Zen Bones : Ancient Wisdom For Modern Times

We begin today's episode with a short guided meditation focused on being present, fully here with nothing to accomplish. I give a short talk on embracing the mind of the poet and the mind of the business person, exploring these distinctions and lack of distinctions and how we can live and work and play with more meaning and connection.  Today's Zen Puzzler comes from a traditional koan about a buffalo jumping through a window. The aim of this puzzler is about letting go of our predicting minds and instead seeing the world as fresh and mysterious.

Kristin is founder and CEO at Nia Impact Capital. She is a pioneer in the field of impact investing. She is devoted to re-envisioning capitalism, to changing the face of finance, and to promoting inclusion and diversity in leadership. In our conversation we talk about the importance of understanding money, finance, and investing and the life-changing force that money has. We speak about creating healthy cultures and how Kristin is on the front lines of gender lens investing, both through leading a women-owned company and supporting women-owned companies.

Today's podcast features The Power of Priming. We begin with a short meditation. Then Marc talks about how the world tends to prime us for anxiety and speed. As an antidote and practice, we can prime ourselves to be present, open, curious, and creative. Meditation practice is a form of priming. We can utilize priming in all parts of our days, from waking up to starting meetings. Today's Zen puzzler is based on a quote about staring and impermanence.

Henry Shukman is a poet, writer and Zen teacher. He has written a best selling Zen memoir called One Blade of Grass. He is a guiding teacher of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In this episode we talk about grace: the grace of acknowledging and living from the perspective that everything is gift. We address the tension of practicing with money, success and failure and working skillfully with our many motivations - all in the context of grace.

What is my offering is today's episode. We begin with a short guided meditation on warmhearted curiosity. Then Marc talks about the difference between helping, fixing, and serving - with an emphasis on practices for discovering your own offering. Today's Zen puzzler is using this phrase, What is my offering, as a Zen koan, or a support for going deeper into this realm of discovery.

I'm doing what I can is today's episode. We begin with a short guided meditation. Then I give a short talk about pessimism, optimism, grief, and joy, and address ways of cutting through the dualities of our modern life and doing what we can, with spaciousness and possibility. Today's Zen puzzler is Pai Chang's fox, a traditional Zen koan, about not avoiding cause and effect, or finding our freedom while being fully immersed in the world.

This episode is More Acceptance and Less Unnecessary Effort. We begin with a short guided meditation, followed by a talk on the practice of saying yes - opening and accepting whatever comes our way. It means noticing and saying yes to the pains and possibilities, our resistance and our joy. Today's Zen puzzler is based on a traditional Zen dialogue. What is the Way? Everyday mind is the way.

In this episode, Say Yes to Everything, we begin with a short guided meditation, followed by a talk on the practice of saying yes - opening and accepting whatever comes our way. It means noticing and saying yes to the pains and possibilities, our resistance and our joy. Today's Zen puzzler is based on a traditional Zen dialogue. What is the Way? Everyday mind is the way.

In this practice episode Marc talks about working with change, uncertainty, and transition. He unpacks the teachings of Zen teacher Dongshan who describes 3 strategies for working more skillfully with change: the bird path, the mysterious way, and the open hand. -- leaving no trace, appreciating the unknown, and living with an open hand instead of a closed fist. Today's Zen puzzler is about control, and letting go of control as a path to finding greater ease and freedom.

Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center.    In this episode we unpack the power of awe - seeing the world fresh and new and how it can benefit our well being, our relationships, and help heal the rifts in our culture. Dacher tells heartfelt personal stories about his own life and the role of awe. We touch on the relationship of mindfulness and awe at work and leadership and in all parts of our lives.

In this episode we do a short meditation on finding more spaciousness, as a way of being. Marc gives a short talk on integrating the ordinary world and the sacred world, including the practice of setting an intention, practicing spaciousness, accountability, and ongoing learning.   Today's Zen puzzler is about seeing the world through the lens of non-duality.

Lynne Twist has been a recognized global visionary committed to alleviating poverty, ending world hunger, and supporting social justice and sustainability for more than forty years. She is also the cofounder of the Pachamama Alliance and founder of the Soul of Money Institute.   In today's episode Lynn and Marc explore the power of commitment - on many levels, personal, relationships, work, and most of all the power of living a committed life, working toward something larger than ourselves. Lynne talks about how she arrived at the work of environmental education and her commitment to end the climate crises.

Today's episode is called Thriving in Change and Uncertainty. It begins with a short guided meditation, and then a talk about three practices for navigating and shifting our relationship with change and uncertainty.   Then, today's Zen puzzler comes from the words of Dongshan, a 9th century Chinese Zen teacher, that includes the phrase, everyone wants to leave the endless changes. It address the practice of becoming more comfortable with change and uncertainty.

Marc sits down with New York Times bestselling author Thomas Moore for an exploration of the practice of emptiness and its impact on well-being and effectiveness. Tune in to discover how spaciousness can help reduce stress and anxiety while supporting your work, ambitions, and aspirations, and receive guidance on embracing emptiness as a tool for achieving daily goals as well as long-term dreams. 

This week's episode begins with a short guided meditation with an emphasis on appreciation followed by a talk about striving less, finding more, and giving thanks. This is the practice and power of more finding and less searching as a way of expressing and living with more gratitude and appreciation. And today's Zen puzzler comes from a classic Zen story or Zen koan called Wash your bowl; a classic lesson is less striving and more appreciation.

This enlightening episode delves into the practical applications of self-compassion. Renowned researcher Kristen Neff shares her expertise on the power of "fierce self-compassion" and how it can benefit individuals, leaders, athletes, and healthcare workers alike. Contrary to misconceptions that self-compassion is a sign of weakness, she highlights how it can build inner strength and resilience, leading to improved well-being and exceptional performance.   She cites a study on NCAA athletes who embraced self-compassion and achieved exceptional results. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the transformative impact of self-care and inner kindness, and how it can help us overcome challenges and achieve our goals. Don't miss this episode that offers practical tools to enhance your performance and well-being through the power of self-compassion.

In this practice episode, Marc guides us through a series of exercises that encourage us to be more present in the moment. He leads a brief meditation focused on releasing our expectations, then shares some insights on the expression: "If you learn to enjoy waiting, you don't have to wait to enjoy." This lighthearted and practical approach can help us let go of frustrations and anxieties, allowing us to appreciate each moment of our lives.   Marc also presents a Zen puzzler that delves into the meaning behind a short saying from Shunryu Suzuki: "no gaining ideas." Through this riddle, he invites us to contemplate what it would be like to live with a sense of everything we need. Ultimately, the answer lies in embracing a radical acceptance of our lives. By doing so, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment and all that it has to offer.

Psychologist and New York Times best-selling author Rick Hanson joins Marc for a thought-provoking conversation about fostering radically healthy relationships as leaders. Whether it's in the workplace or in our personal lives, developing relationships that balance well-being, compassion, and accountability can be a challenge. Marc and Rick share insights on acceptance and discernment, and discuss the significance of being transparent about wants, needs, and expectations. They look at the efficacy and limitations of the famous statement by Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki, "the best way to control your sheep or cow (a metaphor for oneself and others) is to give them a wide pasture" and share practical ways to improve your relationships, both inside and outside of work.

In today's episode Marc leads a short guided meditation with an emphasis on cultivating warmhearted curiosity. He then gives a short talk on shifting your approach from being a victim to being a player, or as Shunryu Suzuki says, being "the boss of everything." This is the practice of taking radical responsibility for your feelings, thoughts, and actions.   Today's Zen puzzler is a simple yet profound expression: Whatever You Meet is The Path.

Jon Kabat-Zinn is the father of modern mindfulness practice. As a professor of medicine, he founded the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts - which both popularized and added an important experiential and scientific element to the practice of mindfulness. In this episode, Jon and Marc explore ways to go beyond our thinking minds and our view of self, so that we may access the depth of who we actually are, and the power of love. He also shares some practices for turning suffering into wisdom. Jon is an amazing person and presence, and this conversation is practical, aspirational, and transformative.

In this Practice episode, Marc offers a short meditation on finding more spaciousness as a way of being. He also gives a short talk on ways to be less busy, and more open, engaged, and spacious through the practice of setting an intention, engaging in ongoing learning, and intentionally practicing spaciousness and accountability.   Today's Zen puzzler is a story about spaciousness and "finding the one who is not busy."

Elissa and Marc speak about health and well-being, and strategies we can embody to enhance and how we relate to challenges and stress, including embracing uncertainty, noticing what we can and can't control, and finding the positive, and even excitement, in the midst of life's challenges.

In this Practice episode, Marc leads a short guided meditation followed by a talk on Change and the 3 Stages of Transition: 1) Pausing, 2) Letting Go, and 3) Re-emerging. He also shares a poem from Naomi Shihab Nye.   Today's Zen puzzler is from a formal Zen koan: "What is Zen or what does it mean to be human?" The answer involves an exploration of what we can learn about our lives from trees.

Spencer Sherman joins Marc to talk about money, why so many people struggle with it, and why it's often the root of fear and anxiety, and a feeling that there is never enough, regardless of whether we make little or have great abundance. They discuss the power of "beginner's mind" or not knowing, and letting go of our fixed beliefs about money. Spencer leads us in a guided meditation on letting go of fear and cultivating a felt sense of "enoughness."   Guest Disclaimer: All materials are for educational purposes only and are not to be considered investment, financial, or tax advice, nor do any of the host's or guest's opinions represent the opinion of Abacus. Please consult with a financial advisor or CPA before making financial decisions.” Should you wish to find a financial advisor that fits your situation, we welcome you to schedule a free introductory 15 minute phone call.

In this Practice episode, Marc begins with a short guided meditation on ways to cultivate a sense of awe, wonder, and warmheartedness as the path of finding your authentic power. He then gives a short talk on power as an expression of the heart, of compassion, and as a way of being clear and effective, while also identifying ways that we give our personal power away.   Today's Zen puzzler comes from a famous Zen question: "What is the teaching of a lifetime?"

Norman and Marc talk about work as a spiritual practice, and as a Zen practice. They discuss how to shift from fear, anxiety, and burnout to approaching work as a means to make an offering, and to help and benefit others.   They address the practice of confidence and humility, and the lack of distinction between benefitting others and our own wellbeing. And they touch on meditation as a way of not fooling yourself, at work and in all parts of your life.

In this practice episode, Marc begins with a short guided meditation with the theme of impermanence and appreciation, followed by a short talk on the practice of cultivating appreciation. The Zen puzzler is based on a short dialogue from Dogen, the 13th century founder of Zen in Japan, in which Dogen refers to his years of study in China as a lesson in how to appreciate everything life has to offer.

Joan Halifax is known as one of today's most important Zen teachers, especially through her activism or what she refers to as "engaged Buddhism" and from her work in prisons, her programs on grief, death and dying, and much more.   Joan and Marc explore the way of the modern Bodhisattva, someone who maintains presence with compassion in the face of extraordinary challenges. Joan shares how her compassion for all beings is her secret for avoiding burnout, along with recognizing and shifting from the idea of “helping” or “fixing” so we instead recognize our work as an act of “service.”

There is no shortage of frustration in our daily lives. In this episode, we begin with a short meditation, followed by a short talk about effective ways to shift from frustration to acceptance and appreciation. Marc shares one of his favorite poems by Tony Hoagland. Today's Zen puzzler comes from the teachings of Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki. Marc helps the listener unpack various ways to consider and answer the question: What is the most important point for you right now?

Joel Makower is a world leader in the field of sustainable business and its relation to climate change. Marc and Joel share a heartening conversation about how sustainability gives Joel hope, and how to shift from overwhelm and despair to committed and engaged activism. Joel invites young leaders and entrepreneurs to not settle for vague answers and to truly believe and work toward a better future. He highlights the power of community during these times and affirms how there are more of us who care about the health of this planet than those who do not. Joel Makower is chairman and co-founder of GreenBiz Group, a media and events company focusing at the intersection of business, technology and sustainability. For more than 30 years, through his writing, speaking and leadership, he has helped companies alig pressing environmental and social issues with business success. Makower has written more than a dozen books, including Strategies for the Green Economy, The Green Consumer, The E-Factor: The Bottom Line Approach to Environmentally Responsible Business and Beyond the Bottom Line: Putting Social Responsibility to Work for Your Business and the World. In 2010, Makower was awarded the Hutchens Medal by the American Society for Quality, and in 2014, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals.

This episode begins with a short guided meditation, then Marc gives a short talk based on a famous Zen dialogue in which a student asks, "Why must it be this way?" referring to a crow eating a dead frog. The Zen teacher responds "It's for your benefit. And you caused it." Marc addresses and unpacks this mysterious and practical dialogue that is meant to open our hearts and minds. For this episode's Zen Puzzler, Marc plays with the question, "What is Zen?" and goes deeper into the question of why things must be a particular way.

Parker J. Palmer is a writer, speaker, and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality, and social change. In this episode of the Zen Bones Podcast, Marc and Parker explore the creative tension between what is and what is possible, the art of perspective taking, and how to find wholeness in a challenging world. Parker shares how his hard experience with depression gave birth to several books, what he aspires to now, how his experiences in a Quaker intentional community showed him a way to transform economic inequality, and how creating safe spaces and tapping into your inner wisdom is a key component in enabling social change.

How are you designing, and living your life? In this episode Marc begins with a short guided meditation. Then he unpacks the teachings of Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki who says "The more you practice meditation, the more you will be interested in your everyday life." and "You will discover what is necessary and what is not; what part to correct and what part to emphasize more." Marc reads and comments on a poem by William Stafford called Just thinking. This episode's Zen puzzler is Ordinary Mind Is the Way. How to design your life - with your ordinary, extraordinary mind.

Jane Hirshfield is one of the world's most celebrated poets. The New York Times describes her as "among the modern masters." Jane and Marc have been friends since their days as young Zen students living at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. During this intimate and enlightening conversation, Jane describes what brought her to Zen practice and her life-long ourney to poetry. They discuss and Jane reads her poetry about optimism, surprise, and embracing the fullness of the world. Jane Hirshfield's writing is “some of the most important poetry in the world today,” according to the New York Times, and described as "among the modern masters" by The Washington Post, is one of American poetry's central spokespersons for concerns of the biosphere. Lay-ordained in Soto Zen in 1979 during her eight years spent in full-time residential practice, including three years of monastic practice at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in California's Ventana Wilderness, she explores transience and interconnection, shared fate and interiority, with equal allegiance. A former Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets and the founder in 2017 of the online and traveling installation Poets For Science, Hirshfield is the author of nine collections of poetry, including most recently Ledger (Knopf, 2020).

Working skillfully and effectively with difficulties and challenges. Training ourselves to meet and transform difficulty. Marc begins with a short guided meditation followed by a talk on the topic of meeting challenge. This session's Zen puzzler is "Can you step from the top of a one hundered foot pole?" - a traditional Zen teaching about doing what looks impossible.

Sharon Salzberg has become America's meditation teacher. In this episode Sharon talks about places of resistance as "tight spots" and methods of transforming resistance to more openness and freedom. Marc and Sharon discuss the practice of loving kindness as well as shame, an emotion that has positive and negative qualities. They discuss the power of presence and the role of meditation. Sharon Salzberg is a New York Times bestselling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation practices in the West. In 1974, she co-founded the Insight Meditation Society at Barre, Massachusetts. Her emphasis is on Vipassanā (insight) and mettā (loving-kindness) methods, and has been leading meditation retreats around the world for over three decades. Her books include Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, A Heart as Wide as the World, and Real Happiness - The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program among others.  

We are all ordinary human beings living in an ordinary world. And yet...we are also sacred, extraordinary beings, living in an extraordinary, sacred world. Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki describes that we usually only see one side and ignore what is sacred and mysterious. During this session we have a short guided meditation, follwed by a talk on living in both the ordinary and sacred world. Today's Zen puzzler is based on a traditional Zen koan -- a buffalo goes through a window, and every part of it goes through, except for the tail. Why doesn't the tail go through?

MaryAnne Howland, storyteller, entrepreneur and social change agent, talks about the game-changing work that she is doing for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Mary and Marc talk about the power of belonging and mindful listening and about the importance of dreaming. MaryAnne Howland is the founder and CEO of Ibis Communications, a branding marketing solutions firm in Nashville, Tennessee. The success of her business has been recognized by the Clinton administration and she has attended several summits at the White House. In 2012, she launched the Global Diversity Leadership Exchange, a forum to facilitate dialogue on diversity, sustainability, and inclusion, which has held annual summits at the New York Stock Exchange and the United Nations.

"The real miracle isn't to walk on water. The real miracle is to walk right here on Earth" according to Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. In this episode a short guided meditation is followed by a teaching, emphasizing shifting from busyness to being more focused, engaged, and spacious. The practice of spaciousnes is essential in today's complex world. The Zen puzzler is based on a traditional Zen koan -- Is the flag moving, the wind moving, or is it your mind that is moving?

Marc and Dr. Dan Siegel discuss the deep inner work of awareness, the power of belonging, and the illusion of the self and shifting from me to "we." Dan shares a meditation practice that he calls the "Wheel of Awareness." Daniel Siegel, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the Founding Co-director of its Mindful Awareness Research Center. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an organization that focuses on the development of mindsight, teaches insight, empathy, and integration in individuals, families and communities.  He is a bestselling author of several books, including Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence, Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, and The Developing Mind.

What surprises you about your life right now? For me, the answer is "everything!" Enjoy this short talk and meditation on the power of surprise, a guided meditation, followed by a puzzler. Today's puzzler is: A statement made by Zen teacher Dogen, from the 13th century: To study yourself is to go beyond yourself" -- exploring what that means and how it can support your wellbeing.

Marc and Peter explore Peter's story of how he came to his acting path, as well as his path to Zen practice. They talk about "precise forms for a flexible mind" vs. "flexible forms for a precise mind", meditation, the power of ritual, the liberating effect of mask work, as well as bringing Zen practice into everyday life. Peter Coyote has performed as an actor for some of the world's most distinguished filmmakers, including: Barry Levinson, Roman Polanski, Pedro Almodovar, Steven Spielberg, Walter Hill, Martin Ritt, Steven Soderberg, Diane Kurys, Sidney Pollack and Jean Paul Rappeneau. He is an ordained Buddhist priest who has been practicing for 34 years. Mr. Coyote has been engaged in political and social causes since his early teens and is a long time passionate advocate for wildlife and wild nature.

Marc begins with a guided meditation, followed by a short talk on impermanence as a path toward joy. "The evanescence of things is the reason why you enjoy your life" according to the Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki. Recognizing and embodying the fleeting nature of our lives is a way to practice with finding more appreciation and joy in everything we experience. The episode closes with a bi-weekly Zen Puzzler: Where is the place where there is no hot and no cold?

Marc sits down with his friend Leo Babauta. Leo is the founder of one of the most interesting and successful blogs on the internet called Zen Habits. He's also the author of several books, including The Power Of Less. Marc and Leo talk about meaning and meaningful work and the question how Zen practice can be integrated with, and support, our work and our lives. Leo also offers some powerful practices, especially around finding grounding in the body in the midst of uncertainty. Leo Babauta is a simplicity blogger and author. He created Zen Habits, a Top 25 blog with a million readers, which chronicles and shares what he's learned while changing a number of habits. He's also a best-selling author, husband, father of six children, and a vegan. In 2010 he moved from Guam to California, where he leads a simple life. A student of Zen, Leo is on a mission to help the world open through uncertainty training. 

Today Marc is speaking with Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey, a cultural anthropologist, and the first female fellow and Polynesian explorer of the National Geographic Society. Marc and Elizabeth discuss the importance of being your authentic self, and the path and power of wayfinding. They also talk about a favorite saying of one of Elizabeth's indigenous mentors: “we have lots of clocks but little time.” Elizabeth offers a song/prayer of healing. Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey is a cultural anthropologist and an award-winning filmmaker who travels to the world's most remote regions to protect indigenous knowledge. She is an advocate for social, environmental, and cultural justice. She is also the first female fellow and Polynesian explorer of the National Geographic Society.

Welcome to ZenBones: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times, with Marc Lesser. Why Zen Bones? Our world is in crisis and ever-shifting, and now more than ever, more wisdom, clarity, and courage are essential, especially in the world of work, business, and leadership. Listen in weekly for cutting-edge interviews, teachings, and guided meditations. You'll receive supportive tools for creating more meaningful work and potent mindfulness practices to develop yourself, influence your organization, and change the world. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review where you listen in. ZenBones launches soon! Visit www.marclesser.net/zen-bones-podcast for show notes, and more!