Google & Buddhism
Dear students and friends,
Google Inc. is an American multinational corporation specializing in Internet-related services and products. Besides owning Blogger and YouTube, Google is most widely known as a search engine provider. They have grown so big in their industry that their company name has become synonymous with the word “search”!
I recently read that Google is now finding ways to implement Buddhist practice in order to enrich the lives of their users and staff. How wonderful!
On a basic level, Buddha’s teachings can be taken as practical philosophy, and if implemented, will gradually become a person’s way of life. Buddhism is one of the fastest growing spiritual engagements in the West… and Global tech companies are now actively seeking out ways to integrate Buddhist methods into their business models.
I thought that this was a great article to share with everyone as it shows how spirituality is essential in our daily life. It is so essential that even global giants like Google has begun inviting renown Buddhist teachers/gurus such as Thich Nhat Hanh to teach valuable lessons to their staff and clients, on their campus. It’s really nice to know how much Google cares and keeps their staff’s well-being in mind.
Tsem Rinpoche
Google seeks out wisdom of zen master Thich Nhat Hanh
Global tech companies are connecting to the power of mindfulness and meditation to drive sustainability and happiness
Why on earth are many of the world’s most powerful technology companies, including Google, showing a special interest in an 87-year-old Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk?
The answer is that all of them are interested in understanding how the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay as he is known to his hundreds of thousands of followers around the world, can help their organisations to become more compassionate and effective.
In a sign that the practice of mindfulness is entering the mainstream, Thay has been invited later this month to run a full day’s training session at Google’s main campus in California.
Thay, who has sold over 2m books in America alone, is also meeting more than 20 CEOs of other major US-based technology companies in Silicon Valley, to offer his wisdom on the art of living in the present moment.
He plans to discuss with them how they can develop a deep understanding of the inter-connectedness and inter-dependence of all life and offer practical tools to better integrate mindfulness in their daily work, in the products they design, and in the vision they have for how technology can change the world. The event will end with the practice of walking meditation.
The work of Thay has been acknowledged by several global leaders over the past 50 years. Current World Bank president Jim Yong Kim has said his practice is one “in which one can be deeply passionate and compassionate toward those who are suffering,” while Martin Luther King nominated him for the Nobel peace prize in 1967 for his work in seeking to end the Vietnam war.
King said that conferring the award “would re-awaken men to the teaching of beauty and love found in peace. It would help to revive hopes for a new order of justice and harmony.”
Despite his advancing years, Thay, who was ordained 71 years ago, is currently in the middle of a punishing three month tour of North America, immediately after a similar period running retreats across Asia.
His network of monks and nuns represents the world’s fastest growing monastic order and his week-long retreats in upstate Toronto, New York, Mississippi and California, each with a capacity of more than 1,000 people, have sold out in a matter of days.
Our voracious economic system
Thay, who warns that civilisation is at risk of collapse from the environmental and social damage caused by the voraciousness of our economic system, offers an alternative vision that focuses on true happiness, which he believes we have sacrificed on the altar of materialism.
His teaching is based on transforming our suffering by letting go of the scars of the past as well as worries about the future, via meditation and mindful living.
Pointing to our addiction to consumption as a clear sign we are trying to paper over our suffering, Thay suggests we should go in the opposite direction, to the very heart of our pain, in order to transcend it.
He believes that for business to play a role in slowing the runaway train of capitalism, corporate leaders need to recognise they have made a fundamental error in their narrow-minded belief that profit on its own equates to success.
Business needs a fundamental shift in consciousness
For that to happen, the corporate world needs to undergo a fundamental shift in consciousness by recognising the importance of integrating spiritual principles into its daily life.
In an interview with the Guardian at the end of his retreat last week in the Catskill Mountains on the art of suffering, Thay said: “You have to consider your idea of happiness. You think it is possible only if you win, if you are on the top.
“But it is not necessarily like that, because even if you are successful in making more money, you still suffer. You compete because you’re not happy and meditation can help you to suffer less.
“Many of us think you can only be happy when you leave other people behind; you are number one. You do not need to be number one to be happy.
“There must be a spiritual dimension in your life and in your business, otherwise you cannot deal with the suffering caused by your work or your daily life.”
Meetings with Martin Luther King
Recalling his meetings with King, which were pivotal in the the decison of the civil rights leader to come out against the Vietnam war, Thay said President Obama missed out a key ingredient when he last week celebrated the 50th anniversary of the landmark ‘I have a dream’ speech.
“When President Obama said let freedom ring, he is talking about the kind of freedom coming from outside; political and social freedom, but even if you have a lot of freedom to organise, to say things, to write, you can still suffer a lot as you don’t have the freedom inside – from your anger and fear,” says Thay.
Central to King’s vision was the development of the Beloved Community and Thay has concentrated his energy on building more than a thousand ‘sanghas’ of lay practitioners around the world.
But is it possible for business leaders to create transformation through the building of a community ethos within their companies?
Mindfulness and meditation in the workplace
Thay believes that bringing mindfulness and meditation into corporations will help them to turn away from their destructive ways and recognise the inter-dependence of all life.
“Meditation practice can help business to suffer less,” he says. “That is good already because if your employees are happy, your business can improve.
“If your business is causing environmental problems, then because you have practiced meditation you may have an idea of how to conduct your business in such a way that you will harm nature less.
“Meditation can calm your suffering and give you more insight and more right view on yourself and on the world and if you have a collective wisdom, then naturally you will want to handle and conduct your business in such a way that will make the world suffer less.”
Bringing mindfulness into the workplace can also help prevent employees from becoming overwhelmed by their work, according to Thay, but business leaders need to lead by example.
Business leaders need to take care of themselves
While many senior executives are starting to speak out about the importance of sustainability, Thay says few connect this to the internal culture of the organisations they run.
“If he [business leader] spends all the time taking care of the corporation, he does not have time for himself or his family, but it is important to recognise that the business will profit if he is more calm, more loving, more compassionate and understanding,” he says.
Partly to blame is the increasing speed and reach of computers, which makes it increasingly hard to find time to reflect and be inspired.
The power of aimlessness
Thay talks of the importance of developing the art of aimlessness, rather than the non-stop creation of more projects.
“People believe that happiness is in the future and the point of aimlessness is to stop running and find happiness in the here and the now,” he says.
“True happiness cannot be without peace. If you continue to run, how can you have peace and you run in your dreams also. That is our civilisation.
“We have to reverse this trend. We have to go back to ourselves, to our beloved ones, to nature, because electronic devices help us to run away from ourselves. We lose ourselves in the internet, business, projects and we have no time to be with ourselves. We do not have the time to take care of our beloved ones and do not allow Mother Earth to heal us. We are running away from self, family and nature.”
While most business leaders find it difficult to talk openly about the pressures they face, there are high profile examples of executives who share Thay’s concerns.
Erin Callan, the former chief financial officer of Lehman Brothers, who resigned months before the bank’s bankruptcy, put her head above the parapet earlier this year to write about how work had completely consumed her.
“When I left my job, it devastated me,” she wrote in the New York Times. “I couldn’t just rally and move on. I did not know how to value who I was versus what I did.
“When I wasn’t catching up on work, I spent my weekends recharging my batteries for the coming week. Work always came first, before my family, friends and marriage — which ended just a few years later.”
Dualistic nature of technology
While Thay worries about the destructive force of technology, he recognises its dualistic nature and therefore its power also to do good.
This is why he will call on the technology CEOs he meets to concentrate on developing apps and other devices that can help bring people back into balance.
“We need to have an awakening and when I talk to Google and the other companies, I will tell them to use their intelligence and goodwill to help us create the kind of instruments to come back to ourselves, heal ourselves,” he says. “We do not have to reject or throw away all these devices but can make good use of them.”
He talks of developing apps that can help people to calm their anger when it arises and refers to a watch he designed, on which every hour is marked by the word ‘now,’ rather than a number.
Google has asked the Buddhist monk to talk on the subject of intention, innovation and insight, which he says can all benefit from the practice of mindfulness.
Thay was invited to visit Google in 2011 and since then mindfulness practices have blossomed at the technology giant, including a growing number of people taking part in its formal mindfulness training programme, ‘Search Inside Yourself.’ Meditation rooms have also been created within many of the company’s offices.
He says: “Staff at Google want to know how to transform their suffering just like all other living beings.
“Many of them are very young and intelligent so they can understand the teaching and practice well and can spread this and they have the means to do that.
“It will help for them to know that everyone has the wish to do good because all of us have Buddha nature. When you look at the path which is not noble, you can see the other path. So looking into suffering you see the way of happiness; that is the teaching of the four noble truths and you do not need to be Buddhist to understand that.
“Our society needs a collective awakening in order to save ourselves from the crisis we are in. So the practice is that awakening should take place in every step, every breath. And if you have awakening you know you have a path of happiness. You stop suffering and then you can help other people to do the same.”
Thich Nhat Hanh’s tour of North America includes public talks in New York, Boston and Pasadena. There is also a four-month exhibition of his calligraphy hosted by Blue Cliff Monastery and New York’s famous design store ABC Home
[Extracted from: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/global-technology-ceos-wisdom-zen-master-thich-nhat-hanh?CMP=twt_gu]
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In is indeed a great news that Google taken this step to introduce Buddhism teaching to their employees. I believe it is always setting up the right motivation of the team members in achieving the company’s vision. While all corporate company’s objective is always to gain more profit but all this can’t be done with proper mindset. If the employees do not have inner happiness then how can they bring happiness to others. So I think connecting to the power of mindfulness and meditation to drive sustainability and happiness is such a great idea.
It’s a very good news! I’m very surprised that Google is also into Buddhism, I like this a lot cause no matter what religion we belong to, everybody deserves a platform to share about their interests. Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
Thank you very much Rinpoche for sharing on this useful information and wisdom on how Buddhism is being integrated into business model with spiritual practices injected in employees’ working environment. When the employees in one’s company are free from inner sufferings and delusions, peace and happiness will be increased that could eventually attract more positive energies to maintain the company’s healthy growth and continue to grow in both worldly and spiritually manner.
Awesome news for all Buddhist, through Google more and more peoples will get to know more details what is Buddhism about and how to be a better person.
Social media is the powerful media to spread Holy Dharma just by finger tips, thanks Rinpoche for always remind us use social media to connect more peoples around the world able connect to Dharma and Rinpoche teaching…
This is fantastic news! I found this article very nice and interesting to read. Thank you for sharing Rinpoche. I hope to see more good news like this in the future. I rejoice!
This is good news especially that Google is looking into Buddhism to benefit their staffs and their companies. Meditation will help the staffs to be more mindful and focus and help improved on the productivity. By providing a conducive working environment, the employees can find peace and work in harmony with each other.
I believe many companies should follow Googie’s way of giving their staff training and learning this is amazing stuff. That when people are more mindful they will care about what they create, and make and whether what they produce will it create more betterment or just harm.
Too many companies today are focusing too much on short term financial gain and profit maximization rather than betterment of mankind and society and their corporate social responsibilities. They are too driven by greed at the expense of our mother earth. It is great to see more companies coming forward to adopt Buddhist teachings into their corporate DNA. They will definitely have happier employees and higher productivity, which eventually will lead to better financial performance.
Just imagine the impact from all the employees of Google incorporating Buddhist philosophy into their ideas, products and services. We will no doubt see a range of creative and innovative offerings from this huge giant in the near future that are reflective of them embracing the wisdom of the teachings.
I have been using the teachings in my work since I met H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and it has helped me to resolve conflicts and build better relationship. I hope the owners and decision makers of companies reading this blog seriously consider introducing Buddhist teachings into their companies.
Rejoice for the folks at GOOGLE who have the merits to be exposed to the Dharma at work!
it is so cool to know that google is looking into Buddhism, and that they want to look into the practice. i hope this helps spread the dharma to people that heard of this. thank you for sharing Rinpoche
Buddhism is growing fast in the west and in the corporate worlds. IT giant like Google has brought buddhism to their staff as they know by practicing mindfulness and meditation can help develop peace and harmony among the staff and in their work place and the environment and hopefully the world will be a better living place in the future.
This is very much to rejoice on when businesses take an interest in how meditation can benefit their companies. Since meditation practice has to be done by human therefore the employees and employers stand to benefit from learning to incorporate meditation practice in the business environment. I believe we should not be to worry about companies using it as an opportunity to make even more money. Since Thich Nhat Hanh is Buddhist monk the blessings of Buddha will come to those who listen to him. It is the first step for people there to turn to spirituality.
This quote “Many of us think you can only be happy when you leave other people behind; you are number one. You do not need to be number one to be happy.” is good reminder to all of us. Number one is not about leaving everyone behind and let them suffers. It is wrong thinking. Even if we are not number we can be happy.
谢谢仁波切的开示与分享，谷歌是全球化，佛法是佛法无边。其实佛法的智慧就是整个宇宙的秘密与科学。就如佛陀的智慧说明一滴水是众生，但科学家证明一滴水就有千万的生物。所以佛法的智慧是那么博大精深,无可否认。
This extremely well-written article reminds me of the following story:
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.
About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family.
“You aren’t going to catch many fish that way,” said the businessman to the fisherman, “you should be working rather than lying on the beach!
“The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, “And what will my reward be?”
“Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!” was the businessman’s answer.
“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman, still smiling.
The businessman replied, “You will make money and you’ll be able to buy a boat which will then result in larger catches of fish!”
“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman again.
The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman’s questions.
“You can buy a bigger boat and hire some people to work for you!” he said.
“And then what will my reward be?” repeated the fisherman.
The businessman was getting angry. “Don’t you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!”
Once again the fisherman asked, “And then what will my reward be?”
The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, “Don’t you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach looking at the sunset. You won’t have a care in the world!”
The fisherman, still smiling, simply looked up, nodded and said: “And what do you think I am doing now?” He then looked at the sunset, with his pole in the water, without a care in the world.
Thanks Rinpoche for the sharing.
Its really amazing that an IT giant also implement buddhism into their company.
I really proud of myself as a buddhist.
Thanks
感恩仁波切的开示与分享
很感动，谷歌正在想方设法落实佛法修行，以丰富他们的用户和工作人员的生活。这是多么的美妙！
佛法常只被人定位为宗教，然而佛法对于我们来说，更是一种伟大的智慧与教育，我们常忙碌与工作，追求生活，然而却从来没有办法填满我们的心，无论工作与生活处于怎样的一个状况，许多人的心总是有着一股莫名的空洞与忧愁，谈谈的，却一发动全身，然后就开始。。。。在娑婆世界里沉沦的更深
工作与生活，追求了再多，还是找不到许多的答案关于我们的内心的波动，那么有人想过没有是不是我们的方法错了，或我们所追求的东西次序错了，倘若我们先把我们的心识厘清，那么我们在将我们洁净与欢喜的心识用在我们的工作与生活里，是否将会拥有有一个不同的情景
充满随喜的感恩谷歌的管理层似乎看透了这一点，开始选择了用佛法这伟大的教育，来安抚每一位员工的心，这将能造福多少人呀？功德无量
祈愿我们上师詹杜固仁波切的慈爱宏远，成立克切拉和平中心，为的目的与谷歌公司是一样的，就是要将佛法化作一种教育，而利益无数的众生，佛法不是控制我们的思想，不是要我们膜拜佛像，而是透过一种智慧来转化我们的心识，让我们得到内心正真的富饶，然后再融入我们的生活与工作中
祈愿仁波切长驻在世常转法轮
This was indeed a great and useful article that Rinpoche has so kindly shared with us to demonstrate that Buddhism is not only confined to spiritualism practices. Through the World famous 87 year old Vietnamnese Zen monk, Thich Nhat Hanh or Thay, it can be skifully and properly be implemented to be used as a practical philosophy in bringing mindfulness to the workplace to help employees turn away from their destructive ways towards the interdepedence of life. Further, with meditation to calm their sufferings if any, it may give them more insight and more right view on themselves, as what had been described/explained detaily in the blog articles. A great many thanks and appreciation to Rinpoche for his kind concern in the sharing and explicit teachings.
It is nice to see that Google is taking interest in Buddhism and I can understand why. This is because Buddhism is capable of helping a person improve on a psychological level. I hope that more and more corporations will use the wisdom of Buddhism to improve themselves.
I think it is a very good idea for politicians and people in the corporate world to learn meditation and find peace in their hearts. “You don’t need to be No.1 to be happy”. This is so true. It is important for business leaders to introduce spiritual elements in their companies and make it conducive for their employees to work in a happy and peaceful atmosphere.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.It is great to know that big corporation is implementing the philosophy of Buddhist practice into their organisation ,which transcend all religion.
By improving the productivity of their staff through the practice of mindfulness. They would gain awareness to the cause of suffering and to find ways to refrain from such action.
By developing the correct motivation which sustain life itself,compassion would develope and grow.Therefore bringing the true sense of satisfaction and happiness inward and bring positive development to the general community outwards.
We certainly hope that more big companies would adopt such practice to benefit their staff and their consumers as of whole.
It is wonderful to know that big corporation like Google has realized the benefits of spiritual practice for the well being of their employees. They have taken such radical & compassionate approach in the company corporate culture, shifting from the conventional profit orientated philosophy to a more conscious living & sustainability model which has great benefits to both the employee & the company also to the society as well. I rejoice for the people who works in Google for they are so fortunate to be able to learn, practice & experience the benefits of dharma which will bring harmony, peace in the work place & hence more happiness. If only more companies would adopt the dharma in their work place & culture, there will be joy & happiness in the world.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article & will try my very best to instill dharma in my everyday life.
In a globalized world we’re living in today, big organization like Google had employees from all over the world. When peoples of different background gathered together they will have different view and understanding on each other’s needs. The Middle way practice of Buddhism based on loving compassion, will be able to cater for these people. By practicing loving kindness with mindfulness their employees bring happiness not only to themselves but also to the whole cyber world connected us today.
It is something positive that Google and many other big multinational companies are introducing Buddhist philosophy to their employees. And it is just wonderful that Lord Buddha’s teachings are applicable in this age of technology. They are so convinced on the goodness and power of meditation that meditation spaces are made available to the employees. With the knowledge of mindfulness, may more people be able to live and work in harmony with everyone in their surrounding.
Wow! “In a sign that the practice of mindfulness is entering the mainstream.” I love this statement and this is probably true considering an organization as big as Google is adopting Buddhist methods and practices. This is admirable and it took many years of exposure to Buddhism and the gradual assimilation of Buddhism within the Western mainstream. I think great teachers like Thich Nhat Than, the Dalai Lama and recently Tsem Rinpoche had much to do with this. I do hope and pray that Rinpoche would one day receive such a big recognition and acceptance.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful news, is good to know that companies CEO has realize how important of spiritual practices is needed in order to have a more balance life. In order to obtain ultimate happiness we need not look outside is to look inside our inner peace is not our material gain I think this teaching is very profound and very true we like to look outside we always think if we have gain this wealth or this position we will be happy in actual fact is not . I think is very fortunate for us Kecharian to have our guru constantly remind us about this profound teaching of Lord Buddha.
With folded hands
Shelly tai
Rejoice to see big corporate and companies are adopting Buddhism into their company and be part of their company culture. Smart strategy and move to grow a company!
Indeed, with Buddhism, the staffs will be happier and it’s a very positive way to retain resources too!
Just like the motto of KFR “Building a conscious community!”
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this great news!
Wonderful NEWS to know that more and more people are finding Buddhist philosophies not just philosophies of the intellect but something REAL that you can physically put to test and discover a better way living. For some it’s finding PEACE, for another it could be a stress relief, and another it could mean finding a way to deal with the ups and downs of life. And there are those who will take to another step and share it with others!
Well if it means practising kindness, creating harmonious living, teams and creating a conscious people… I do see why any business/corporation would see this as an opportunity to only strengthen their employees and empowering them to become better humans with better ethics and responsibility, not to mentioned less becoming less stress, focusing out more and being more caring. This is how we create a conscious society…
thank you rinpoche for sharing is good to know Google is now finding ways to implement Buddhist practice I rejoice for it.
We need to get in touch with our reality.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting article with us.
Thich Nhat Hanh or Thay shows that competition, which is the way of this materialistic world, is a way of suffering. If we can only see that all beings are interconnected and believe in the concept of interbeing, our whole perception of life and relationships(in our daily lives and in the corporate world) will change. With that we will move from pain and suffering to peace and happiness.
This involves a mind transformation that can only come about via greater mindfulness and meditation. We need to live each day of our lives more mindfully.
The integration of Buddhist philosophy into a highly influential search engine is a great step forward. Google has become key in the spread of information and content. Imagine when a person uses Google to find out about certain issues, they are introduced to other more compassionate alternatives, something they may not have known until Google brings it to their attention. And since we are all hooked on to smart phones and apps, it is timely that Buddhist-based applications are made available.
This also goes to show Rinpoche’s great foresight in encouraging all of us to be IT and social media savvy.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
In this chaotic and pervasively materialistic times, people are chasing happiness that are, alas, temporary. To get ahead of others, we often step on others; just so that we get the “happiness” of being “better” than others. Soon, we find that these achievements (if at all we became number one) are unsatisfactory and we crave for more. Those who “lost” are worse off and will try to “fight back”, take revenge or do whatever they think needed to get ahead. This then is the vicious cycle that is repeated again and again all over in human existence, be it within one’s career, business or personal life.
If we practice the teachings of the Buddha, we will first and foremost recognize that, what we are chasing for is in fact unsatisfactory and have no end, for it does not bring lasting happiness. The Buddha’s teachings provide solutions to this unsatisfactoriness.
Great Masters like Thay, brings the teachings that are simple and easy to practice for the times. Rich companies like Google must have realize that, no amount of material resource can bring happiness to their human resources and hence they turn to Buddhism. I rejoice.
Thank You Rinpoche.
I will only trust that the business leaders are making the right decisions when the financial world is prioritizing wealth because they have recognized the health and well being that is needed over material wealth. Even if the government or the people subdue the bankers and CEOs, what good would it do to make it be otherwise? The new executives would become just as corrupt as the old ones, and no lessons would have been learned. Otherwise the businesses would just continue to resist the government and the people and make things more challenging to change things in the way that they need to change, in order to realize a genuinely happier, healthier and more sustainable way of being.
My guess, is that these executives are only seeking ways to make more money, not enlightenment.
Silly brains are these who would prioritize wealth over health.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. Even though Rinpoche and Thich Nhat Hanh are from different school/lineage, but the teachings are the same.
1. Peace comes from within.
2. By training our mind and be aware of it, we will be able to achieve the calmness we need in managing our stress and problems in life.
3. Thich Nhat Hanh is hoping to build a huge lay practitioners “sanghas” around the world which is also Rinpoche’s wish.
What Kechara is doing is definitely moving towards the right direction, seeing that Google, one of the IT giant is embracing the mindfulness training in Buddhist practice. As Kecharian, we should continue to work harder; if you are not a Kecharian yet, come and explore more!
谢谢仁波切的分享。
非常高兴 Google 也发现了，佛法可以带来美好的将来与人生。
其实当我还没有进入佛法事业时，我是非常的五楼寡闻。因为父母只教育我，有什么事，就去求神拜佛。 让我完全误解了那个意义。
现在我在佛法， 原来可以让我更上一层楼。大开眼界，看见了人生。
在这分享里面，有非常 powerful 的句子。让我充满了能量。希望 Google 那么大的机构，可以把学习佛法的喜悦带给更多的人。
is good to know Google is now finding ways to implement Buddhist practice, i hope one day, our Pastors will be invited by Google or other company for giving teaching.
That it is indeed a very good idea!