Ways of Work: Dynamic Action

Ways of Work: Dynamic Action
Dharma Publishing
Dharma Publishing
ISBN: 0-89800-135-8
Non-Fiction, History, Spirituality, Business
Reviewed by Dr. Tami Brady

In 1969, Tarthang Tulku arrived in California with a mission. This Tibetan teacher was determined to bring the traditions of Nyingma Tibetan Buddhism to the West. To this end, he founded the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center in Berkley which spawned a publishing company, a printing press, an educational institute, and a center for study.
Ways of Work: Dynamic Action recounts the struggles and triumphs of those individuals working to make these projects a success. Trying to undertake any one of the projects described in this book would be considered an ambitious undertaking (then and now), but that this group managed to accomplish so much is truly remarkable. Often the hard work and long hours spent trying to get a project running was only part of the challenge, however. Most of the workers were students themselves, still trying to grasp the concepts of Nyingma Buddhism and trying to understand their master’s vision. Given our still limited understanding of Buddhism in the west even today, this must have been quite a challenge for these students.
Apart from the historical value of this book, I believe that readers will find the work ethic illustrated herein very useful in today’s business world. Tarthang Tulku taught and expected complete mindfulness in all that he and his students undertook. Without distractions, procrastination, and employee competition, a job that could normally take days or weeks was finished in hours.