#488: Leo Babauta on Zen Habits, Antifragility, Contentment, and Unschooling

24 snips

Dec 22, 2020

Leo Babauta, bestselling author and founder of Zen Habits, shares his transformative journey from personal struggle to simplicity and mindfulness. He discusses embracing unschooling as an innovative approach to education and highlights the importance of self-motivation. Babauta dives into the practice of loving-kindness meditation, illustrating how self-compassion can enhance emotional well-being. He also explores the role of persistence in blogging and the significance of boundaries in finding one's unique voice.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Leo's Difficult Times

In 2005, Leo Babauta faced numerous challenges, including job dissatisfaction, debt, and unhealthy habits.
These struggles ultimately motivated him to change his life.

ANECDOTE

The Piggy Bank Moment

Leo Babauta's breaking point was having to use his children's piggy bank for food.
He then decided to quit smoking, which he'd unsuccessfully tried seven times before.

ADVICE

Keys to Habit Change

Identify meaningful reasons for change and make commitments to others for accountability.
Understand your triggers, recognize urges, and separate the urge from the action.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

What Is Zen?

Plain Talk for a Beginner's Mind

Norman Fischer

Susan Moon

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to Zen Buddhism through a conversational Q&A format. It covers not only the history and practice of Zen but also contemporary issues such as gender inequality and the adaptation of Zen in modern America. The dialogue between Norman Fischer and Susan Moon offers a humorous yet informative exploration of Zen teachings.

The Teenage Liberation Handbook

Grace Llewellyn

The Teenage Liberation Handbook, written by Grace Llewellyn, is a comprehensive guide for teenagers considering self-directed education. It offers practical advice on communicating with parents, maintaining a social life outside of school, and accessing educational resources. The book is inspired by John Holt's educational philosophy and encourages young people to explore their interests freely.

The 4 Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Zen mind, beginner's mind

Shunryū Suzuki

In 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind', Shunryu Suzuki explores the core principles of Zen Buddhism, focusing on the concept of 'shoshin' or 'beginner’s mind'. This mind is empty, free of the habits of the expert, and open to all possibilities. The book discusses various aspects of Zen practice, including zazen (sitting meditation), breathing techniques, and the importance of maintaining a non-dualistic and compassionate mindset. Suzuki uses simple language and everyday examples to illustrate how to apply Zen principles in daily life, emphasizing the need to approach each experience with freshness and openness, rather than preconceptions or a sense of achievement.

Joy on demand

Chade-Meng Tan

In 'Joy on Demand,' Chade-Meng Tan offers practical tools for achieving lasting joy through meditation, emphasizing that consistent access to joy is possible in as little as fifteen seconds. The book outlines the three pillars of joy—inner peace, insight, and happiness—and demonstrates how these can be sustained in daily life through mindfulness and 'wise laziness.'

Radical acceptance

Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha

Tara Brach

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach offers a transformative practice to help readers overcome habitual feelings of deficiency and better relate to their experiences and emotions. The book emphasizes two key pillars: observing one's experience clearly and responding with compassion. Through personal stories, case histories from her clinical psychology practice, and guided meditations, Brach provides practical guidance on mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance. The book helps readers stop being at war with themselves and live fully in every moment, addressing issues such as self-judgments, conflicts, addictions, and perfectionism. It also clarifies that Radical Acceptance does not mean self-indulgence or passivity but rather empowers genuine change and healing[1][3][5].