mine. Finding your power or finding your, your true power. And one way that I think of power is. About wholeheartedness not being divided, not being split. You know, from many, from many perspectives. You know, I’m often quoting poet David White who says, you know, the antidote to [00:08:00] exhaustion isn’t rest.

[00:08:03] Marc: The antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness. Antidote to exhaustion is wholeheartedness. And then sometimes, of course, sometimes we need to rest. I’m a big proponent of, of resting. I love my my daily, my daily afternoon nap, which I perfected during my years of living at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center where.

[00:08:30] Marc: We got up crazy, crazy early in the morning for meditation. So I after lunch, I perfected the, you know, the 10 minute or 15 minute nap. And to this day I, I still am a big proponent of rest. But here, I think in terms of finding our power, being, being more this aspiration and practice of.

[00:08:59] Marc: Wholeheartedness, [00:09:00] right. Just doing, doing what we’re doing fully, which wholeheartedness to me means noticing. Noticing when we’re not wholehearted, noticing any resistance and letting it go, and stepping into, you know, and practicing. So for me, I often like to practice washing the dishes wholeheartedly. If there’s any sense of.

[00:09:28] Marc: Wanting to get it done to get onto the next thing, like noticing No, let’s, let’s just wholeheartedly wash the dishes. Noticing the feeling of the water, the dishes, the soap, wholehearted dish washing. And the same is true with, you know, whether I am writing an email or driving somewhere or doing childcare.

[00:09:59] Marc: So [00:10:00] often it’s easy to notice our own resistance. Many different kinds of resistance. But another, another perspective to me on finding your power is this kinda deeper sense of how we are living our lives. And interesting, you know, this. Connection between stepping into integrating everything that is ordinary and everything that is holy or sacred.

[00:10:38] Marc: To me this is the fundamental, fundamental practice of wholeheartedness, is that perspective. And this is, you know, this is such a core. Perspective of that Buddhism presents, you know, Buddhism, mindfulness practice, whatever, whatever language works [00:11:00] for you, right? This is, you know, form and emptiness or again, I think it’s ordinary and sacred.

[00:11:10] Marc: Ordinary and sacred. There’s a, um, beautiful teaching that I. Often come back to from, it’s called God Giving Talk in Suzuki’s Zen, the book Zen Mind, beginner’s Mind, where he’s, he makes a statement that, you know, everything, everything has been given to us, right? Everything has been given to us that our bodies and minds, right?

[00:11:43] Marc: Our breath, the air. If we look around, you know, just seeing, seeing ourselves and others and the world from the perspective of gift, from the perspective of kind of [00:12:00] radical generosity that everything, everything has been given to us is, to me, cuts through this sense of ordinary and sacred and is.

[00:12:14] Marc: Extremely empowering way of seeing ourselves and way of seeing the world, and in this, in this talk, sh Suzuki then says, but since, since everything is fundamentally one, we are in fact giving out everything. Everything that we do. Say and think. All of our actions are an act of creation, are an act of creativity.

[00:12:52] Marc: So again, to me this is, you know, we talk about wholehearted living, wholehearted being, and finding our true power. You [00:13:00] know, when I’m at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, there’s a beautiful, the Tasara Creek runs through the valley. And it’s an enormous watershed, you know, with water coming from many, many different valleys.

[00:13:17] Marc: But I’m, I’m often wanting to find the source, what’s the source of this creek? And to me it’s a great question. Well, what’s the source of our power? And I think the source of our power is this practice of. Wholeheartedness and the source of our wholeheartedness is this perspective that everything has been given to us and that, again, this beautiful perspective that since everything is originally one, right, that, that, that fundamentally there’s no difference between ordinary and sacred.

[00:13:59] Marc: Everything’s [00:14:00] given to us. Therefore we are. We are giving out everything. And this is, you know, a way to practice. This is the practice of generosity practice, of being generous with ourselves, being generous with others, and this feeling, this fundamental feeling of being generous with our own lives.

[00:14:33] Marc: And also in this in this same talk that I’m referring to here by Shira Suzuki, he, he says, well, maybe this is, maybe this is from a different talk, but, but to me it’s from the, a perspective of finding your power is returning again, returning to the source. So what’s the source? And here I would say that.[00:15:00]

[00:15:00] Marc: The purpose, right? The purpose of our lives is to cross the shore, right? From not being generous to being more generous to cross the shore from any sense of lack of wholeheartedness, to be fully wholehearted, right? This is the purpose of our lives, and the secret or the practice is that. We can cross this shore with every step we take with every breath.

[00:15:36] Marc: So we don’t need to wait to be wholehearted, right? So again, this is this beautiful coming together of ordinary and sacred and, and the coming together of what we aspire. To do and be, [00:16:00] and just doing it and just being it, you know, it’s a little bit like, you know, there’s some, there’s some reason that we come to practice.

[00:16:09] Marc: There’s some reason that we go to sit on the, you know, why do we meditate? Why do we practice, why do we get up in the morning? Well, there’s something that we’re, you know, we’re wanting to be more genuine, more. Awake. More emotional freedom, right? Something that gets us to practice, to sit, to sit on the meditation cushion.

[00:16:36] Marc: But then once we sit down, just there’s nothing lacking. The practice is, there’s nothing lacking letting go of all of those aspirations and just being awake, just being wholehearted. And so these, these. These look like two different things, right? But in a way, [00:17:00] integrating them, this is real wholeheartedness, right?

[00:17:03] Marc: The moving beyond, beyond the dichotomy of ordinary and sacred, moving beyond the dichotomy of aspiration and doing right. So. I aspire to be wholehearted in washing the dishes, and suddenly I am, I’m doing it. I’m just doing it. I’m wholeheartedly washing the dishes. Yeah. So finding, finding your true power, finding your true power through the practice of, um, wholeheartedness and another model that I.

[00:17:45] Marc: Find really useful is the model of the hero’s journey when it comes to finding your power. It’s a model, really a, um, a timeless model of finding your true power. And [00:18:00] just a few points on this. Finding, you know, this the hero’s journey. First of all, just the language that we’re all heroes. That we’re all heroes in our own life.

[00:18:13] Marc: Yeah. That it raises, raises the bar of from ordinary to heroic. Right. Integrating the ordinary and heroic and the hero’s journey generally starts with, again, the sense of purpose, right? What is, what is the purpose? And here, here it poses that our, our fundamental purpose is returning, returning to our true home, or maybe even returning, finding our true power as the fundamental journey of all.

[00:18:50] Marc: Human beings or perhaps of all living beings, all, all life. And I’ve always thought it [00:19:00] was pretty great. Right? That’s the first, you know, on the hero’s journey, is this recognition of our purpose, recognition of setting forth, setting forth on the, on the journey and the the next step. The this pattern, this fundamental pattern is resistance.

[00:19:23] Marc: Noticing our resistance. Noticing, refusing, refusing the journey. No. Too scary. Too difficult. Why would we go there? Let’s just go back to bed. We don’t need to push away re resistance. We can embrace it, we can notice it, we can maybe even use our resistance. We can laugh at our resistance. Yeah. Resistance is such an interesting practice.

[00:19:51] Marc: Noticing it and embracing it and letting it go and, you know, and some of the other kind of [00:20:00] fundamental practices, one is. Gathering support. Right? So one way to break through this resistance and step kind of back on this whatever path of finding our power, finding our wholeheartedness is recognizing how much support we have.

[00:20:22] Marc: And, and a very simple way, this is the support of other people, right? The support of our. Family, friends, coaches, therapists, Zen teachers, community, allowing, allowing that, um, support the support of others, depending on others and helping others. And then another

[00:20:54] Marc: important step, um. The hero’s journey is [00:21:00] confronting, confronting challenges and meeting, meeting difficulties, meeting our own our own suffering, our own ways that we feel pain, feel difficulty, feel challenged. So again, the practice of feeling all those things deeply and. Turning them and transforming them, transforming them into power, into our own power, into possibility, into courage, into strength.

[00:21:34] Marc: And, and this means, you know, how we meet our parents, how we meet our mother and our father, you know, to to see. See their gifts and their challenges and to, to work that and to turn that the, that our [00:22:00] own, you know, our own narratives, our own backgrounds, our own story, and to bring it all into the present.

[00:22:09] Marc: How we, how we rework our narrative, how we rework our past. Our parents with events, with any traumas that we might feel, but also to bring up all of our successes and courage and positive stories about our lives. And then I think of the last the last part of the hero’s journey is finding our power and.

[00:22:44] Marc: Returning to our true home again and again. So again, this is, um, a few different, a few different models for finding our power. There’s the model of [00:23:00] wholeheartedness. There’s the model of the practice of generosity and purpose. And there is the model of. The hero’s journey, seeing that we are all heroes on our own journey.

[00:23:22] Marc: I’m often, as I think about finding power, I think about one of my, one of my teachers, one of my teachers and mentors, a who I’ve spoken about from time to time, a amazing human being. Harry Roberts, Harry Roberts, you know, was a Curmudgeony Irishman who happened to be trained as a Yurok Indian shaman.

[00:23:50] Marc: And when I was living at Green Gulch and was charged with finding how to farm with draft horses, [00:24:00] one of the skills I needed to learn was welding. You know, because. Green Gulch Farm had a lot of old horse, you know, plows and different different equipment that was in need of repair and welding was an essential skill.

[00:24:17] Marc: And Harry Roberts was my welding teacher. And one of the lessons that I remember was Harry said that the secret of welding is to realize that metal. Just appears as hard and solid, and that by applying heat to it, we return it to its original state, to its fundamental state, and it becomes soft and we can then shape this metal to however we want to shape it so that we can make it into a form that we can use.

[00:24:59] Marc: [00:25:00] And, and as he often did, he would let out a loud, you know, either either a r smile or sometimes a big belly laugh and say, this, this is the secret of being a wholehearted human being is to realize that things we, and things appear as solid, but that by applying our, you know. Our mindfulness or practice of generosity, we see how malleable we are the world is.

[00:25:38] Marc: This is kind of the practice of selflessness and, you know, of time timelessness. Yeah. That, that everything is much more fluid. Everything is much more fluid. And in this fluidness we have our freedom. We have our freedom to respond, right? This is [00:26:00] impermanence. Impermanence was the word I was searching for.

[00:26:03] Marc: Timelessness and impermanence and that, this understanding, but then going more deeply into, um, the malleability that we can shape, shape by being able to shape ourselves. This is our true, you know, fundamental power, fundamental wholeheartedness. Um, so I’ve always appreciated this simple, profound teaching from my welding teacher, Harry Roberts.

[00:26:39] Marc: You know, the secret, the secret is that everything is fundamentally more malleable. And, and this to me is, you know, the, the practice of. Mindfulness, the practice of meditation is maybe applying our attention. Our attention is like the heat that we apply [00:27:00] to metal to make it more, more shapeable, more malleable.

[00:27:09] Marc: Yeah. So, um, this, this is I think why, you know, why we meditate and. Why we practice to be more wholehearted and to find your true power. Thank you very much.

[00:27:32] Marc: I hope you’ve appreciated today’s episode. To learn more about my work, you can visit mark lesser.net, and if you’re interested in enrolling in a self-directed course. Called Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader, please visit mark lesser courses.thinkific.com. This podcast is offered freely and relies on the financial support from listeners like you.

[00:27:59] Marc: You can donate at marclesser.net slash donate. Thank you very much.

[END OF AUDIO]

The post Finding Your True Power appeared first on Marc Lesser.

Don’t Think Of An Elephant

In this issue:

Don’t Think Of An ElephantZen of Coaching: Course for Executive CoachesA Poem. If You Knew, by Ellen BassHalf Day Meditation Retreat, October 12thCoaching In Complexity, Paradox, and Insight: A Free Webinar, October 10th

How many times each day do you think about Donald Trump, or in the past week Charley Kirk? (On this topic, I’m guilty as charged!)

I’ve been reflecting on George Lakoff’s excellent book, Don’t Think Of An Elephant where he speaks about the importance of “frames” and of how we (and those that want to persuade us) use language, and how we think about and view ourselves and the world.

It’s nearly impossible to avoid the daily news cycle. Each day, headlines scroll across our phones, televisions, and conversations. For many, the figure of Donald Trump—whether dreaded or simply exhausting—sits at the center of the storm. And if it isn’t him, it’s another story that pulls our attention, fills our bodies with tension, and makes it hard to focus on anything else.

But what if there are ways to step back, not by ignoring reality, but by finding some peace within the storm? We can’t control the daily barrage, but we can influence how much real estate it occupies in our minds. It all depends on the frames, perspective, or context. We do have a choice.

Two Practices: Compartmentalizing and Expanding Your World

1) Compartmentalizing: Building Mental Rooms

Imagine your mind as a house with many rooms. Some are cozy and nourishing: time with family, walks in nature, meaningful work. Others are noisy, crowded, and chaotic: breaking news alerts, social media feeds, endless debates about politics. If you allow the noisy rooms to dominate, your whole house feels unsettled.

Compartmentalizing doesn’t mean denial. It means creating healthy boundaries. When you choose to limit the space current events occupy, you make more room for peace and perspective.

Practical steps for compartmentalizing:

· Designate times for news. Instead of letting it flood in all day, choose one or two windows when you catch up. Then close the door.

· Focus on activities that are satisfying – listen to music, dance, watch a documentary, go for a walk.

· Create rituals of closure. After reading the news, do something grounding: stretch, drink tea, or step outside. Mark the end of “the news room” and re-enter the rest of your life.

2) Expand Your World: Making The Storm Look Small

When you expand your world, you gain perspective. You remember that Trump, or any political figure, is not the universe. They are a character in a much bigger play.

Expand your world by zooming out. The world, our minds and bodies are enormous, complex, and mysterious. Then, the loudest news story often shrinks. What feels enormous in the moment—this speech, that trial, the latest outrage—becomes just one speck in a much larger sky.

Ways to expand your world:

· Step into history. Read about another era. The noise of today echoes the noise of yesterday. Realizing this can soften the drama of the present.

· Engage the natural world. Spend time with mountains, oceans, or trees. Their timescale makes political storms seem brief.

· Broaden your inputs. Balance political reading with art, poetry, science, or stories of other cultures. Nourish your imagination.

· Do satisfying activities. Plant a garden, listen to a book, play or watch a sport. Taking action can expand your sense of meaning beyond the headlines.

· Explore deep questions like: Who were you before your mother or father were born?

Expanding your world doesn’t make current events disappear—it places them in context. The loudest voice grows quieter when it’s just one voice in a chorus.

Practice: Living In Many Worlds

Compartmentalizing and expanding are complementary. One closes the door on noise so it doesn’t spill everywhere. The other opens a window to a larger view, where the noise becomes one small part of a vast horizon.

Together, they create space for sanity.

When you practice compartmentalizing, you remind yourself: I am more than today’s news. When you practice expanding, you remind yourself: The world is more than today’s news.

And in both reminders, you reclaim your freedom.

Zen of Coaching: For Executive Coaches: Transforming Others, Becoming Your Best Self, Changing The World (Register now, by October 10 to save $100.)

An online course, beginning October 24th

Coaching is a way of helping others find the deepest places of their hearts.

Program Overview

Zen of Coaching is a transformational program for executive coaches and leaders who want to deepen their presence, expand their impact, and build a coaching practice rooted in wisdom, not just performance. Blending Zen principles, mindfulness, and real-world leadership experience, this course—created by Marc Lesser, the Zen teacher and CEO who helped bring mindful leadership to Google—supports you in cultivating stillness, navigating complexity, and coaching with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

To register and for more information.

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A Poem

If You Knew, by Ellen Bass

What if you knew you’d be the last

to touch someone?

If you were taking tickets, for example,

at the theater, tearing them,

giving back the ragged stubs,

you might take care to touch that palm,

brush your fingertips

along the life line’s crease.

When a man pulls his wheeled suitcase

too slowly through the airport, when

the car in front of me doesn’t signal,

when the clerk at the pharmacy

won’t say Thank you, I don’t remember

they’re going to die.

A friend told me she’d been with her aunt.

They’d just had lunch and the waiter,

a young gay man with plum black eyes,

joked as he served the coffee, kissed

her aunt’s powdered cheek when they left.

Then they walked half a block and her aunt

dropped dead on the sidewalk.

How close does the dragon’s spume

have to come? How wide does the crack

in heaven have to split?

What would people look like

if we could see them as they are,

soaked in honey, stung and swollen,

reckless, pinned against time?

Half Day Meditation Retreat, Sunday, October 12th

In person, in Mill Valley, and online.

In our world of busyness, of more/faster/better, this half-day retreat offers time to stop, reflect, and renew. We will explore the practices of effort and effortless as a path to well-being and “stepping into your life.” Together we’ll follow a gentle schedule of sitting and walking meditation, a talk, and some discussion. Anyone looking to begin or deepen a meditation and mindfulness practice is invited to attend.

Coaching In Complexity: Paradox and Insight: A FREE WEBINAR

Friday, October 10th, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PT

This free webinar is an opportunity to explore how to coach with more presence, curiosity, and trust — even when things feel complex or unresolved. We’ll explore how paradox can become a doorway to insight, and how to meet complexity not with fear, but with grounded awareness.

Register here.

Warmest regards,

Marc

The post Don’t Think Of An Elephant appeared first on Marc Lesser.

The Miracle of Each Moment

Marc converses with his longtime friend Kaz Tanahashi, a renowned calligrapher, Zen teacher, peace activist, author and translator of Buddhist texts. They explore Zen in everyday life, creativity, leadership, and the importance of presence. Kaz shares insights from his activism—including efforts to combat nuclear weapons and reforest the Amazon—while reflecting on his profound contributions to Zen teachings and mindfulness.
Support the podcast at https://marclesser.net/donate/

In this episode, Kaz invites you to support reforestation efforts in the Amazon. By donating to the Amazon Reforest Alliance, you can plant trees that help reverse climate change and restore the rainforest. Plant your tree today: https://inochi-earth.org/amazon-tree-project.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] Marc: Welcome to Mindful Leadership with Marc Lesser, a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with leaders and teachers exploring the intersection of keeping our hearts open and effective action in these most uncertain and challenging times. Please support our work by making a donation at Mark lesser slash donate.

[00:00:38] Marc: I am very happy to be meeting with Kaz Tanahashi, who’s been a good friend and colleague for many, many years. Uh, Kaz Kaz is one of the premier translators of Dogen The. Uh, renowned Zen teacher from Japan in the 13th century. He has written many, many books. He is [00:01:00] a calligraphy teacher and, and an activist.

[00:01:03] Marc: He’s done a lot of work in the realm of, uh. Nuclear weapons. He and I, uh, he, he brought me in to help him with a nonprofit. He started, uh, a world without armies. Our conversation, uh, amazing, amazing conversation about Zen in everyday life, creativity, leadership, and life. And. Behind me is one of his, uh, beautiful calligraphy pieces that says, um, underneath it says the miracle of each moment.

[00:01:33] Marc: So, uh, please, uh, join us for the miracle of Kaz Tanahashi. Um, I’m happy to be here with him now.

[00:01:43] Marc: Kaz Tanahashi It is, uh, it’s a delight to [00:02:00] be here with you and I’m actually, as you know, just in the next room ’cause I’m in your studio. So we got to, uh, I haven’t seen you in a while, but I think we first met about 50 years ago. Uh, when you were brought, you were brought into the San Francisco Zen Center mm-hmm.

[00:02:17] Marc: As a, as a scholar. And you’ve been a leading. Translator of Dogen, but also just a leading figure in the world of mindfulness and  Buddhism. Buddhism in America. And, and we were just talking about several books that you’re working on. Um, you mentioned a book on the, uh, on the Avatamsaka Sutra.

[00:02:43] Kaz: Mm-hmm. 

[00:02:43] Marc: A book on aging, A book on Dogen

[00:02:46] Marc: So I love how, um. Have you always been so lazy? I think, you know,

[00:02:54] Kaz: um, I’m too lazy to, to be [00:03:00] ineffective, so, um, kind of, yeah, that’s kind of not doing so much.

[00:03:11] Marc: Well, you, you’re a great teacher for me in you somehow. Um. Get an awful lot done for, for someone who seems not, uh, not stressed

[00:03:29] Kaz: at all, I think, you know, maybe we need to focus on things when we are playing or working, but also the best way to focus is to be relaxed.

[00:03:46] Kaz: Joy. Yes. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:03:50] Marc: Yeah. Do, do you, I think of it as maybe the kind of practice of wholeheartedness. [00:04:00] Mm-hmm. Like you seem, you seem so completely doing with whatever you’re doing. Wholeheartedness or maybe, uh, gener, generosity is the other word that like a, a radical, profound generosity.

[00:04:16] Kaz: Well, I, I try to, uh, be fully present.

[00:04:22] Kaz: So for, for you, for others, for myself, just, uh, uh, not to think about going somewhere else or doing something better, but this moment is a miracle. You know, we have, uh, 3 trillion cells. Now body and most of them need to be working fairly well. To be able to even breathe. Breathing is a miracle. You know, our [00:05:00] life, each moment is miracle.

[00:05:02] Kaz: So, uh, we might like not to waste our time just kind of. Struggling and then, uh, sort of complaining and fighting. You know, we should, uh, maybe appreciate each moment and then, uh, make the best of, of friendship encounter. That is a miracle too. So we need to.

[00:05:41] Kaz: Be grateful. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

[00:05:45] Marc: Mm-hmm. Well, I’m, uh, I’m appreciating this moment right now with, with you, and it’s, um, you know, we’re, we’re both,

[00:05:54] Kaz: yeah,

[00:05:55] Marc: we’re both, we’re both alive

[00:05:57] Kaz: and, and, and we’re here and that’s quite [00:06:00] amazing. You know, that’s really amazing. I am almost 92 years old. In a few weeks I’ll be 92.

[00:06:09] Kaz: Being still active. And then my wife said, you know, you don’t work for anybody, so you can’t retire.

[00:06:20] Marc: I was actually, um, quoting you. I I did a, a workshop this morning for a group of, uh, doctors. Oh, and I, I mentioned. And I said, um, I often use some, a quote of yours that I learned many, many years ago, which is, um, if you learn to enjoy waiting mm-hmm.

[00:06:42] Marc: You don’t have to wait to enjoy. And, and now you’ve just given me another one, which is, um, um, if you don’t work for anyone, you don’t need to retire. Mm-hmm. That’s, that’s good. But you, you know, you do work for your, you do. [00:07:00] Well do you do work for yourself? You, um, you do manage to, you may not think of yourself in this way, but I think of you as an entrepreneur or maybe as entrepreneur, you know?

[00:07:15] Marc: Mm-hmm.

[00:07:17] Kaz: Um, I may be technically working for myself, but actually I’m kind of thinking of just being in service. Right. Yeah. Yes. Yes.

[00:07:28] Marc: That’s even better,

[00:07:29] Kaz: even better than working for yourself. You know, it’s my, I sort of, I decided to complete my life, uh, by the end of the year when I became 90 years old. So maybe I should, um, sign all my paintings throughout everything else, and, uh.

[00:07:55] Kaz: So clean up and, um, so in [00:08:00] a way my life is already completed. I’m happy about it, and the rest is service. Mm-hmm. Just kind of trying to kind of help others. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

[00:08:16] Marc: Yeah. One of the things that you, um, mentioned when we. I first saw you this morning was that you’re working on a book, working on several books, but one, one that I’ve been wanting you to write for a long time is about a Zen teacher, Dogen

[00:08:33] Kaz: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

[00:08:35] Marc: And you’ve, you’ve probably spent more time with Dogen than maybe any other living person on, on this. Well, since

[00:08:45] Kaz: I was like 23. So. And then 27 years old, I started translating, uh, em, master Dogen, 13th century Japanese Jam Master Dogen work [00:09:00] into Moland Japanese, who is my jam master. So, um, it took me, uh, maybe eight or nine years to complete it.

[00:09:12] Kaz: And then translating, uh, Logan’s work into English. Took me like 33 years. So together it took me 50 years to complete it. In 2010. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

[00:09:30] Marc: That’s when you, um, published the Right, the two. It’s an amazing, uh, two volume set of transfer,

[00:09:44] Kaz: you know, with many people. Um. There were 30 people at San Francisco Zen Center and beyond, and Zen Center supported me, uh, for most of the time, about 30 years, [00:10:00] just for just single book, you know, so generous. Yeah. About changes and then editor changes, but they just kind of supported this one book project.

[00:10:18] Marc: For someone say that isn’t, you know, a, uh, how about someone who is new to Dogen, right? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. What, what would you say is the, the gift of his work or the essence of his teaching or how, how, how might you, how might you say what, what, what does Dogen have to teach us about living today in, in the 21st century?

[00:10:44] Kaz: I think often people think of Zen as kind of in search of enlightenment or satori, and then you work very hard and then you have this flesh of [00:11:00] insight, then they call it maybe potential or things through the human body. And then sort of, uh, you have this. Enlightenment experience. Uh, so d Suzuki talked about this and so a lot of the people think that way.

[00:11:22] Kaz: But Logan’s idea is, uh, when you take a form of Buddha and awake person and sit meditation, you are already a Buddha. You are enlightened and then you start, so there’s, uh, no separation between the practice of meditation or meditation related activities and enlightenment. So you start with enlightenment and you’ve [00:12:00] unfolded.

[00:12:01] Kaz: Of course, we are not mature enough, so we need to study. We need to. Uh, developed our, maybe our practice and our understanding, but, uh, all things we do, it’s kinda unfolding enlightenment, so it’s, we can be more relaxed in a way. We don’t have to look for something somewhere else and something else. Mm-hmm.

[00:12:31] Kaz: Yeah. Yeah,

[00:12:32] Marc: it makes me think of, um. His, uh, his essay or his fal, uh, instructions for Zen or the mm-hmm. Fu that so beautifully. Right. Begins with why, why practice, since we’re all. All enlightened from the beginning. We’re all essentially

[00:12:52] Kaz: right,

[00:12:53] Marc: per perfect, just as we are. Mm-hmm. Why, why go off to the dusty roads and mm-hmm.

[00:12:58] Marc: And practice [00:13:00] meditation. Right. And then the next paragraph, two of my favorite words in all of Zen are dogen’s. And yet he starts, and yet, uh, right. If there’s any, any thought of like or dislike. Arises, the mind is lost in confusion.

[00:13:20] Kaz: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:13:21] Marc: So he, as you’re saying, he’s, it’s interesting. That’s an example.

[00:13:25] Marc: I think he starts with enlightenment. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. But then he says, and yet we need to practice.

[00:13:33] Kaz: So, you know, in meditation we become still and be serene and, uh, but his poem is, uh. A short Japanese style

[00:13:57] Kaz: moon abiding in a [00:14:00] mind, belows break into light. So the moon is like full moon, maybe enlightenment, and then. Affected on high waves and then waves crash. So kind of millions and billions of, uh, full moons, uh, although appearing and disappearing. So very dynamic, you know, so mutation seems to be very still and serene and nothing.

[00:14:41] Kaz: It may not be happening, but actually kind of there’s an experience of entire world, the entire universe. Mm-hmm. And the great deal, deal of freedom. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. [00:15:00] Mm-hmm.

[00:15:01] Marc: That’s beautiful that that image that you just described of. The full moon and the, and the waves crashing is at least my, I’m, my sense of that is Right.

[00:15:14] Marc: The right, the full moon is enlightenment and the waves crashing are are day-to-day. Day-to-day ordinary lives.

[00:15:23] Kaz: That’s right. That’s right. Mm-hmm. And Hero was a calligrapher, sublime calligrapher. So when he was, uh, in China. Coming from Japan, kind of barbaric country, uh, he was put on the lowest seat in the, uh, monastic, uh, setting.

[00:15:48] Kaz: And then so hundreds of monks, uh, senior to him and he could not see the main teacher, and he [00:16:00] wrote a letter. Very nice letter. I still, we have, uh, maybe, uh, a copy of it and then, you know, very thoughtful letter to the, to regime. And then, you know, in East Asia people will kind of try to figure out the personality of the writer of the letter through calligraphy.

[00:16:30] Kaz: So his. Calligraphy was so careful. So even, and then, uh, noble, very kind of, uh, reflecting his noble personality, spirituality, and Bruin was very impressed. And then say, or you can come to my, um, room anytime of the day, and then you can be informal. We can [00:17:00] be like father and son. And then when he first met, he transmitted dharma.

[00:17:09] Kaz: So in a way Interesting. Of course. Uh, they must, must have asks his disciples, what is this guy doing? You know, what is, what is he like? And so in a way, without meeting, uh, Dogen, he understood that, uh, you know, this is a very, very important person, you know, so actually, you know, this letter and then this encounter changed token’s life, but also Ian’s life.

[00:17:55] Kaz: And then they actually changed the Buddhism in [00:18:00] Japan, Buddhism in China too. You know, it’s so interesting. Just one letter can, and then the language can be so powerful and it can be so decisive in the course of history in a way.

[00:18:23] Marc: I’ve, I’ve never heard that story before. And, and maybe, um, just a little background.

[00:18:28] Marc: It, you know, my, my understanding is that, you know, uh, doin, you know, really risked his life to take, you know, a few month boat across the sea of, across the sea from Japan to, uh, to China and in search of a teacher. And, um, he met many, many people. ’cause he, he wanted to find, he was so, I think, uh, passionate about wanting to find, uh, someone who could [00:19:00] answer his questions.

[00:19:02] Marc: I mean, one of his great questions, uh, was, you know, if, if we’re already fundamentally enlightened, fundamentally awake, fundamentally, one, why do we need to practice? Mm-hmm. And, um, this teacher that you just mentioned in the head of, of monastery. In China ing became his kind of fundamental teacher mm-hmm.

[00:19:24] Marc: For, for several, several years.

[00:19:25] Kaz: Yeah.

[00:19:27] Marc: So interesting that, that ing recognized, doin through his calligraphy.

[00:19:34] Kaz: Right, right. Exactly, exactly. That was the first encounter.

[00:19:39] Marc: Yeah. And then that, um, that Dogen brought, went back to Japan. Mm-hmm. And I’m, I’m always struck Kaz and I, I imagine you must certainly be, every time I read the words of, um, SRU Suzuki, you know?

[00:19:58] Marc: Mm-hmm. From like Zen Mind, beginner’s Mind or [00:20:00] his other books. So much of his teaching seems like he is leaning on or mm-hmm. Interpreting, Dogen Dogen’s teaching. Is that, is that your experience as well? Yeah, definitely. Definitely.

[00:20:17] Kaz: So I met, uh, Suzuki was in 1964. I visited, uh, ology in the earlier time in, uh, on Bush Streets, San Francisco.

[00:20:32] Kaz: And then he was teaching in, uh, former kind of synagogue. Yeah, very big buildings. And then. He and then, uh, meet the Suzuki, his wife served me tea and then we had a very nice conversation. I had a [00:21:00] kind of, uh, jacket and then tie on and, uh, uh, he said. Are you a salesman of Buddhist goods? So I says, no, no, no.

[00:21:14] Kaz: I’m kind of the master Dogen student. You know, I’m kind of, actually my master and I have been translating Zo and I said, I know you teach, uh, dozen. But what kind of text do you teach him? He said, uh, blue cliff record. Chinese kind of go on collections. So I said, uh, why not Dogen? And he says, well, Dogen is too difficult for American students.

[00:21:51] Kaz: So I said, uh, if you are teaching foreign students, don’t you think you should present your best? Don’t you think Dogen [00:22:00] is your best? And he was quiet for some time. I thought he was upset. And then he said, uh, you know, next, uh, Saturday I’m going to give a talk to my students. Would you talk about Dogen for me?

[00:22:21] Kaz: So he was very generous. I was just, uh, 30 years old. I was a kid, you know, just kind of coming, just arriving from Japan and, uh, he was so kind of open and generous to, uh. Invite me to give a talk. I mean, it’s, uh, unthinKazble nowadays, right? But anyway, because of his generosity, I sort of became, uh, kind of, uh, maybe visiting scholar color [00:23:00] Vincent later after he passed away.

[00:23:04] Kaz: And then we, we have kinda worked together. Trying to kind of, uh, introduce Dogen, uh, maybe, uh, to

[00:23:17] Marc: the Western war,

[00:23:18] Kaz: but yeah.

[00:23:20] Marc: Did you stay in San Francisco? So you said that was 1964? That was, I

[00:23:26] Kaz: stayed at, uh, YMCA and I would go to in the morning, and then he would ask me to stay for breakfast. And sometimes dinner.

[00:23:39] Kaz: And then, um, take your bath, uh, on the kind of basement of this ology. So yeah, about one, one week I kind of, I was, uh, with him, I was studying with him too, and [00:24:00] then I went away and then maybe about a year later. I went to work and then

[00:24:07] Marc: I saw him again. I think the San Francisco Zen Center building was bought, I think in 67 or 68.

[00:24:18] Marc: Were you, and did you spend time with him before he died in the, in the Zen Center building or were you back in Ja? Were you back in? I went

[00:24:29] Kaz: back to Japan, so we, we were corresponding, he was talking about, uh, kind of, um, Japan town being built and also he was talking about kind of being developed. So I did, I was part of the Gen, uh, culture institute in Japan.

[00:24:53] Kaz: I was. Translating do and then doing talks along with my [00:25:00] master. I did some fundraising and send money for, uh, Tasara. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Then I went back in 1977 to San Francisco, and then, yeah. On that time, you know, page Street. Yeah.

[00:25:22] Marc: Mm-hmm. Yes. I think, right. Richard Baker. Mm-hmm. My understanding. Invited you.

[00:25:26] Marc: Mm-hmm. Wanted thought it was by, by then, I think, um, it was, uh, quite clear the prominence and importance of, uh, Dogen’s Dogen’s teaching. Mm-hmm. To Suzuki Roshi and to the San Francisco Zen Center. Mm-hmm. Right. I’ve been, I’ve been encouraging you for, I’ve been wanting you to write, write a book to, uh, bring Dogen out to the rest of the world.

[00:25:57] Marc: Beyond, beyond just, just [00:26:00] the Zen community.

[00:26:01] Kaz: Mm-hmm.

[00:26:02] Marc: Uh, many, many, but I, his teaching is often quite deep and somewhat, somewhat inscrutable. Uh, so I think the challenge is how to, how to make it accessible without, you know, without losing. Its, um, its essence.

[00:26:24] Kaz: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

[00:26:28] Kaz: So, yeah, I just kind of wait on the draft called, uh, a book called Inspiration, and then subtitle is Master Dogen. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

[00:26:41] Marc: Yeah, I’m saying I, I’m, I’ve always liked, um, one word titles, inspiration.

[00:26:45] Kaz: Mm-hmm.

[00:26:46] Marc: Zen Master, Dogen Uhhuh.

[00:26:49] Kaz: And I think the kind of, maybe one unique thing about this, I talk a lot about, uh, paradoxes, you know, [00:27:00] then is a kind of, uh hmm.

[00:27:05] Kaz: Maybe unique in different, among different schools or Buddhism, just maybe favor favoring and also depending on paradoxes. So Koans are all paradoxes? Yes. Yes. And, uh, so, or, but you know, Dogen’s first kind of, uh, essay Bendowa. Of the way, uh, doesn’t have paradox. It’s very straightforward, very profound teachings.

[00:27:45] Kaz: Maybe actually all of his basic teachings are already there, uh, in Bendowa. He wrote it to him, uh, when he was wondering, [00:28:00] uh, before he revealed the first monastery. And so I kind of quote a lot of, uh, words from even from there. Mm-hmm. Fortunately, I don’t need to get permission from

[00:28:20] Kaz: translator, so anything, and then I talk about this paradox and then basically, uh. I collected 300 paradoxes from, uh, Shobogenzo, his main work and then classified them. So actually in large, three large categories. One is, uh, freedom from self, so drop away your body and mind and so forth. Get enlightened by yourself without self, something like that.

[00:28:59] Kaz: Mm-hmm. And [00:29:00] another is freedom from division, so large and small. So like a master seed contains Mount Sumeru the largest mountain in the universe in the Buddhist mythology. So mustard seed is so small. So you can see that, uh, as an attempt to, uh, become free from divisions like maybe 10,000 years in one moment.

[00:29:36] Kaz: So, so that is one thing. Another thing is, uh, freedom from conventional knowledge. Sometimes Bodhidharma did not come from India. Well, he did, but some German masters talk about it and then sort of [00:30:00] maybe, uh, leads you to be free from this kind of maybe, uh, just. From anything, any facts or any teaching or anything.

[00:30:17] Kaz: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

[00:30:20] Marc: Yeah, that’s, um, that seems like a very, um, uh. Beautiful way, um, to unpack right Dogen’s teachings and gifts, um, from the point of view of categorizing, right? I like categorizing paradox is I, whenever I hear that word, paradox, I have to remind myself, oh, a paradox by definition is something that appears impossible, but may in fact be true.

[00:30:51] Marc: Right. Exactly. Exactly. Mm-hmm. So it help, it helps me to, oh yeah, that’s, you know, ’cause my, my mi my mind can get, [00:31:00] I can get lost in Oh paradox. But no, it’s something that’s, you know, that looks impossible. So it’s funny when you, you mentioned that, uh, Dogen’s first essay called Bendowa didn’t have paradoxes.

[00:31:16] Marc: Hmm. I thought that sounds very paradoxical to me.

[00:31:22] Kaz: You know, like, um, bind yourself with no rope, you know? Well, maybe if you try hard, maybe you can bind yourself with rope, but how can you do it without a rope? But you know, we do it all the time. You know, our desire, we or I have to have it or I have to get this done.

[00:31:50] Kaz: You know, you don’t have to do it, but you are sort of obsessed. So that means you are bound your, uh, by why [00:32:00] no rope, you know? And we do it all the time.

[00:32:06] Marc: Yeah, yeah. Well, that’s. That’s such a fundamental zen paradox, right? That the, the, the, the, mm-hmm. This feeling that we are, um, not free, right? And we want, and that we want someone to give us the key to open up the cage so that we can free ourselves.

[00:32:31] Marc: And then the, uh, I think Dogen’s essential teaching is we’re already free. We’re already free. There’s no, we already have the key.

[00:32:41] Kaz: Hmm.

[00:32:42] Marc: You know, I, uh, great human paradox and para, I’m, I’m often suggesting that even the word zen is just a code word for human,

[00:32:55] Kaz: you know,

[00:32:55] Marc: human. The paradox of being a human being, [00:33:00] being, and especially the paradox, right, of freedom.

[00:33:04] Marc: Are we free or not free? Mm-hmm. Well, Kaz I wonder, um, anything else you would like to say here this morning about what you’re working on or anything at all? Well, now

[00:33:21] Kaz: COP30 is To happen in November in, uh, Brazil. So climate conference. And, uh, so I’ve been kind of working with people in Brazil and then people here kind of, uh, trying to, uh, plant trees in Amazon, rain forest.

[00:33:46] Kaz: Mm-hmm. So, um, in a way this maybe. We call it flying rivers, kind of a huge amount of, uh, um, vapor from the [00:34:00] ground and then going up, uh, foam clouds and rains and then regulates world temperature. So it is, uh, very crucial for the kind of, uh, world, uh, maybe sustainability. So I’ve been asking friends to donate money to plant trees in the Amazon rainforest.

[00:34:30] Kaz: So we found a very good partner in Brazil, uh, not corrupted, which is rare, uh, in Brazil. And then, you know, indigenous people and then non-indigenous people working together. So now, uh, we are sending representative from us, maybe my colleague and, uh, also [00:35:00] five people from, uh, Brazil. And then, uh, we are trying to maybe expand this project plant to your trees in Amazon Rainforest.

[00:35:16] Kaz: So. You feel this is your tree. So, you know, maybe, uh, um, so we have such a good partners. They have connection to the organizers, uh, minister of environment, and then officers and so forth. So they are kind of hosting the, uh. Nations Climate Conference, uh, bell in Northern part of, uh, um, Brazil. We are sort of, um, maybe suggesting a theme, maybe one of the sea of a conference and also [00:36:00] maybe resolution too.

[00:36:02] Kaz: We drafted the resolution and then basically, you know. I, I am hoping that the conference will make a resolution that we urge all individuals, civic societies, and governments worldwide to plant as many trees as possible. It is one of the most direct way to, uh, reduce stop and reverse. Climate change. So I, this resolution is done.

[00:36:44] Kaz: And then some governments and some people wanna plant more trees and that will help a lot. So in a way, it’s actually, we are doing some small project, but also we [00:37:00] are trying to multiply the effect and in a way that is. Maybe one good way. Find them a good language and good maybe relationship and good working together.

[00:37:18] Kaz: And then, uh, inviting people, as many people you know, worldwide to join the kind of effort, uh, something that is concrete and visible. And so we can say, oh, I planted uh, 10 trees this month, or something like that. Uh, this is kind of, uh, uh, what I’m doing and then I’m very excited about it. And then I encourage you, you know, our audience also.

[00:37:57] Kaz: To plant trees from your [00:38:00] backyard on the schoolyard in the park and maybe in Amazon Rainforest? Yeah. Yeah.

[00:38:13] Marc: I’ll be sure to, um, publish the, the link information so that people can participate to donate or plant trees and, and I am reminded of. You, you’ve been a tremendous, uh, activist your whole adult life.

[00:38:29] Marc: Um. You and I used to work on you. You invited me in to join you in, um, a world without armies and I know you and even before that, you and Mayumi Oda.

[00:38:42] Kaz: Mm-hmm.

[00:38:43] Marc: Were doing a lot of work on, uh, bringing awareness to the dangers of, uh, nuclear weapons.

[00:38:49] Kaz: Yeah. San Francisco Center. We did this nuclear study group, uh, which became, uh.

[00:38:57] Kaz: Maybe activity groups [00:39:00] very quickly. We did the visuals in downtown San Francisco, participated in demonstration, calling up White House and writing letters to Congress members, and then inviting speakers and showing films. Mm-hmm. We did everything, you know, to, to reverse nuclear arms race. It was awful.

[00:39:24] Kaz: You know, like in 19. 79, 19 80. And, uh, one time David Chadwick, he started, uh, world Suicide Club. So when President Reagan did San Francisco, they had a, a plaque say, welcome President Reagan World Suicide Club. So that was the street of our time. Yeah. You know, we were kind of. As humans, we were ready to wipe out [00:40:00] the surface of the, the grove, uh, multiple times.

[00:40:07] Kaz: Mm-hmm. We were actually close to the corrective suicide. Mm-hmm. And, and then, you know, things were getting worse and worse. It felt like, you know, everything we did was failure. But all of a sudden kind of, well, rain wall fell down by mistake. You know, someone kind of a spokesperson from, uh, the Eastern Germany said, uh, and said, uh oh, now, uh.

[00:40:51] Kaz: Citizens from the East can go to West Berlin anytime, uh, without uh, [00:41:00] papers. And then someone said, uh, when he said right now, so people just west into, uh, west Berlin, they couldn’t stop. And then eventually Soviet Union collapsed. And the nuclear arms stopped. So we together, you know, millions of people working separately and together we sort of, uh, avoided catastrophe.

[00:41:32] Kaz: Mm-hmm. And I think we know now this, we have this environmental catastrophe, global wars, and, uh, so we are trying to kind of, uh. Reverse that, and we feel that maybe things are not working, everything’s getting worse and worse, but uh, [00:42:00] maybe also whatever we are doing is part of the breakthroughs. We don’t know.

[00:42:07] Marc: That’s one of the more, I think, um. Uh, positive, optimistic paradoxes is things, things change slowly. Mm-hmm. And all at once, right. You

[00:42:21] Kaz: know, uh, things, things change. Everything is impermanent. So that is the most basic Buddhist teaching. And also maybe most basic fact. But so he maybe usually, we all become sick and we all become, we, uh, we all die.

[00:42:45] Kaz: So that’s, that’s one aspect of the truth. But another aspect of the truth is that, uh, whatever bad things happening in the government or [00:43:00] any kind of world situations. That can change, that will change. Nothing is unchangeable. We can change it, you know? Yeah, yeah,

[00:43:14] Marc: yeah. Yeah. Uh, I appreciate the, um, yeah, the positive, the positive aspect of impermanence.

[00:43:22] Marc: So Kaz, thank you so much. I really appreciate this opportunity. 

[00:43:26] Kaz: Oh, thank youfor such a fine work. Mark. My deep appreciation.

[00:43:39] Marc: I hope you’ve appreciated today’s episode. To learn more about my work, you can visit mark lesser.net. And if you’re interested in enrolling in a self-directed course called Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader, please visit https://marclessercourses.thinkific.com/ courses.thinkific.com. [00:44:00] This podcast is offered freely and relies on the financial support from listeners like you.

[00:44:06] Marc: You can donate at marclesser.net/donate. Thank you very much.

[music]

[END OF AUDIO]

The post The Miracle of Each Moment appeared first on Marc Lesser.

Jewels and Sweating Horses

In this issue:

Jewels and Sweating HorsesZen of Coaching: Course for Executive CoachesA Poem, by William StaffordHalf Day Meditation Retreat, October 12th3-day Retreat, Green Gulch Farm, February 5 – 8, 2026

There is an expression from the Zen tradition: “Behind each jewel are three thousand sweating horses.”

In researching this adage it appears to be from Ummon, a renowned 9th century Chinese Zen teacher; the same teacher who said “Every day is a good day.”

I actually had the opportunity to spend three years with sweating horses. Many years ago, when I lived at the San Francisco Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farm, I was assigned the task of learning how to farm with horses. (I thought someone must have mis-read my resume, noticing perhaps, that I was from The Garden State, New Jersey.) We had two 1,500 pound Percheron draft horses, Snip And Jerry. They were fairly old, mostly moved slowly, not a lot of sweat. And they were quite patient with me, since I knew little about horses or farming. Those were amazing years, with many jewels, (and a few wild, near-death experiences…)

During these extraordinary times I’ve been even more aware and appreciative than usual of the jewels in my life as well as reflecting on the sweating horses, all those that support me and have supported me from the past.

There are jewels everywhere, beginning with things that are easy to overlook and take for granted, like being alive; our ability to see and think and smell and hear. I’m spending more time appreciating my family and friends, students and teachers, as jewels. This is not something new, but now accentuated through the lens of uncertainty. Looking out my window I see jewels, pretending to be leaves on trees, shimmering in the wind and the sound of a misty rain. Everything is shiny and alive.

The sweating horses in some way are also the jewels, just looked at from a different perspective; from the perspective of support, commitment, preparation, and hard work.

I think about and recognize all the support I’ve head in my Zen training. I’ve had some exceptional teachers, starting when I was in my early 20’s till the present. And those Zen sweating horses go back in time thousands of years. For me, lots of jewels and sweating horses — from the early days of the San Francisco Zen Center, to the rich traditions in Japan, China, and India – to the historical Buddha more that 2,500 hundred years ago.

And I think about all the support, all the sweating horses from my business life. From NYU business school, to investors in my companies, to employees, and customers, and vendors. So much sweat! So much support. All jewels.

I know these times are uncertain, filled with stress and challenges, sometimes bringing up dread and fear; often longing for something that feels more normal. Exploring a different perspective – acknowledging and appreciating the ordinary and extraordinary, the support you’ve received and have given to others – can help foster recognition that every day is indeed a good day.

Practice

Who and what are some of the jewels in your life? How about the sweating horses?

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Zen of Coaching: For Executive Coaches: Transforming Others, Becoming Your Best Self, Changing The World

An online course, beginning October 24th

Coaching is a way of helping others find the deepest places of their hearts.

Program Overview

Zen of Coaching is a transformational program for executive coaches and leaders who want to deepen their presence, expand their impact, and build a coaching practice rooted in wisdom, not just performance. Blending Zen principles, mindfulness, and real-world leadership experience, this course—created by Marc Lesser, the Zen teacher and CEO who helped bring mindful leadership to Google—supports you in cultivating stillness, navigating complexity, and coaching with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

To register and for more information.

A Poem by William Stafford

Jewels and Sweating Horses reminds me of part of a poem.

You Reading This Be Ready

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life.

What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?

Half Day Meditation Retreat, Sunday, October 12th

In person, in Mill Valley, and online.

In our world of busyness, of more/faster/better, this half-day retreat offers time to stop, reflect, and renew. We will explore the practices of effort and effortless as a path to well-being and “stepping into your life.” Together we’ll follow a gentle schedule of sitting and walking meditation, a talk, and some discussion. Anyone looking to begin or deepen a meditation and mindfulness practice is invited to attend.

Finding Your Way. A Zen Inspired Retreat. Green Gulch Farm, February 5 – 8, 2026

Much of our lives are spent searching for more, for better—for something other than who we are and the world we find ourselves in. This retreat offers time to stop, reflect, renew, and discover the art and practice of appreciation and wonder. Drawing on the teachings and wisdom of Zen, the weekend will include periods of meditation, guided reflections, short talks, and small and large group conversations. We’ll explore themes of impermanence, effort and effortlessness, and the freedom that arises when we release judgment and embrace what is.

This retreat invites you to pause, breathe, and listen deeply, beyond the noise of striving and self-comparison. Finding Your Way is not about fixing or achieving, but about softening into clarity and trust in forging your own path.

Whether you’re in a moment of transition, seeking deeper clarity, or simply longing to rest and renew, this retreat offers space to explore, heal, and grow.

No prior meditation experience is needed. Come as you are. Leave with less weight, more wonder, and a renewed connection to your own way.

Warmest regards,

Marc

The post Jewels and Sweating Horses appeared first on Marc Lesser.

Every Day Is A Good Day

The Freedom Of Appreciation, In Difficult Times, or Any Time

In this issue:

Every Day Is A Good DayZen of Coaching: Course for Executive CoachesA Poem, by Anne HillmanWhat I’m Watching, SportsHalf Day Meditation Retreat, October 12th

I’m quite fond of Zen stories. Some seem inscrutable or overly simplistic. Here is one with a touch of dramatic flair, and as often the case, some deeper meaning for how to live during these most strange and bewildering times.

Ummon, a renowned 9th century Chinese Zen teacher looks over an audience of several hundred students and asks them this challenging question: “I’m not asking about what happened in these past fifteen days, I’m asking what will happen starting now.” Apparently this question was met with an awkward silence. The teacher answered his own question by saying: “Every day is a good day.”

This story, and the statement, Every day is a good day, has been preserved and passed down as a teaching story. Why? What does it mean?

Usually we think that our days are ok, bad, fantastic, terrible, surprising, boring, etc. etc. Looking at our days and our life, we often think in terms of good or bad, enough or not enough, successful or failing. In response we feel anxious and upset, or not. We feel good and happy, or not.

Of course, our days can be good or bad. We can have enough or not enough. Zen stories and practices pose the possibility that we also live in another dimension – a dimension of greater wonder and greater freedom; freedom to not be caught by our own stories and judgements. The teaching is to appreciate everything, to find and live with greater flexibility and perspective, outside of good and bad, enough or not enough. The practice of meditation is one way to shift this teaching from an intellectual idea to a way of being, a way of living, that changes everything.

Even though our world and our lives are filled with good and bad, the challenge and opportunity is to appreciate everything and learn from everything. I’m reminded of a greeting card I once published when I was CEO of Brush Dance. It said:

“My life is one learning experience after another. By the end of the week I should be a genius.”

Practice

Explore during meditation, and throughout the day: “Every day is a good day” in addition to good or bad, enough or not enough.

Zen of Coaching: For Executive Coaches: Transforming Others, Becoming Your Best Self, Changing The World

An online course, beginning October 24th

Coaching is a way of helping others find the deepest places of their hearts.

Program Overview

Zen of Coaching is a transformational program for executive coaches and leaders who want to deepen their presence, expand their impact, and build a coaching practice rooted in wisdom, not just performance. Blending Zen principles, mindfulness, and real-world leadership experience, this course—created by Marc Lesser, the Zen teacher and CEO who helped bring mindful leadership to Google—supports you in cultivating stillness, navigating complexity, and coaching with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

To register and for more information.

A Poem by Anne Hillman

We look with uncertainty
beyond the old choices for
clear-cut answers
to a softer, more permeable aliveness
which is every moment
at the brink of death;
for something new is being born in us
if we but let it.
We stand at a new doorway,
awaiting that which comes…
daring to be human creatures,
vulnerable to the beauty of existence.
Learning to love.

What I’m Watching

Sports! So many great sports to catch these days.

This week: U.S. Open Tennis. All week and this weekend.

Half Day Meditation Retreat, Sunday, October 12th

In person, in Mill Valley, and online.

In our world of busyness, of more/faster/better, this half-day retreat offers time to stop, reflect, and renew. We will explore the practices of effort and effortless as a path to well-being and “stepping into your life.” Together we’ll follow a gentle schedule of sitting and walking meditation, a talk, and some discussion. Anyone looking to begin or deepen a meditation and mindfulness practice is invited to attend.

Warmest regards,

Marc

The post Every Day Is A Good Day appeared first on Marc Lesser.

Live What You See Not What You Know

In this episode of Mindful Leadership, Marc explores the theme “Live What You See, Not What You Know,” inspired by artist Ruth Asawa’s teaching and Zen philosophy. Marc begins with a guided meditation to help listeners settle in, then shares insights from his visit to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Through personal stories, Zen teachings, and poetry, Marc encourages embracing curiosity, direct experience, and perspective-taking in daily life. Tune in for practical wisdom on living with openness, creativity, and mindful presence.

Support the podcast by donating at marclesser.net/donate.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

[music]

[00:00:00] Marc: Welcome to Mindful Leadership with Marc Lesser, a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with leaders and teachers exploring the intersection of keeping our hearts open and effective action in these most uncertain and challenging times. Please support our work by making a donation at Marc lesser slash donate.

[00:00:37] Marc: This episode is called Live What You See, not What You Know, and we’ll begin with a short, uh, guided meditation just to help us settle and arrive. And from there, I, I share a short practice, something that jumped out at me when I was. At the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art recently, and I went to [00:01:00] see the Ruth Asawa exhibit.

[00:01:02] Marc: She instructs her students to draw. Draw what you see, not what you know. This simple directive reminded me of a simple, and I think profound zen or human instruction about. Living, living what you see, living with more directness and curiosity and wonder less about being in your head. It’s a way of opening doors.

[00:01:30] Marc: So let’s, um, but let’s begin with a short guided meditation and we’ll see. We’ll see what happens next. Uh, thanks for joining.

[00:01:48] Marc: Uh, let’s begin with a few minutes of sitting quietly together. And I’m gonna start by ringing my bell.[00:02:00]

[00:02:12] Marc: Yeah, the bell. It’s an invitation to stop, to pause.

[00:02:19] Marc: To, uh, let go of the busyness of the day. I’m remembering a, a phrase I recently came across from Suzuki Roshi who says that we all, we all have a lot of rubbish, a lot of rubbish in our minds, right? What, um, remembering to, to buy the coffee or like. Making an appointment with DMV or to do this or do that many, many things and these are all, you know, maybe important, but maybe not so much right now.

[00:02:56] Marc: Letting them go and [00:03:00] just being here. Just being here and with our breath and body hearts and mind.

[00:03:16] Marc: Yeah, just, uh, allowing, allowing the richness of the breath, the richness of, uh, our existence. What is it like to be here? What is it like to be alive? And nothing, nothing to accomplish or do or change, just.

[00:03:48] Marc: Breathing in and breathing out,

[00:03:59] Marc: you know, letting [00:04:00] you know thoughts, thoughts will come and go and great, great. That we notice. And, uh. Returning, uh, returning to the breath, returning to the body, but not, you know, not, doesn’t have to be neutral, can be with

[00:04:24] Marc: as much as possible a uh, a warm hearted. Warm hearted curiosity.

[00:04:38] Marc: Allowing and, uh, accepting ourselves. Whatever, whatever comes up, whether it’s grief or sadness, or joy, or patience or impatience, um, it’s all good. It’s all good here. Just noticing.[00:05:00]

[00:05:18] Marc: And leaning in, uh, leaning into the quiet, uh, to the silence. I wonder, you know, what will, what will arise out out of the silence?

[00:05:37] Marc: And no, no real effort required, and certainly no extra effort just being here.[00:06:00]

[00:06:03] Marc: And I am, I’m gonna ring my bell. This bell doesn’t feel like my bell. I’m not sure where this bell comes from. I’ve had it a long, long time, and it’s. Feel like my, my, uh, job is to take care of it, gonna bring it, to make a possible transition. You’re welcome to keep sitting or come join me in whatever’s, whatever’s next.

[00:06:52] Marc: So live what you see, not what you know. Now. This is the, uh, [00:07:00] topic of this, uh, next, uh, bit of time together. And, and this comes from, uh, I recently went to the. Uh, the Museum of Modern Art in downtown San Francisco, where I saw the, uh, Ruth Asawa, uh, exhibit, uh, Ruth Asawa, uh, is, uh, amazing, uh, revered artist who had a way of turning ordinary objects into artwork.

[00:07:31] Marc: Uh, there’s a, there’s a great, a large photograph, uh, on the wall of this exhibit of, it’s a photograph of her living room and. It’s, uh, her and, uh, four young children, and there’s just art objects everywhere. You know, just sim simple, you know, newspaper and blocks and painting and paintbrushes and just all spread out.

[00:07:59] Marc: And, [00:08:00] and this, you can feel the sense of creativity and joy and, and on the wall next to one of her. Pieces of art was, she says she instructs her students to, uh, draw, draw what you see, uh, not what you know. And when I saw this, I was captivated and I thought, oh, this is, this is a great zen practice or human practice, right?

[00:08:31] Marc: Um, and I, I kind of took draw and made it. Live. Live what you see and not what you know. Right. So this is, I think, a teaching and encouragement to, to get out of our heads and to be in our bodies, uh, to get out of, uh, kind of intellectualizing and, you know, which it’s important to intellectualize. It’s an important, maybe it’s the, [00:09:00] uh, the scientific mind that wants to.

[00:09:05] Marc: Wants to live and see beyond, beyond what we can just see. And that’s important. But this is a, this is another way of being in the world, another way of being of, uh, seeing everything as fresh and new and this aspiration, I think, to, to see, uh, more clearly. Right. So this, uh, this zen vow, this vow that comes from Buddhism, you know, delusions are inexhaustible.

[00:09:33] Marc: Uh, I. Uh, vow to end them. You know, there’s a, an image, an image from the zen world is that we, humans are, we’re like frogs at the bottom of a well looking up, right? It’s a great image of frog at the bottom of the well looking up, and we, we only see a small slice of the world. We know, we know that there’s this whole big, giant world out [00:10:00] there, but we can only see a small, a small part of it.

[00:10:03] Marc: And that’s, you know, that’s our, uh, that, that that’s what it’s like, you know, to be human right. We we’re often, we’re often very curious about other people’s motivation or other people’s experience. Well, it’s hard to even know our own. Even to know our own motivation or to, to, uh, this feeling of opening, opening up the doorway to our own hearts and mind.

[00:10:36] Marc: You know, a zen teacher, Dogan is a great expression where he says, you know, when you’re out, when you’re out in the middle of the ocean and you look around, the ocean looks round. But he says, uh, the ocean is not round. And, and he, he, he does some, uh, some beautiful, uh, metaphors, fish to a fish. The ocean is a jewel, you know, or [00:11:00] to a dragon.

[00:11:01] Marc: The ocean is, you know, is a, is a home in which to course through and I mean, it’s a great, you know, it’s a great image, right? Being in the middle of the ocean, it looks, it looks round. Wherever, you know, we look at a, uh, the other day I was actually, uh, camping in the Trinity Alps with some friends, and I was sitting next to a beautiful, beautiful mountain lake and there was a gorgeous tree, tree trunk that I was sitting next to, and the base of this tree trunk, it had like five or six big parts of the trunk that were all.

[00:11:44] Marc: Beautifully gorgeously, uh, going down into the, some half of them seem to be going right into the earth and the other half seem to be going down into the lake. Uh, ’cause this tree was perched right on the edge. And [00:12:00] I, I couldn’t help wonder how, how, how does this happen? How does this tree, uh, know to do this?

[00:12:06] Marc: And, and when I got home, I, um, I plugged into, um. To chat GPTI said, what is happening with a tree that is outside of my experience? What am I not seeing? Right? I wanted, I, I wanted to see, you know, this is, this is like, well from, you know, it looks, it, it looks, this tree looks like nothing’s happening. It’s completely, it looks frozen.

[00:12:37] Marc: But it’s not frozen. And, and what chat GPT answered me is there are many, many wondrous things happening in this tree that you’re not aware of. You know, the tree is growing and dividing and there’s photosynthesis and, and it listed like five or six different categories of all of the life [00:13:00] and activity of this tree that is, uh, beyond.

[00:13:05] Marc: What we think we know. And I think this is the kind of seeing that Ruth Asawa is encouraging us to see beyond just the, the surface, right? To be curious about what’s happening. And of course, you know, the same is true in our own, um, bodies and minds. Maybe even, um, as complex or perhaps even more complex than all of what’s happening inside of a tree.

[00:13:37] Marc: Our own, uh, our own feelings, our own motivations, our bodies, bodies, uh, and minds.

[00:13:49] Marc: There’s a, uh, a beautiful, um. Quote, uh, from Zen Teacher Suzuki about, [00:14:00] um, what I think of as this, this same practice, this practice of, uh, generosity and, and he says, every existence in nature, every existence in the human world, every cultural work that we create is something which was given or is being given to us.

[00:14:23] Marc: So this is again, another way of, um, accepting reality. Seeing reality beneath the surface to see that, you know, uh, these, I think of these hands that we think of as my, I don’t own these hands. I don’t own this body and mine. It was gift, it was given, given to me. Your body and mind given to you. Everything, the air that we breathe, the sky, right?

[00:14:52] Marc: So this first, the first part of this quote, uh, the first part, this quote is quite [00:15:00] beautiful. But then, uh, this is, I, I feel like, um, Zen teaching, Zen practice has a way of, uh, setting us up and then pulling the rug out from under us. In a good way. In a good way. So after he says, right, everything was given to us, then he says, but.

[00:15:18] Marc: As everything is originally one, we are in actuality giving out everything right as everything is originally one. So this is a statement of the statement of oneness or emptiness or lack of separation. It’s a profound and beautiful, and he says it so simply, but. Right as everything is originally one, we are in actuality giving out everything.

[00:15:55] Marc: Right? Moment after moment we are creating something. Yeah. What a, [00:16:00] what a beautiful, beautiful statement, and I think a beautiful description of reality and how things actually are right, that everything was given to us. Everything is originally one, and therefore we are, uh, creating something. And then to cap it all off, he says, and this is the joy.

[00:16:28] Marc: This is the joy of our life. This is the joy of our life. So he, you know, and Zen has a way of, uh, this distinction. Somewhat artificial, but important distinction, you know, small mind and big mind. So he’s taking us, you know, this is, this is a, I think, a beautiful expression of Big Mind, right? Big Mind says, realizes that everything was given to us.

[00:16:56] Marc: Everything is originally one, and [00:17:00] we are moment after moment. Everything we do is an act of creation and creativity, and this is the joy of our life. Uh, but this, um, this is true when we’re, uh. Writing emails or washing the dishes or, uh, go, going to get our driver’s license renewed, which I happen to be doing today.

[00:17:26] Marc: It’s on my mind. So that’s my part of my aspiration, right? I can, I can go down to the DMV, you know, just waiting to be frustrated, waiting for the long lines. The, but, or I can go down with a much more sense of, uh. Acceptance and creativity. And just to be curious, you know, to be curious about what’s gonna happen, how, uh, how will I be met there?

[00:17:54] Marc: How can I, how can I bring my own, uh, big mind [00:18:00] as much as I, as much as I can. There’s a ano another, um, another beautiful statement by a Zen teacher, Dogan, you know, the. Founder, one of the founders, early, early founders of a Zen in Japan in the 13th century. And, um, this is how he begins, uh, an essay that he wrote called, um, instructions for Meditation.

[00:18:31] Marc: And he says, uh, the way is basically perfect and all pervading. How could it be contingent upon practice and realization the whole body is far beyond the world’s dust. Who could believe in a means to brush it clean? What is the use of going off here and there to practice? So anyhow, he’s, maybe it’s a long-winded way of saying [00:19:00] similar to, uh, you know what Shinu Suzuki just said, you know, since we’re all one, we’re all one.

[00:19:07] Marc: Everything is, uh, perfect just as it is. Why, why, why practice? Why is there a need for practice? Uh, but then he, uh, answers his own statement with, um, and these are, these are two, I think, uh, wonderful profound words, uh, from Zen. And yet he then says, and yet, and yet, if there is the slightest discrepancy. The way is as distant as heaven from Earth, if the least like or dislike arises, the mind is lost in confusion.

[00:19:47] Marc: Right. And yet, and yet I think there’s a lot of, uh, power in this and yet Right. Uh, to see and yet, uh, as a way in seeing differently [00:20:00] this, and yet I think gives us, uh, some insight into seeing. With greater confidence and greater humility, you know, this and yet could describe our lives, right? Things are great, and yet there’s so much suffering.

[00:20:18] Marc: Uh, things are bad, and yet, right? There’s so much goodness, so much beauty. Uh, there’s so much to do, and yet, you know, why not, uh, stop and enjoy and appreciate this moment, and, and I think in some way. All of this can be, uh, under the heading of live what you see and not, uh, not what you know, live, what you see and not what, you know, there’s some poems, um, that also come from the, uh, zen world, uh, on the same, same topic, you know, just another other ways of.

[00:20:59] Marc: Some [00:21:00] getting at or trying to, uh, hold onto and understand or, and live this, uh, live what you see, not what you know. And this poem says, when the wind stops, flowers fall. When the bird sings, uh, the mountain becomes more calm. Right. So, you know, uh, the flowers are, uh, not, they’re, they’re supposed to fall, not when the wind stops.

[00:21:31] Marc: And, uh, when the bird sings, why, why is the, why does the mountain become more calm? But this is, this is the reality of the way things are not how we know them or how we want them to be. So this is, I. I’ve been speaking about this recently as I think maybe the, a practice of, uh, perspective taking, uh, [00:22:00] practice of, uh, perspective taking, which I think is one of the vastly, uh, important, uh, missing elements today in our, in our, uh, political discourse, but really in all parts of our lives.

[00:22:16] Marc: Um, being. Curious, being curious about other people’s perspectives. Being curious about our own perspective, right? Our own perspective. The, the ocean is not round and like a frog looking up, right? So having a, a, a limited, uh, a limited perspective on things and aspiring, aspiring to, uh, to see. Clearly, uh, more widely.

[00:22:45] Marc: I think I’m gonna, uh, conclude here with a short poem, which is really a poem I think about this practice. And I, I do think of it as a practice of a perspective taking [00:23:00] practice of living what we see, not what we know. Uh, maybe the practice of the, uh, the courage to. Allow for the, and yet, and yet, you know, whatever, whatever conclusion that we might be, uh, drawing espec, especially any, any limited conclusion that we might have about our own, our own success or failure or other people’s motivations.

[00:23:30] Marc: And this poem is called Things To Think by, uh, Robert Bly. Think In Ways You’ve Never Thought Before. If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message larger than anything you’ve ever heard. Vast than a hundred lines of Yates. Think that someone may bring a bear to your door, maybe wounded and deranged, or think that a moose [00:24:00] has risen out of the lake and he’s carrying on his antlers.

[00:24:03] Marc: A child of your own whom you’ve never seen. When someone knocks on the door, think that he’s about to give you something large, tell you you’re forgiven, or that it’s not necessary to work all the time, or that it’s been decided that if you lie down, no one will die. Yeah. So some things to think. Yeah. This, um, practice of, uh, live what you see.

[00:24:36] Marc: Uh, not, uh, what, you know, everything has been given to us and since everything is one, uh, we are, we are giving, we are creating. Thank you.

[00:24:59] Marc: I hope you’ve [00:25:00] appreciated today’s episode. To learn more about my work, you can visit Marc lesser.net. And if you’re interested in enrolling in a self-directed course called Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader, please visit Marc lesser courses.thinkific.com. This podcast is offered freely and relies on the financial support from listeners like you.

[00:25:26] Marc: You can donate at marclesser.net slash donate. Thank you very much.

[END OF AUDIO]

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Live What You See, Not What You Know

In this issue:

Live What You See, Not What You KnowZen of Coaching: Course for Executive CoachesA Poem, by Robert BlyWhat I’m Watching, Joan Didion, The Center Will Not Hold

The artist Ruth Asawa, instructed her students: “Draw what you see, not what you know.”

I saw this quote on a wall at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art, surrounded by hundreds of Ruth Asawa’s creations; taking ordinary objects and turning them into beautiful pieces of art. It felt to me like a good description of Zen practice and of how I want to live — less assumptions, more seeing and living with clarity and wonder; living with more openness and less bias.

Becoming aware and familiar with our biases is surprisingly difficult and important – in the development of our character, how we relate to others, and how we live in this complex and changing world. Meditation, mindfulness practice, and mindful leadership could be described as the practice of becoming familiar with our limited thinking and our biases – in how we see ourselves, our relationships, and our work.

Confirmation bias is a good place to start. We notice and pay attention and give weight to what matters to us, and hardly notice what we’ve decided isn’t as important. This influences how we listen, what we hear, and how we relate to our family members and those we work with.

In-group bias is particularly subtle and powerful. Some combination of our genetics and our environment leads us to separate those in our in-group from those not in our in-group. Our in-group can be those who look like us, or think like us, or adhere to the same religion, or even those who support the same sports team. Here is a short clip by David Eagleman demonstrating the power and perniciousness of the in-group/out-group bias.

The anchoring bias refers to our tendency to give extra attention or weight to information that we first receive. First impressions can color, mask, or highlight how we see other people or events in ways that distort clear thinking and action.

These are just three of a host of biases. Others include bias for optimism, for pessimism, and the halo affect. For a deep dive in the art and science of understanding our biases, read Thinking Fast And Slow by Daniel Kahneman. In an NPR/Hidden brain interview he is asked if studying and understanding biases results in him not being affected by them. Daniel Kahneman laughs at this question, and points to the way that biases often have a way of being unconscious and live and act below the surface of conscious awareness.

Practices:

Experiment with this phrase: Live what you see, not what you know.

Bring awareness to yours and others biases, starting with confirmation bias, in-group bias, and anchoring bias.

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Tangle Blue Lake, Trinity Alps, California.

Zen of Coaching: For Executive Coaches: Transforming Others, Becoming Your Best Self, Changing The World

An online course, beginning October 24th

Coaching is a way of helping others find the deepest places of their hearts.

Program Overview

Zen of Coaching is a transformational program for executive coaches and leaders who want to deepen their presence, expand their impact, and build a coaching practice rooted in wisdom, not just performance. Blending Zen principles, mindfulness, and real-world leadership experience, this course—created by Marc Lesser, the Zen teacher and CEO who helped bring mindful leadership to Google—supports you in cultivating stillness, navigating complexity, and coaching with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

To register and for more information.

A Poem, by Robert Bly

“Things to Think”

Think in ways you’ve never thought before

If the phone rings, think of it as carrying a message

Larger than anything you’ve ever heard,

Vaster than a hundred lines of Yeats.

Think that someone may bring a bear to your door,

Maybe wounded and deranged: or think that a moose

Has risen out of the lake, and he’s carrying on his antlers

A child of your own whom you’ve never seen.

When someone knocks on the door, think that he’s about

To give you something large: tell you you’re forgiven,

Or that it’s not necessary to work all the time, or that it’s

Been decided that if you lie down no one will die.

What I’m Watching

Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold – A 2017 documentary , filled with cultural insights, navigating personal loss and resilience through interviews, archival footage, and reflections, revealing a writer’s life shaped by fragility and fierce observation.

Warmest regards,

Marc

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What Did You Say?

Speaking With Care

In this issue:

Caring SpeechZen of Coaching: Course for Executive CoachesTassajara Retreat/Workshop, 8/26, A Few OpeningsDharma Talk At Green Gulch, 8/24

Sad, unsettling, and sometimes horrifying that we are all receiving a masterclass in the opposite of “Right Speech” from our president.

The classic definition of Right Speech is to speak truthfully, not creating harm or speaking cruelly, not exaggerating or embellishing, and speaking in a way that relieves suffering and brings people back to themselves.

One of the amazing aspects of business and work is the way in which we all bring our communication styles, often including our childhood habits, patterns, strengths, and weaknesses into the workplace. Businesses often spend a good deal of time creating systems in an attempt to root out or change these individual behaviors, but we are all human beings with established ways of communicating and responding. It’s easy to underestimate the power that our words have. Thus the importance of the practice of right speech or what I like to call caring speech.

Speaking Truthfully

Saying what you know to be true and not saying what you know to be untrue is a powerful practice, and more difficult than it might sound. When we speak truthfully we become more trustworthy and people around us feel more connected and safe.

Not Creating Harm

Our words have the power to cause tremendous harm or significant healing. I’ve seen much pain caused in the work environment by people not being careful with speech and underestimating the power of words. I have noticed, as a manager and especially as “the boss,” that my words, particularly how I express my displeasure, can have a tremendous impact. I have learned the importance of giving great care to where, when, and how I express my insights regarding performance or behaviors that need to be changed or improved.

Not Exaggerating

So often in business, people describe situations and outcomes in ways that make themselves or their projects appear more successful or more certain then they really are. I have also noticed that people sometimes make tasks appear more difficult and complicated then they actually are as a way to protect themselves from criticism or from being given additional work. The word spin, meaning to put a positive — or negative — light on a situation, has recently been in vogue. Spin is just a euphemism for exaggeration.

Relieving Suffering

Our speech has the potential to provide comfort, positive challenge, and transformation in our work environment. By speaking clearly and directly from our hearts, we can touch the people around us and turn suffering into acceptance and joy. Just listening fully to others is often enough to relieve suffering. This requires stopping and just being with another person, in whatever state they are in.

Right speech means being present and meeting each person and each situation directly. Since each person has different communication and listening styles, right speech is the practice of speaking to each person in a way that best reaches and affects that person in each situation, while at the same time being true to yourself.

Practices:

· Explore noticing how you speak to others and how others speak to you. Just notice.

· Notice how your speech varies with whomever you are speaking — someone whom you report to, who reports to you, a family member.

· Experiment by speaking directly and openly.

· Take risks with your words by speaking openly from your heart.

Zen of Coaching: For Executive Coaches: Transforming Others, Becoming Your Best Self, Changing The World

An online course, beginning October 24th

Coaching is a way of helping others find the deepest places of their hearts.

Program Overview

Zen of Coaching is a transformational program for executive coaches and leaders who want to deepen their presence, expand their impact, and build a coaching practice rooted in wisdom, not just performance. Blending Zen principles, mindfulness, and real-world leadership experience, this course—created by Marc Lesser, the Zen teacher and CEO who helped bring mindful leadership to Google—supports you in cultivating stillness, navigating complexity, and coaching with greater authenticity, clarity, and purpose.

To register and for more information.

Tassajara Workshop/Retreat August 26 – 31

There are a few new openings to this retreat. Last opportunity this year to visit Tassajara – a practice community off the grid, beautiful setting, hiking, hot springs, and great food.

In our world of busyness, of more, faster, better, this retreat offers time to stop, reflect, and renew—a time to step fully into the richness of your life. Together we’ll follow a gentle schedule of sitting and walking meditation, interspersed with talks and discussions from the wisdom of Zen teaching as we explore how these stories and dialogues may be utilized in our relationships, our work, and our lives.

This retreat is open to everyone interested in stopping, exploring, and bringing more awareness and mindfulness to daily life.

Dharma Talk, Green Gulch Farm, Sunday, August 24th

I’ll be giving the public talk, in-person and online at 10:00 a.m. PT on Sunday morning, August 24th.

Warmest regards,

Marc

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