Posts Tagged buddhism
Becoming a Vegetarian
I wrote a blog post about Buddhism and Vegetarianism.
Also, I found a video promoting a vegan lifestyle:
You can see over at Balamadana, Buddhism and Management what my thoughts are, but I think that 2010 will bring a lot of positive changes.
I keep you posted.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama – Daily Wisdom
Posted by Volker in buddhism, cb consulting, coaching on 24/09/2009
It is not too long ago, I was writing about me reading the Dalai Lama and the Path to Tranquility. A book you can purchase at Amazon.
For the 21st of September it says:
Western brains work, they work a great deal, but always in the direction of efficiency. In that way the mind puts itself at the service of the result. Like all servants, it renounces its independence. I am talking about another form of spiritual life, more detached and deeper, free form the obsession of a goal to be reached. In a way, the universal invasion of technology, everywhere it goes, lessen the life of the mind.
I like that thought. We are always trying to achieve more: more money, more status, more respect. We seem to always want to achieve more in less time and better quality. Hence, so the Dalai Lama, we become servants.
By abandon this life, we are becoming free, and we can reach a life that is less obsessive. And, we can focus on our spiritual development.
It is however a challenge to balance life in that way. Our western lifestyle is asking us to be productive, efficient and delivering more and more in less and less time. On the other hand, we are trying to improve our personal development, spiritual freedom and self awareness. We are stuck in the middle of where we are, should be and where we want to go.
Coaching is a way of giving you perspective, a third opinion and many inputs. It cannot do any harm but gives you the opportunity to stop in your tracks, take a holistic view of what is happening and move in the direction you want to go to, rather than away from where you don’t want to go.
Have a great day!

Buddhist Thoughts
The other day in one of my newsletters and alerts, I got the following Buddhist Wisdom I would like to share with you:
You should be an island to yourself, a refuge to yourself, not dependent on any other but taking refuge in the truth and none other than the truth. And how do you become an island and a refuge to yourself? In this way. You see and contemplate your body as composed of all the forces of the universe. Ardently and mindfully you steer your body-self by restraining your discontent with the world about you. In the same way, observe and contemplate your feelings and use that same ardent restraint and self-possession against enslavement by greed or desire. By seeing attachment to your body and feelings as blocking the truth, you dwell in self-possession and ardent liberation from those ties. This is how you live as an island to yourself and a refuge to yourself. Whoever dwells in this contemplation, islanded by the truth and taking refuge in the truth–that one will come out of the darkness and into the light.
- Digha Nikaya
The reason why I am sharing it is that it reminds me a bit about the Island Theory I wrote about a year ago. I think that with Marcelo being re-ordained and me not writing about Buddhism and Management that much anymore, I am neglecting my thoughts a bit.
You should be dependent on the truth only, something you can take refuge in. That means to me that becoming the island, the self development island, as myself, like my own coach, I have to find truth in myself. I would need to become one with the forces of the universe and my thoughts that are purified within myself. Just by creating that, I could become my own god – at least that is how I interpreted Steven Seagal when he speaks about being god?
By far I don’t want to call myself god. What I think these lines are trying to say is that if you base your life on truth and yourself on truth and if you become refuge for others and combine all forces of the universe in yourself, then you get a “god like” feeling. Of course, it depends on the different religion to define “god”. And, I appreciate this being controversial.
What about from a personal development perspective? I think by becoming once within yourself, based on truth, spirituality, and wisdom, you can offer others and yourself help, become your own personal coach and a coach for other people at the same time.
Then there is the attachment perspective. Any attachment makes you block a bit of your thoughts on how to feel the truth and how to be one with your body. The less attachment you have, the more relaxed and free in your mind you can get.
This is difficult: you don’t want to give up your money, TV, laptop, furniture, house etc, just to purify your mind. Or do you? If it was that simple, would you do it? Maybe, from my point of view, you don’t have to. But you should not put your main focus on these things but a focus of being as minimalistic as you can. Don’t clutter your life would be the simple message.
Have a think and let me know what you think too. Share your thoughts.
Love and Kindness,
Volker
Buddhism and Science
All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. Buddha.
All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force… We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent Mind. This Mind is the matrix of all matter. Max Planck.
Enjoy the following video which looks at Science and Buddhism and links them both together. Enjoy and have a great weekend.
Where Science and Buddhism Meet from Gerald Penilla on Vimeo.
Resources for Life – Life map
Posted by Volker in cb consulting, coaching, personal, spirituality and business on 26/02/2009
As a coach for personal development I am very interested in all sorts of theories. In the recent issue of the Saturday Financial Times I found an article about the perfect small home and this guy in Iowa who lives in a very small trailer.
However, looking through the website I found a life map which got my attention. It plans out what your focus in life is an why and how….. – really it is a “wheel of life”.
The “normal wheel of life”, used by most coaches looks like that:

It examines certain areas of your life and analyses where you are happy with, e.g. in this example from Dave where the family part of the wheel is almost 100% in terms of achievement and happiness, whilst the money part still needs development. Anyhow, the wheel of life focuses on: career, money, health, partner, family, friends, learning and environment. You can add or remove categories, e.g. if you study “studying” or if you do a lot of sports it could be “basketball” for instance additional to health.
Now, the other wheel I found at the Resources for life, has very similar categories: Lifeways, Health, Career, Finance, Relationship, Activism and Effectiveness. I like that split.
The reason for that is the way it starts with Lifeways and the determination about your belief system. Like me being a Buddhist. It then takes you on to health and career as well as finance like the “normal coaching wheel”. However, it then splits more into relationship in general, taking into consideration the relationship in general, e.g. family and partnership.
I find the category of “activism” very interesting: Something you would die for, something you are passionate about. Exactly, how many people just live and don’t know what they really like? What they want? What makes them tick? Wow, how can we go ahead and become passionate about something. What gets you up in the morning and gets you going? What is your biggest achievement today. How can you change things today to make a better tomorrow? That is great stuff!
Effective Living is the last category. Reminds me of Buddhism in terms of letting go of material value. How can you achieve more with less?
I am sure you come across more different life maps and wheels. And, giving our lives, each wheel will be different and every map and category means something different for everyone. However, it is good to take some time, sit down and draw your own map. And, think about the passion and your life style. Anything you can improve? It is not all about finance and career. Or, can you integrate your activism and effective living into the career and finance category? Get what they call a holistic living system.
Whilst the above example of a holistic life is about Gregory’s life and approach to a “small, simple, sustainable” life I would like to take the idea a bit further.
The holistic life approach and your areas of life that map out your life should really aim at your personal life. It should identify areas that are important to you, and most likely family/relationship, career and finance would be. However, holistic mans that you need to integrate all parts in the “full circle”. It is your life where each part is dependable from the other. Means you need to have a holistic view of your life.
Ask us today for some life coaching and goal setting.
Why am I a Buddhist?
Posted by Volker in buddhism, cb consulting, personal on 23/02/2009
As most of you know I feel being a Buddhist. And, I see Buddhism as part of my life.
My personal development trainings I offer with cb consulting are based on the compassion and love I give to any living being.
Just recently I wrote an article on my other blog about “Buddhism – Why am I a Buddhist“?
My Christian values, the moral life I got from there, combined with my drive for personal development, made me find a home in Buddhism.
The 5 percepts of Buddhism fit in with my moral life and the idea of helping others, to gain happiness and wisdom, is something that you should share with everyone. Buddhism, and of course other religions, let you do that. However, Buddhism is more of a “way of life” for me rather than a “strict religious view”.
Please read the article on my other blog and leave a comment. Curious to hear what you think!
Love and Kindness
Volker
Refocusing?
Posted by Volker in cb consulting, personal, spirituality and business on 27/01/2009
I am very quiet at the moment, not really my way normally. Haven’t used twitter for a day and getting bored of Facebook too.
No, am not depressive, just the opposite. I tried explaining that a few months ago about going from one island to another. But my Buddhist friend who I write a blog with about Buddhism and Management said I should focus on settling down on one island and then explore that one. “You cannot be on the move all the time”. And, of course I am not. I am more than happy where I am but I have some thoughts about a new angle of personal development.
You remember about the Prince and the Magician? Exactly, the refocus, the idea of seeing things from a different angle. Not believing everything you see.
What is happening? To be honest – nothing has happened, I am still me and still happy where I am. But, I was thinking about more inner personal development, more about how to integrate Buddhism into my daily life and work. And, I am in the process of putting together a new theoretical approach to it. From Thursday I am planning to visit a new course that will last 6 weeks to see if new techniques will help to ease mind, body and spirit. Am very excited.
You can download my Island Theory on my personal development site of cb consulting. Have a peek if you see the truth in it and if it makes sense to you. Feel free to comment. Any feedback helps development!

My current ideas are around that theory. Based on a another theory that every 6 months you have a peak performance, or a non-peak performance respectively, I believe sitting on the island we can count on developing ourselves from within. Developing ourselves through refocus. Choosing a different way to work, a different path at night, a different way to spend time with your family or approaching your cats differently. You ever noticed the difference a difference can make?
By refocusing on what you are doing and how you are doing it, you will get out stronger, better and more focused. And, you will learn to appreciate moments new.
I believe it was a few weeks back that I read about someone who said: Volker, I noticed today on my way to work that there is a flower. And that flower smelled so nice. I just never smelled anything like that.
Although the flower has been there all along, it is the refocus and the way you appreciate your surroundings.
Off to another day. Very philosophical, I suppose.
Love and Kindness,
Volker
Buddhist Thoughts
Posted by Volker in buddhism, cb consulting, family, personal, spirituality and business on 23/09/2008
Buddhist Thoughts for the 23rd of September:
A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden. – Buddha
Karma
Posted by Volker in buddhism, cb consulting, garden, house, personal, philosophy, spirituality and business on 31/08/2008
I had a lot of Buddhist and spiritual thoughts this weekend.
As you know I write another blog which is like an email exchange with a good friend: Balamadana.
Today I wrote in response to Marcelo about Karma.
There is not much happening today on a very slow, rainy Sunday. I was having diner and drinks with a good friend last night and we bought a new kettle today. But that is about as interesting as my weekend got. Besides I digged up half of the garden, so we are making progress.
Have a good “rest weekend”.
Volker
Time – Bank Holiday Weekend :-)
Posted by Volker in buddhism, cb consulting, change management, motivation, personal, spirituality and business on 22/08/2008
I have been quiet the last couple of days. Mainly because I have started to think about a lot of things.
Some are directly related to my work and life that for obvious reasons I would not like to share here
Nothing to worry about of course.
However, there are some other thoughts on life that I am more than happy to share, it is my conversation with Marcelo, my Buddhist friend and ex monk on our Buddhist and Management Blog. Maybe you have some input on our thoughts.
Also, as a frequent flyer I am concerned with the safety of flights after the Madrid accident. Unfortunately those things happen and one should probably not think about it. But, it also naggs on me for some reason.
So, I am taking this bank holiday weekend off from all obligations and will be back as normal next week.
Have a good one, Volker
















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