What Would Buddha Do?

September 1, 2002
Buddhist Spirituality contributor Metcalf applies sacred Buddhist teachings to road-rage, maxed-out credit cards, competitive co-workers and more in this tidy gathering of insights that serve as brief but astute reminders that enlightenment is obtainable, even when you're stuck in traffic. Metcalf "plumbed a deep reservoir" of Buddhist practices, texts, rituals and myths to uncover practical, soothing and surprisingly contemporary advice on topics such as addiction, personal identity struggles, relationship conflicts and financial worries. Each page begins with the phrase, "What would Buddha do?" and then considers his enlightened behavior in taxicab queues, kitchens and offices (Buddha, for instance, would defeat office enemies with grace). Buddha's answers, as interpreted by Metcalf, range from the profound to the puzzling. Essentially a collection of 101 spiritual Post-it notes, the book may appeal readers looking for a quick spiritual fix.

May 28, 2001
Metcalf, the author of What Would Buddha Do?, joins with business consultant Hateley to dispense spiritual advice from the water cooler. What would Buddha do to become a terrific boss? What would Buddha teach about customer service? How would Buddha go about getting a promotion? The answers are sometimes surprising ("Buddha did not work for promotions and neither should you"), making this a refreshingly countercultural alternative to the typical spirituality-at-work manuals. Metcalf and Hateley provide relevant sacred texts at the top of each page, drawing from sutras, the Dhammapada and more modern guides such as Philip Toshio Sudo's Zen Computer. This is a successful example of the application of ancient wisdom to modern business situations.