• Embracing Mindfulness Amidst Chaos: Paul notes the "crazy" world, and Scott highlights how chaos increases his desire for internal calm through Zen, meditation, and mindfulness.
• Podcast Format Changes & Paul's Business: Scott announces shorter episodes and a new focus on Paul's business, Zen at Work (zenetwork.org), praising Paul's ability to make Zen and Buddhism relatable and applicable to modern life through his newsletters. Paul announces an expanded platform for his programs and content rolling out in the next few weeks.
• Introduction to "One Body Sangha": The conversation shifts to "One Body Sangha" (onebodysangha.org), a new online initiative from Paul, highlighted in his recent newsletter.
• The Importance of Community (Sangha): Paul explains that Buddhist and Zen practices must be done in community (Sangha), which is considered the most precious of the "three treasures" (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). He notes Zen's emphasis on sitting together and that solitary meditation is not highly valued for its own sake; the purpose is to live fully in the world with others.
• Addressing Client Needs: Paul created One Body Sangha to serve Zen at Work clients and others who seek applied Buddhism and a supportive community but not necessarily formal Zen study. Scott, as an exception, sought formal dharma study through Paul's coaching.
• Concept & Structure of One Body Sangha: This online-first community supports home practice and online connection, unlike place-based centers. It's an experiment launched a few weeks prior to the recording, offering basic meditation and Zen/Buddhist teachings, and numerous daily practice opportunities. Everything on the platform is free or for donation.
• Evolution of Sangha & Thich Nhat Hanh's Vision: Paul discusses how Sangha structures have evolved since the Buddha's time. He quotes Thich Nhat Hanh: "the Buddha of the future...is not going to be a person, it's going to be a community".
• Zen's Golden Age Amidst Chaos: Paul connects the current global chaos to Zen's "golden age" (600-900 AD in China), which was also a period of extreme volatility, emphasizing the need for communities of care, practice, wisdom, and compassion
• One Body Sangha Offerings: The platform offers daily meditation retreats, practice discussions, dharma dialogues, classes, workshops, self-paced courses, Sangha gatherings, practice groups, and a resource library. Offerings are simple, non-overwhelming, and available in short sessions throughout the day for different time zones. It includes two monthly online interactive sessions (one with practice leaders, one with Paul for Q&A).
• Concluding Thoughts & Call to Action: Paul expresses excitement about the potential in current times to discard old scripts and connect based on shared interests. Scott notes how practice helps deal with impermanence and leads to happiness. They encourage listeners to visit Paul's newsletter at zenatwork.substack.com.

https://www.onebodysangha.org/

Game of Zen links:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-game-of-zen/id1700988890

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2bjnPE66RC1bCL6h7i68jt?si=184f256fd76342e3&nd=1

Podcast Landing Page:...

• Introduction & Episode Theme (Excerpts 1-4)
• Scott Berman welcomes listeners to "The Game of Zen" podcast from Philadelphia, PA, with Sensei Paul checking in from Boulder, Colorado.
• They briefly discuss the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl win and the town's excitement.
• Scott introduces the episode's theme: "staying calm in the storm", relating it to athletes like Jalen Hurts who perform well under pressure. He notes that this calmness is also vital in daily professional and personal lives
• Defining & Understanding Equanimity (Excerpts 4-8)
• Scott asks Sensei Paul to define equanimity, a key concept in early Buddhist teachings.
• Sensei Paul explains it as one of the "four brahma vaharas" – a profound "quality of heart mind" that is "more than just calmness".
• He emphasizes that equanimity is about "not letting externals throw you off your center and finding your center within your internal environment".
• "Centeredness" is offered as a more descriptive term for equanimity, cited as the number one most desired quality in leaders in a Booth School of Business study.
• Centeredness is visualized as the "calm still part at the center of the swirl of activity" within a hurricane, an inner place accessible through meditation.

• Cultivating Equanimity & Inner Stillness (Excerpts 8-18)
• Meditation helps individuals access intrinsic "stillness, silence, peace, and calmness" within themselves, making it continuously available for handling crises.
• Scott shares how morning meditation prepares him for daily challenges like meetings or traffic.
• Equanimity is recognized as a "steady" state applied to both "highs and lows," preventing over-celebration or over-catastrophizing.
• Sensei Paul clarifies that equanimity is not passivity but a "very vigilant" and "responsive" state, enabling action at "just the time" rather than constant overreacting.
• Cultivating "meditative mind" and "welcoming challenge and adversity" are key practices. Wisdom traditions provide a "map" to find the "center of our own minds".
• Mindfulness practice, which involves giving "full attention", cultivates samadhi – a concentration energy that is "both relaxed and energized".

• Personal Experiences & Deeper Understanding (Excerpts 19-37)
• Sensei Paul shares a recent family medical and financial crisis, highlighting how his and his wife's equanimity allowed them to clearly focus on what was needed. He notes that "maternal mind" is akin to a "master meditator" due to its inherent responsiveness.
• Scott recounts his open-heart surgery diagnosis, finding a "calm washed over" him and how his calm demeanor helped his family cope.
• Sensei Paul discusses the Buddha's journey to equanimity through a "middle path" after years of asceticism, leading to the Eightfold Path which provides a "matrix of living".
• Scott notes that applying the Eightfold Path, such as "right speech," increased his own calm nature.
• A "bigger perspective" on life, where "everything is included," produces equanimity, countering the "fundamental agitation or unease" of an individualistic mindset.

• Applying & Spreading Equanimity to Others (Excerpts 38-52)
• Sensei Paul shares how decades of meditation prepared...

A new episode of the Game of Zen podcast is now available: We dive deep into Zen Buddhism and aging, discussing how mindfulness and acceptance play vital roles in coping with loss, planning for the future, and learning from life’s unpredictable nature. We also touch on the importance of being present with loved ones in their final moments and how appreciating life's impermanence can transform our approach to aging and death. Don't miss this enlightening conversation for invaluable insights on living more meaningfully. Listen now!

00:00 Buddhism teaches impermanence through aging's challenges.

06:20 Parents declining; family experiences love, connection.

07:49 They respect my Buddhist teachings informally shared.

11:11 Stroke was his greatest life lesson.

13:54 Mom's acceptance and preparation taught lessons.

18:44 Appreciate the moment, especially with aging.

23:16 Health and presence matter; focus on impermanence.

24:14 Improving death perception with Buddhist principles.

30:08 Life continues through relationships and teachings.

31:01 Practice aids acceptance of death, fostering peace.

35:47 Mindfulness meditation offers potential physical health benefits.

38:26 Reflecting on past year’s wisdom and intentions.

41:41 "Getting old is not for sissies."

43:37 Exploring Zen's impact: subscribe, share, prosper.

Game of Zen links:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-game-of-zen/id1700988890

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2bjnPE66RC1bCL6h7i68jt?si=184f256fd76342e3&nd=1

Podcast Landing Page: https://game-of-zen.captivate.fm/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJ2A-vZkd5ba7bW_8KNFgdkXiSfQh_xv

Paul Agostinelli

Zen@Work: https://www.zenatwork.org/

Zen@Work Today: https://zenatwork.substack.com/

Email: GameofZenpodcast@gmail.com

#GameOfZen #NobleTruths #entrepreneurship

#Buddhism #Mindfulness #Zen #Concentration #Buddha #Attachment #Impermenance