Thich Nhat Hanh: is mindfulness being corrupted by business and finance?

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/thich-nhat-hanh-mindfulness-google-tech?commentpage=1&utm_content=buffer78fac&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

by dkasper • 12 years ago

41 13 12 years ago

theguardian.com

joedavison• 12 years ago

Thich Nhat Hanh is just as corrupt as the "business and finance" executives he is criticizing. His aspirations for fame and constant media attention belie the very principles he supposedly espouses, such as humility.

Thich Nhat Hanh is one step above Deepak Chopra in terms of being a "pop-spirituality" guru, so it's no wonder that hypocritical CEO's who want to relieve some of their own guilt are flocking to him.

Of course pursuing "mindfulness" practices for the sole reason of profiting your company is a corrupt practice that goes against the entire purpose of spiritual development. Why is this even a question?

The problem (for the majority of "business leaders" who lack discernment and compassion -- otherwise they wouldn't have been able to rise to the position they are in) is that real Buddhism (real "mindfulness") is hard -- and real masters don't advertise.

dkasper• 12 years ago

"Real" Buddhism is a lot of things; there are many different types and practices. Ad hominem attacks aren't nice. It sounds to me like he offered some great perspective to the absurdity of a lot of startup culture today. I'm happy someone took the time to do it. I think it falls under the part of the eightfold path to "Work for good and oppose evil".

yiedyie2• 12 years ago

I guess this would be downvoted but I'll say it anyway:

I am struggling to have a mindful life for about 15 years now and I had to fight anything, family, habits, pleasure just to make the time and space for that.

And businesses and finance where my constant enemies and the only that defeated me and that they managed to have their way.

I need this for my health too, I have psoriasis and mindfulness and yoga are the only things that really work.

And to see now that these SOB CEOs are the epitome of mindfulness is heartbreaking.

One of this days I will ask this question on HN:

Who would hire me for 100 Euro/ 15 hours/ week so I can take care of my mindfulness.

stiff• 12 years ago

He has done tons of work of spreading a very positive message distilling the essence of Buddhist teachings and freeing it from what we know today is superstition. His books, unlike most books in this genre, are almost completely free of "woo", while succeeding in finding a somewhat positive and rational attitude toward life eternal problems, I for one think this is remarkable. I don't see any evidence for him seeking "constant media attention" or being "corrupt", I think he is simply being pragmatic in attempts to improve the world, which is indeed very Buddhist. In any case, I don't care if he is "real" or not, I like the actual "teachings".

Many of those supposedly "real" masters have been meanwhile repeatedly compromised over the years when scandals of sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, military involvement and corruption surfaced. I don't think the cult of the master, or the kind of elitism you are spreading, is very helpful in making the world a better place.

virtualwhys2• 12 years ago

Yes, the scandals, no safe haven, our idols themselves sometimes have a shady side ;-)

Still, the teaching itself can be authentic at the same time. See Trungpa Rinpoche's "The Path is the Goal" and the fact that he was an alcoholic who had sex with some (many?) of his students. Or, master Seung Sahn's, "The Compass of Zen", and his penchant for alcohol and female students. There are of course other masters in the same boat, a conundrum, the teaching speaks volumes, but their actions do too o_O

initself• 12 years ago

It's irresponsible not to cite evidence for Thich Nhat Hanh's "aspirations for fame and constant media attention". Do you say that because he's featured in a Guardian article?

He's a monk! He not looking for anything in return. Some masters get the word out, others don't. There's no rules.

medell• 12 years ago

If he is helping others become happier while not hurting anyone, what harm is there in that? If only everyone would live their lives this way, the world would be a better place.

pavelrub• 12 years ago

Wow.

This is a collection of disgusting and unfounded claims.

real masters don't advertise

Really? Interesting that you say that, because the Buddha spent most of his life spreading and teaching Buddhism in any place he could find. Teaching the Dharma to others is central to Buddhism, and "advertising" is the sole reason Buddhism has spread from a tiny unknown place in India to cover most of Asia - in many different flavors. Nor is it traditionally "hard" - outside of the monastic tradition, regular people have been encouraged from the dawn of Buddhism to practice very real Buddhism by doing a lot of very easy and simple things: visiting holy sites and praying, mostly.

Thich Nhat Hanh devoted his life to spreading Buddhism to the west. His financial success is a measure of how successful he has been at that. From a purely Buddhist perspective - this is a very good thing.

lazydon• 12 years ago

We have an expression for this in Hindi I’m not sure if it translates well – trying to use a sword as a needle. To use mindfulness which is transcendental in nature and can open secrets of the life for few more bucks! Yes, as someone becomes mindful, it does helps to concentrate and focus more and be more creative and productive – but that’s a side product and yes, we still have to earn bread. But to make that the entire aim is not the right direction for that energy.

But Zen is such an open philosophy it won’t mind it and judge it as corrupt or otherwise. It will allow people to naturally see the difference – that they are giving away their diamonds in return of pebbles. Not profitable in my opinion.

robobro2• 12 years ago

When zazen/jhana/vipissana is bought and sold for the masses, they're just told they're already doing it when a spendy enough guro is rented out. It's easy for people to fake being mindful by being lazy/aloof in different ways and to lie about it. Greed and pride muddy the mind.

virtualwhys2• 12 years ago

Agreed, TNH has been criticised for spreading Buddhism lite in the west, but then again, how many westerners, not accustomed to sitting, will embrace a 10-day Vipasana retreat with untimed sittings?

Not many ;-)

This is probably why TNH dropped "hard core" and replaced it with "moderate". As far as spreading basic Buddhist teachings, he's certainly been successful.

Thich Nhat Hanh: is mindfulness being corrupted by business and finance?

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