LeonW

I'm feeling strangely saddened and also relieved seeing him lie completely still and peaceful at the memorial service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bq-bD00jt0&ab_channel=PlumV...

In 2011, I co-founded a software startup called Buffer, which I left in 2017 to live in multiple Thich Nhat Hanh / Plum Village monasteries for almost 2 years. I felt completely disoriented at the time, uncovering the many delusions of money, tech and fame as the final life answers, alongside broken relationships and friendships and nowhere to turn. The monks and nuns took me in in a way that I will be forever grateful for and Thich Nhat Hanh's teaching was the beginning on a long journey of self-discovery, healing, relaxation and coming to terms with reality as it is, right now.

Thich Nhat Hanh taught me something very ordinary: That it is important to pause often, to reflect, to sit still or walk in silence and to observe and acknowledge what is happening around you, inside and out. And to then act from that place of stillness and quiet with calm and kindness to the people around you. And to keep practicing this over and over again, without fail or getting tired from it.

I feel tremendous gratitude to him and his teaching, as well as the monks and nuns that dedicate themselves to his many practices and insights.

May he rest in peace and may his intentions and practices live on for a long time!

Exactly the kind of comment I was anticipating...and I find it quite annoying, because it misses the point I was hoping to make. Which is that even when you have everything "picture perfect", it required me to find another way to relate to life. And I believe that is true for any kind of experience most people are having in the world day to day.

I wish every leader gets access to these frameworks and takeaways. The #1 issue I face with every single client I've worked with over the years as an executive coach is exactly what they are pointing out here: that dealing with our emotions and inner worlds is the biggest challenge of all. Learning to deal with that has the highest ROI on both success and fulfillment/happiness compared to any other activity for a leader imo.

I love this, realizing that we each have our own description and meaning of the word stored in the memories we lived. Thanks for sharing!