EP013: Pandemic Opportunities, Using Zen to Puzzle your Purpose — and Maybe Even The Meaning of Life

We are fortunate to ring in the new year with a discussion with Genpo Roshi, one of my Zen Masters and the creator of Big Mind. Today’s episode is a dive into deeper ideas ranging from human purpose to the meaning of life — no less!

All of these discussions stem from an important realization in the tech community that healthy habits like eating well and exercising only address one aspect of human life. It has become clear that tending to the health and balance of your mind is an integral part of human health.

Join in for an enlightening conversation on life and the mind with one of the top experts available.

Key Takeaways

What should we call you? [1:58] Roshi means Zen master and Genpo Roshi has been practicing Zen for over 50 years and became a Zen Master 24 years ago.

Zen and your life [2:40] It’s not just this esoteric idea of calm. It means life — your life — complete, whole, liberated, and a mess at the same time.

Being connected to everything and everybody else, how do we love and appreciate all the differences?

Self and your shadows [4:26] None of us can see ourselves clearly. There is who we see ourselves as and who others see us as — the shadows.

You can still be an asshole [4:55] You can sit in meditation (Za Zen) and just sit on your junk, you crap, your stuff… and you can have realizations and openness and appreciate it all but somehow remain an asshole.

Unresolvable puzzles [6:00] The study of Koans — mind puzzles — is used to coax the mind that is not limited by concepts, what Roshi calls big mind, true nature, true self, true mind.

The impossible meaning of life [6:45] Understanding is conceptual and limited, so understanding the meaning of life is impossible, however, you can “be” it. In a way, you can grasp it all even though you’ll never understand it all.

Thoughts are suffering [10:57] The thinking mind causes all our suffering, but repressing it isn’t the answer, invite it. Same with suffering, the moment we are ready to invite more, we are bigger than the suffering itself.

The healthy lifestyle triad [13:00] Meditation is right up there, with eating well, and exercising, in the goals of the tech community.

The incredible window that is COVID-19 [13:43] Before COVID-19 we wanted to run off to a monastery. But we are in a forced retreat. Learn to be patient, persevere, meditate, become wiser.

The COVID-19 opportunity [17:44] Genpo Roshi touches on the six paramitas (perfections) as ways to make this COVID-19 time more meaningful:

1- Generosity

2- Discipline

3- Perseverance

4- Patience

5- Meditation

6- Wisdom

No pressure, right? [21:30] Shakespeare wrote King Lear during his quarantine from a black plague outbreak… Ron fears having not done enough.

Roshi’s tips on meditation [24:20] Meditation can be daunting and difficult for a lot of people, Roshi offers his tips:

1- Don’t try to meditate — haha!

2- Sit and relax — it might be hard, you will have thoughts, just let them run and allow them to come and go without chasing them.

It’s more delicious than just about anything [25:56] Samadhi is better than sleep, more delicious than just about anything. It does have some staying power and it will affect your day, but it takes time, practice, patience, and perseverance.

COMING UP NEXT! [27:36] Roshi offers to work with Ron on Big Mind and meditation, but that’s for next episode! Thanks for tuning in and don’t forget to keep an eye out for episode 14!

More about your host

Podcast: tonywongpodcast.com

Agile Coaching: Agiletony.com

Executive Coaching: Agiletony.com/mental-and-emotional-agility

Twitter: Twitter.com/agile_tony

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More about our guest

Genpo Roshi, Big Mind