The Buddhist Case For Laziness (And How It Can Make You More Productive) | Brother Chân Pháp Hữu

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Jun 17, 2024

Join Brother Chân Pháp Hữu, a Senior Dharma teacher and abbot from Thich Nhat Hanh’s Plum Village, as he flips the script on productivity. He passionately discusses the concept of 'Lazy Day,' emphasizing how moments of intentional stillness foster creativity and deeper self-awareness. Hear about redefining weekends to prioritize presence over busyness and the link between laziness and mindfulness. He even explores how exercise can be a form of meditation, promoting a holistic view of wellness that embraces imperfection.

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ANECDOTE

Lazy Day Origin

In 1984, a youth at Plum Village requested a day of rest from the intensive weekly schedule.
Thich Nhat Hanh granted this, creating "Lazy Day", a day with no structured schedule.

INSIGHT

Lazy Day Purpose

Lazy Day challenges the modern always-on-the-go mentality.
It provides a dedicated time for rest and self-reflection, crucial for maintaining peace and presence.

ADVICE

Protecting Lazy Day

Establish a daily routine that incorporates mindfulness and dedicated rest.
Protect your Lazy Day fiercely, preserving it as sacred time for rejuvenation.

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What if one of the often overlooked keys to being productive is being lazy? That’s the case you will hear made today by Brother Pháp Hữu, a very impressive young zen Buddhist monk.

Brother Pháp Hữu is a senior Dharma teacher in Thich Nhat Hanh’s International Plum Village Community and abbot of Upper Hamlet, the monks’ community in Plum Village Monastery, a practice center founded by Thich Nhat Hanh in southwest France. Born in Vietnam, he emigrated to Canada as a child. He began training with Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of thirteen when he first entered the monastery to become a monk. Thich Nhat Hanh gave him the name Chân Pháp Hữu, which means “True Dharma Friend.” For more than ten years, he accompanied Thich Nhat Hanh on his international teaching tours as his attendant and assistant. Today, Brother Pháp Hữu is deeply committed to building community and continuing Thich Nhat Hanh’s legacy, bringing his teachings in particular to businesspeople, families, and young adults. Brother Phap Huu is passionate about basketball, music, and developing new approaches to teamwork, leadership, mentoring and coaching, and is a beloved co-host—with journalist, leadership coach, and workshop facilitator Jo Confino--of the Plum Village podcast, The Way Out is In.

In this episode we talk about:

The origin and purpose of something called Lazy Day
What doing nothing looks like in practicality
Why doing nothing is so hard for people
How you can integrate the wisdom of lazy days into your life, even if you can’t carve out a whole day
How laziness in and of itself can be productive and how it allows for a re-examination of our own happiness.
And The geopolitical case for being vs. doing

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