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Zen Lessons: The Art of Leadership
Drawing on private records, letters, and long-lost documents of the Song dynasty (tenth to thirteenth centuries), this book consists of short excerpts written in a language that is accessible to readers without any background in Eastern philosophy. It serves as a study of the personal qualities and conduct necessary for the mastery of any position of power and authority, whether religious, social, political, or organizational.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Thomas Cleary
250 books281 followersDr. Thomas Francis Cleary, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University; J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley), was a prolific translator of Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Muslim classics, with a particular emphasis on popular translations of Mahāyāna works relevant to the Chan, Zen, and Soen systems.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 7, 2014
I get this magazine every week (slight pun) called The Week. They propositioned me after Newsweek (which I used to get) went digital. The Week is basically a collection of other news sources. They have no reporters. Just '...in the NY Times so and so wrote...' There is endless paraphrasing and unattributed quotes. You lose track of who is saying what and then get to wonder if anybody is saying anything at all.
That's kind of what Zen Lessons is like. Now I've read extensively in eastern religions and I don't think I recognized one name in all the "lessons" compiled in the book.
Just opening the book at random one story begins with: "Wuzu said to Fojain." Then the next lesson is from the Annals of the House of Equanimity (I think it's an imprint of Time Warner). And the next page has a lesson from "Baiyun to Gongfu."
Which isn't to say all these no-names have nothing to say. There's some good stuff here.
Lesson 86: "The hundred-mile journey is still halfway at ninety."
Lesson 198: "In leadership there are three don'ts: when there is much to do, don't be afraid; when there is nothing to do, don't be hasty; and don't talk about opinions of right and wrong."
Lesson 84: "The small is a step of the great, the subtle is the sprout of the obvious. This is why the wise are careful of the beginning, sages are mindful of warnings. Even dripping water, if it does not stop, can ultimately turn a mulberry orchard into a lake. A flame, if not removed, will ultimately burn a meadow.
"When the water is streaming and the fire is raging, the disaster is already happening—even if you want to help, there is no way."
That, courtesy of Yuanwu's letter to Fozhi.
So these no-names may not have become famous like Confucius and his pals but nonetheless they've got some excellent things to share.
That's kind of what Zen Lessons is like. Now I've read extensively in eastern religions and I don't think I recognized one name in all the "lessons" compiled in the book.
Just opening the book at random one story begins with: "Wuzu said to Fojain." Then the next lesson is from the Annals of the House of Equanimity (I think it's an imprint of Time Warner). And the next page has a lesson from "Baiyun to Gongfu."
Which isn't to say all these no-names have nothing to say. There's some good stuff here.
Lesson 86: "The hundred-mile journey is still halfway at ninety."
Lesson 198: "In leadership there are three don'ts: when there is much to do, don't be afraid; when there is nothing to do, don't be hasty; and don't talk about opinions of right and wrong."
Lesson 84: "The small is a step of the great, the subtle is the sprout of the obvious. This is why the wise are careful of the beginning, sages are mindful of warnings. Even dripping water, if it does not stop, can ultimately turn a mulberry orchard into a lake. A flame, if not removed, will ultimately burn a meadow.
"When the water is streaming and the fire is raging, the disaster is already happening—even if you want to help, there is no way."
That, courtesy of Yuanwu's letter to Fozhi.
So these no-names may not have become famous like Confucius and his pals but nonetheless they've got some excellent things to share.
July 2, 2010
While it is a small book in size it really takes a bit of time to read it. The teachings come from Chinese Zen Masters and while they are very thought provoking writings often I had to stop and really re-read and spend more than a quick minute on it. Thessons within the pages are for the person who wants to lead others in a humane and enlightened way. For me it was very affirming and at the same time offered new perspectives.
September 2, 2021
I really tried to get though this book, and it just wants for me.
March 10, 2009
I skim this puppy for enlightenment on group leadership. I know and do many of the principles shared, yet it is a great reminder in small one minute reads.
Zen masters of China sharing their teachings to students, other masters, and personal notes in their diaries. You don't need to understand Buddhism, its styles and sects (Chan is quoted strongly), or Easter philosophy. These are short ideas to realize:
•what is leadership •what is community • what is spiritual authority •how do you judge these when you experience them • should you judge?
All are covered and then some. This is a small book with big philosophy presented in a way Westerners may or may not get. Hey, its Eastern so it will be alien. Open the window of you mind and allow the wind of discipline, demonstration, and direction breath new life into your soul of living.
blessings,
kc
Zen masters of China sharing their teachings to students, other masters, and personal notes in their diaries. You don't need to understand Buddhism, its styles and sects (Chan is quoted strongly), or Easter philosophy. These are short ideas to realize:
•what is leadership •what is community • what is spiritual authority •how do you judge these when you experience them • should you judge?
All are covered and then some. This is a small book with big philosophy presented in a way Westerners may or may not get. Hey, its Eastern so it will be alien. Open the window of you mind and allow the wind of discipline, demonstration, and direction breath new life into your soul of living.
blessings,
kc
July 1, 2007
My dad was reading this book for some reason years and years ago. I picked it up and since then my idea of leadership in business had changed. To watch a human treat another human without judgement or authority in management is so rare, yet it is what works. let people go, trust that they are doing what you hired them to do, believe in them and chances are you will get more from them than if you are a micro-manager.
December 15, 2009
nice book on cumulative wisdom gleaned from the correspondences of wise and responsible people of old.this book is not telling us anything new but remind us not to forget the good, the beautiful and the true which is found everywhere irrespective of geographical, social climate. what matters however is having patience to apply this time honoured principle in practial life that is giving them chance to work its way into reality.
June 13, 2008
Worth checking out
March 14, 2023
Not gonna lie, I found this to be pretty boring.
This isn't a book about Zen, really. It's a collection of quotes from various Chan leaders (Chan is the Chinese precursor to Japanese Zen). The quotes aren't about Zen or Chan or Buddhism at all. The quotes are essentially tips on how to lead a community and complaints about how much people suck these days.
It's a boring book for lots of reasons.
The quotes are just snippets. There are hundreds of them, most of them say essentially the same thing, and none of them are long enough to go deep on any topic. You just got a bunch of paragraphs all driving home the same point, over and over again, but with no elaboration or deeper content.
But it's also boring because it's just boring as hell to hear people complain about how much better things used to be.
When I was a young theology student at a Christian college I was reading Tertullian as he complained (hundreds of years ago) about how much better things used to be, how the young people don't get it anymore, how the Christians of days gone by were REAL Christians. I realized he sounded just like the people of my own day bitching about how everything was great fifty years ago but nobody had any respect anymore. Which sounds like all the hardcore punks of my generation complaining about how the new generation of punks isn't "real" punk, just like all the hardcore guys before me complained that my generation wasn't really hardcore, just like all the old vegans complain that the new vegans don't get the struggle, like all the cranky grandparents complain that when they were 20 everything was better, on and on and on.
It's boring. It's silly. It's a waste of time.
There were snippets in here worth reading, and perhaps I'd take more from of it if I opened it and just read a page or two every now and then instead of reading through it all in a week or so, but really, I don't see myself going back to this often.
This isn't a book about Zen, really. It's a collection of quotes from various Chan leaders (Chan is the Chinese precursor to Japanese Zen). The quotes aren't about Zen or Chan or Buddhism at all. The quotes are essentially tips on how to lead a community and complaints about how much people suck these days.
It's a boring book for lots of reasons.
The quotes are just snippets. There are hundreds of them, most of them say essentially the same thing, and none of them are long enough to go deep on any topic. You just got a bunch of paragraphs all driving home the same point, over and over again, but with no elaboration or deeper content.
But it's also boring because it's just boring as hell to hear people complain about how much better things used to be.
When I was a young theology student at a Christian college I was reading Tertullian as he complained (hundreds of years ago) about how much better things used to be, how the young people don't get it anymore, how the Christians of days gone by were REAL Christians. I realized he sounded just like the people of my own day bitching about how everything was great fifty years ago but nobody had any respect anymore. Which sounds like all the hardcore punks of my generation complaining about how the new generation of punks isn't "real" punk, just like all the hardcore guys before me complained that my generation wasn't really hardcore, just like all the old vegans complain that the new vegans don't get the struggle, like all the cranky grandparents complain that when they were 20 everything was better, on and on and on.
It's boring. It's silly. It's a waste of time.
There were snippets in here worth reading, and perhaps I'd take more from of it if I opened it and just read a page or two every now and then instead of reading through it all in a week or so, but really, I don't see myself going back to this often.
June 16, 2023
Parte inspiracional y parte documento histórico, esta compilación de escritos Zen (Chan) circundando el concepto del buen liderzgo puede ser, sin duda, una guía para quienes tienen la pesada carga de guiar a otros.
Mas habrá que tener cuidado, como el libro lo advierte varias veces, en no caer en los vicios de la modernidad que permiten que los falsos valores contaminen a los liders y a su gente.
...
No es mi libro favorito de Cleary pero si uno que vale la pena haber leído al menos una vez.
Mas habrá que tener cuidado, como el libro lo advierte varias veces, en no caer en los vicios de la modernidad que permiten que los falsos valores contaminen a los liders y a su gente.
...
No es mi libro favorito de Cleary pero si uno que vale la pena haber leído al menos una vez.
April 25, 2020
This is a classic if you can find it. It covers teachings on leadership from a traditional Zen and Eastern point of view. It is mostly focused on the ethics of leadership, and a bit on the psychology. As someone interested in both meditation and business I found it intriguing and Thomas Cleary is such a great translator and commentator.
April 12, 2021
I first read “Zen Lessons: The Art of Leadership” over 25 years ago and suddenly decided to reread it today.
The lessons in this book encourage sincerity and mindfulness in response to changing situations.
These teachings from the Song dynasty in China are relevant today and highly recommended!
The lessons in this book encourage sincerity and mindfulness in response to changing situations.
These teachings from the Song dynasty in China are relevant today and highly recommended!
February 27, 2019
Es una coleccion de textos Zen que mas alla de ser aplicables al liderazgo nos ayudan a llevar una vida mejor.
March 16, 2021
Almost totally useless, very repetitive and dull.
September 12, 2023
Philosophical fables. Enjoyed them.
May 10, 2025
You win some, you lose some.
October 16, 2025
There’s some gold nuggets in there but at some point it gets quite repetitive.
November 12, 2012
Less a book about/out of Zen than a compilation of aphorisms and teaching stories for leaders, especially the abbots of Zen monasteries. The sayings date to the Song dynasty (10th-13th centuries CE), which were perceived by those living then as a decline from Zen's classical period during the Tang dynasty. The Zen readings that speak to me are those located much closer to the paradoxes and silences of Huang Po; these pieces are a useful reminder that Zen existed in a real world of fallible human beings and institutions, but there are many better places to start or pursue Buddhism.
November 6, 2011
There are some nuggets of wisdom here, but there are also a lot of superfluous passages. This is a book on leadership, or so it claims given that many passages seem to have little to do with the topic (or maybe it was just not as evident to me when I read it). While I did jot down a couple of good ideas, overall, this is a book to just skim. There may be other better books related to Zen and leadership. The book is basically a collection of sayings by various Zen masters.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews