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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJobs Saw Work as Life Itself<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n“I\u2019ve never thought of my life as a career. I\u2019ve just done things that needed doing. That\u2019s not what you\u2019d call a career. That\u2019s my life.”<\/i> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Steve Jobs (Why Did Steve Jobs Choose the Zen Way of Life?<\/i>, co-authored by Teruya Kuwabara and Toen Fujiwara, PHP Institute)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This was Jobs\u2019 answer when asked why he worked so hard. For him and his team, it was never about the money\u2014they were simply obsessed with creating great products. They worked tirelessly because they were genuinely having the time of their lives. To them, it wasn\u2019t just a job; it was life itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zen training works the same way. It\u2019s not something forced on you by anyone else. You step onto the path voluntarily in pursuit of enlightenment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“I attached value to experience over intellectual understanding. I became very interested in people who had discovered something more conscious than intellectual or abstract understanding.”<\/i>\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u30fcSteve Jobs<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Back in his college days, students were largely split between political activists and the hippie movement. Jobs was drawn to hippie culture, diving into various religions and philosophies, though none fully satisfied him. Then he discovered how much Eastern culture had influenced the hippies, which led him to Zen. Meeting a remarkable Zen monk, he became captivated by teachings that prioritized lived experience over mere theory. The quote above reflects that turning point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Priest Fujiwara frames this mindset with the Zen phrase Reidan Jichi<\/i> (\u51b7\u6696\u81ea\u77e5)\u2014literally, “knowing for yourself whether water is warm or cold.” You don’t get it by overthinking; you get it by touching or drinking it. Jobs was deeply drawn to this idea of learning through direct experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jobs also spoke about the concept of a beginner\u2019s mind: “I hear there\u2019s a phrase in Buddhism called ‘beginner’s mind.’ Having a beginner’s mind is a wonderful thing.”<\/i> When Kuwabara brings this up, Priest Fujiwara responds with the Zen equivalent: Hatsubodaishin<\/i> (\u767a\u83e9\u63d0\u5fc3\u2014awakening the mind of enlightenment). The entire book flows through this engaging back-and-forth dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPairing Jobs\u2019 Words with Zen Concepts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The book is divided into five chapters, pairing 54 of Jobs\u2019 everyday sayings with corresponding Zen concepts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1:<\/b> Life and Zen<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2:<\/b> Inspiration and Zen<\/p>
Chapter 3:<\/b> Business and Zen<\/p>
Chapter 4:<\/b> Perseverance and Zen<\/p>
Chapter 5:<\/b> Ichigo Ichie<\/i> (Treasuring Every Encounter) and Zen<\/p>When asked about his competitors, Jobs replied, “Rivals? I don’t have any rivals.”<\/i> In Zen, this translates to self-cultivation (Jiko Keihatsu<\/i>\u3000\u81ea\u5df1\u5553\u767a).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”<\/i> This aligns with Shishoku o Tomosu<\/i>\u3000\u7d19\u71ed\u3092\u706f\u3059\u3000 (lighting a paper candle to illuminate the dark).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Jobs struggled to trust his Zen master\u2019s advice, he later realized: “He was right\u2014what isn’t here isn’t over there either.”<\/i> This mirrors Kankyakuka<\/i> \u3000\u770b\u5374\u4e0b\u3000(look beneath your feet; focus on where you stand).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If we\u2019re going to focus on five products, we have to pick those five and drop everything else. Otherwise, you end up with reasonable products that just aren’t great.”<\/i> This reflects the spirit of Zazen-nomi<\/i>\u3000 \u5ea7\u7985\u306e\u307f\u306e\u7cbe\u795e\u3000(single-minded focus, like sitting in zazen). Classic Jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I know those guys are complaining about me. But somewhere down the road, they\u2019ll look back and realize this was one of the best times of their lives.”<\/i> This embodies Baika Hana o Utsu<\/i> \u3000\u6885\u82b1\u9f3b\u3092\u3046\u3064\u3000(plum blossoms fragrance the air)\u2014meaning that just as the plum tree endured the harsh winter to bloom earliest and sweetest, true value comes through enduring hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The side-by-side comparison between Jobs\u2019 candid words and Zen concepts is simply brilliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Intuition is a very powerful thing\u2014more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That realization has had a big impact on my work.”<\/i> This maps to the consciousness of K\u016b<\/i> \u3000\u7a7a\u306e\u610f\u8b58(emptiness\/pure perception).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I want to help pass down the lineage of great companies here and teach the next generation how to protect that legacy. Silicon Valley has given me so much, so I need to give something back.”<\/i> This connects to Ippon no Taiju<\/i> \u4e00\u672c\u306e\u5927\u6a39 (a single grand tree that provides shade and shelter for all).<\/p>\n\n\n
\n
“I\u2019ve never thought of my life as a career. I\u2019ve just done things that needed doing. That\u2019s not what you\u2019d call a career. That\u2019s my life.”<\/i> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Steve Jobs (Why Did Steve Jobs Choose the Zen Way of Life?<\/i>, co-authored by Teruya Kuwabara and Toen Fujiwara, PHP Institute)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This was Jobs\u2019 answer when asked why he worked so hard. For him and his team, it was never about the money\u2014they were simply obsessed with creating great products. They worked tirelessly because they were genuinely having the time of their lives. To them, it wasn\u2019t just a job; it was life itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zen training works the same way. It\u2019s not something forced on you by anyone else. You step onto the path voluntarily in pursuit of enlightenment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“I attached value to experience over intellectual understanding. I became very interested in people who had discovered something more conscious than intellectual or abstract understanding.”<\/i>\u3000\u3000\u3000\u3000\u30fcSteve Jobs<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Back in his college days, students were largely split between political activists and the hippie movement. Jobs was drawn to hippie culture, diving into various religions and philosophies, though none fully satisfied him. Then he discovered how much Eastern culture had influenced the hippies, which led him to Zen. Meeting a remarkable Zen monk, he became captivated by teachings that prioritized lived experience over mere theory. The quote above reflects that turning point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Priest Fujiwara frames this mindset with the Zen phrase Reidan Jichi<\/i> (\u51b7\u6696\u81ea\u77e5)\u2014literally, “knowing for yourself whether water is warm or cold.” You don’t get it by overthinking; you get it by touching or drinking it. Jobs was deeply drawn to this idea of learning through direct experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jobs also spoke about the concept of a beginner\u2019s mind: “I hear there\u2019s a phrase in Buddhism called ‘beginner’s mind.’ Having a beginner’s mind is a wonderful thing.”<\/i> When Kuwabara brings this up, Priest Fujiwara responds with the Zen equivalent: Hatsubodaishin<\/i> (\u767a\u83e9\u63d0\u5fc3\u2014awakening the mind of enlightenment). The entire book flows through this engaging back-and-forth dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pairing Jobs\u2019 Words with Zen Concepts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The book is divided into five chapters, pairing 54 of Jobs\u2019 everyday sayings with corresponding Zen concepts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1:<\/b> Life and Zen<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2:<\/b> Inspiration and Zen<\/p>
Chapter 3:<\/b> Business and Zen<\/p>
Chapter 4:<\/b> Perseverance and Zen<\/p>
Chapter 5:<\/b> Ichigo Ichie<\/i> (Treasuring Every Encounter) and Zen<\/p>When asked about his competitors, Jobs replied, “Rivals? I don’t have any rivals.”<\/i> In Zen, this translates to self-cultivation (Jiko Keihatsu<\/i>\u3000\u81ea\u5df1\u5553\u767a).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”<\/i> This aligns with Shishoku o Tomosu<\/i>\u3000\u7d19\u71ed\u3092\u706f\u3059\u3000 (lighting a paper candle to illuminate the dark).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Jobs struggled to trust his Zen master\u2019s advice, he later realized: “He was right\u2014what isn’t here isn’t over there either.”<\/i> This mirrors Kankyakuka<\/i> \u3000\u770b\u5374\u4e0b\u3000(look beneath your feet; focus on where you stand).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“If we\u2019re going to focus on five products, we have to pick those five and drop everything else. Otherwise, you end up with reasonable products that just aren’t great.”<\/i> This reflects the spirit of Zazen-nomi<\/i>\u3000 \u5ea7\u7985\u306e\u307f\u306e\u7cbe\u795e\u3000(single-minded focus, like sitting in zazen). Classic Jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I know those guys are complaining about me. But somewhere down the road, they\u2019ll look back and realize this was one of the best times of their lives.”<\/i> This embodies Baika Hana o Utsu<\/i> \u3000\u6885\u82b1\u9f3b\u3092\u3046\u3064\u3000(plum blossoms fragrance the air)\u2014meaning that just as the plum tree endured the harsh winter to bloom earliest and sweetest, true value comes through enduring hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The side-by-side comparison between Jobs\u2019 candid words and Zen concepts is simply brilliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Intuition is a very powerful thing\u2014more powerful than intellect, in my opinion. That realization has had a big impact on my work.”<\/i> This maps to the consciousness of K\u016b<\/i> \u3000\u7a7a\u306e\u610f\u8b58(emptiness\/pure perception).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I want to help pass down the lineage of great companies here and teach the next generation how to protect that legacy. Silicon Valley has given me so much, so I need to give something back.”<\/i> This connects to Ippon no Taiju<\/i> \u4e00\u672c\u306e\u5927\u6a39 (a single grand tree that provides shade and shelter for all).<\/p>\n\n\n
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