Marc Lesser's Blog, page 41
June 16, 2009
Six-Word Memoir
Six-word memoirs – how would you write your autobiography in six words? Short, to the point, your life in six words. I recently gave this assignment at a dinner part – great fun, moving, and very insightful.
Here are a few six-word memoirs from the book, Six-Word Memoirs On Love & Heartbreak:
- Car went kaput. So did he. - Lori Romero
- Moved in. No ring. Moved out. - Melissa Lafsky
- At twelve found soulmate, still together. - Nancy Miner
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June 12, 2009
Wisdom At Work
Sometimes a man stands up during supper
and walks outdoors, and keeps on walking,
because of a church that stands somewhere in the East.
And his children say blessings on him as if he were dead.
And another man, who remains inside his own house,
dies there, inside the dishes and in the glasses,
so that his children have to go far out into the world
toward that same church, which he forgot.
Rainer Maria Rilke
translated by Robert Bly
The conv
June 9, 2009
Finding Your "Way-Seeking Mind"
In Zen practice, the expression “Way Seeking Mind” means entering a path where the sacred and the mundane are not different. This is a simple, and profound insight, and way of living. Here are a few thoughts on developing a Way Seeking Mind:
For starters, you may experience being alive as a miracle; you may feel that our lives are often difficult and at times impossible. You deeply understand how short our lives are and that we are each o
June 5, 2009
Run Your Business, and Your Life, Like a Zen Monastery Kitchen
My first week as head cook of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center was exciting and challenging. I had completely underestimated how much food it took to feed one hundred and forty people a day. By my fourth day on the job we had almost completely run out of food. (Tassajara is two hours from the nearest food store.) I looked through the walk-in refrigerator, trying not to panic, and noticed that the only vegetable we had in any quantity was cab
June 3, 2009
If You Can’t Find the Truth Right Where You Are, Where Do You Expect to Find It? - Dogen
Harry Roberts, a teacher of mine, used to tell a story about how his teacher chose the students he would accept. Many more students wanted to work with him than he could accommodate. His teacher would say to the student, “Go find ten different kinds of plants.” If the student walked away and began looking for plants, she was not accepted. The person who did not leave but instead looked down, standing right where he was, was accepted as a s
June 1, 2009
Fear And Fearlessness
Reading the words of Chogyam Trungpa this morning, from his classic book, Shambhala, The Sacred Path of the Warrior:
In order to experience fearlessness, it is necessary to experience fear.
There are innumerable strategies that we use to take our minds off of fear.
Fear has to be acknowledged.
Acknowledging fear is not a cause for depression or discouragement.
Going beyond fear begins when we examine our fear: our anxiety, nervousness, concer
May 29, 2009
Meetings That Matter
When I mention the word “meetings” what is your first reaction? Do you suddenly feel sleepy or do you want to run for the nearest exit? Or are you enthusiastic and intrigued, looking forward to the thrill of creative group problem solving, fantastic brainstorming, and a team of people working with trust and healthy conflict? I visit and work in many different companies and organizations and notice that most people’s feelings about meeti
May 27, 2009
May 26, 2009
“YOU ARE BRILLIANT AND THE EARTH IS HIRING…” by Paul Hawken
I was touched by Paul's speech. What do you think?
“YOU ARE BRILLIANT AND THE EARTH IS HIRING…” by Paul Hawken
Commencement Address by Paul Hawken to the Class of 2009, University of Portland, May 3, 2009
When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was “direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful.” Boy, no pressure there.
May 22, 2009
Be here now... Be some place else later. Is that so complicated? (David Bader) and nine other of my favorite quotes...
You must remember one thing.
The world was made to be free in.
- David Whyte
Freedom is like taking a bath – you have to keep doing it every day!
- Florynce Kennedy
You are the truth from foot to brow. Now what else would you like to know?
- Rumi
The secret of Zen is just two words: Not always so!
- Shunryu Suzuki
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Error is just as important a condition of life as truth.
