Book Review: “The Buddha Walks Into the Office”

This book came to me at the ideal time having started a new job and all of the neurosis that can follow from this kind of  transition. Oh yes. It’s easy to get caught up in all kinds of thoughts, feelings, emotions, fears and habits.

“Will they like me?”
“Am I doing good work?”
“Can I keep up?”
“What if I fail?”

This job market is flip-flopping-floopy crazy, so it’s no wonder we’re all either scrambling to keep the job we have, grasping for that elusive dream gig, or spending our 9-5 in samsara and silently cursing our bosses and co-workers. No matter how Buddhist you are, however compassionate you feel that you are, when confronted with deadlines, egos and unreasonable demands, you are bound to suffer. Suffer hard.

Lodro Rinzler is that cheerful, bespectacled, bow-tie wearing classy chap who writes for the Buddhist millennial set. He’s written a book titled, “The Buddha Walks into the Office: A Guide to Livelihood for a New Generation” that seeks to help readers navigate through the common issues encountered at work. Jerkface bosses. Loud-mouthed colleagues. Killer deadlines. The ever-present question of “What is Right Livelihood exactly?” It’s all in this book and - more.

With the familiar format many Buddhist books take in moving from Hinayana to Mahayana to Vajrayana teachings, the book is a call to action for a bit more mindfulness, compassion and fearlessness at work. Lodro explores many of the teachings from Shambhala, it’s founder Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and it’s current head, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche as he explores how we can be good Buddhist workmates. The book is funny, charming and smart. Lodro’s warmth and compassion shines brightly as he delivers insight and explores what it means to be a leader even when we aren’t holding the title of CEO. 

Many of Lodro’s personal life experiences help illustrate the concepts presented within “The Buddha Walks into the Office” - some are hilarious, others are quite touching. Ever present in the book is the inherent desire that Lodro has for people to find their calling and live a life of purpose when it comes to work. This is very much a part of his life as the founder of the Institute for Compassionate Leadership, an organization that helps develop young, compassionate leaders (hence the title!).

The importance of meditation runs heavily throughout this book as do many Shambhala terms and teachings such as that of basic goodness and wakefulness. Bonus points for several geekier and pop-culture based references such as the chapter titled “Wielding Your Speech Like the Hammer of Thor”.

Topics such as deep listening, Bodhisattvic activies, the lojong slogans, the six realms, the paramitas and yes, karma are all explored skilfully and with the goal of showing how they apply in our cubicles.

The thread of hopefulness is woven through this book despite Gen Y’s seemingly dreary job prospects. I’m heartened by Lodro’s optimism. This book is the ideal gift for the Millennial in your life who is going through a career crisis.

Shantideva’s wisdom figures prominently within the pages. How can you go wrong here? I especially love Lodro’s mention of how the workplace “is the perfect battlefield for unleashing your personal weapon: the bomb of bochicitta.” I want the t-shirt now. “Drop bodhichitta bombs. Not F-Bombs.”

While there are a few practices offered within “The Buddha Walks into the Office“, this isn’t the sole focus of the book. There are several exercises for self discovery and details on several meditation-based, contemplations and Buddhist-inspired practices, but the majority of the suggestions relate to actually practicing while at work. He writes, “If you can shift your view so that your work is spirituality, then you can bring your meditation practice off the cushion and live your hours at work with meaning and purpose.”

I REALLY enjoyed Lodro Rinzler’s The Buddha Walks into the Office,” but I’m a bit biased in fangirling over all of his writing. It’s authentic, fresh and delivers a fun take on the Dharma which helps it to be accessible to all. Do pick it up. It’s a delightful and fun read with quite a bit of substance to it. If you’re a boss, you need to read it. If you’re an employee, you need to read it. It really does offer new insight into what it means to be a worker and leader. This book could very well make us happier at work and in turn, make the world a much better place.

Yes, the book is that powerful!