Not many people know that I used to work at Starbucks. It was about 30 years ago, I was right out of college, living at home and playing with my band Jiggle the Handle.
A friend thought I’d be a good fit for the job — I don’t know why he thought that, but I’m glad he got me the job because it was a very significant part of both my life and my path as a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist.
I have many memories of working there. People that I worked with, the customers I interacted with, what I learned about coffee. Food service is not an easy job, and when caffeine is involved — watch out! People can sure be grumpy in the morning … I could tell all kinds of stories about my time there, but instead, I would like to share two thoughts I distinctly remember:
One: I felt like I wasn’t “good enough.”
I was investigating Buddhism at the same time that I worked at the coffee shop. I didn’t have a teacher, but I had discovered books, especially used books!
Living outside of Boston, I had access to some wonderful book stores, especially since Cambridge was nearby. I was basically stumbling around, trying to make sense of Buddhism. But I knew that it wasn’t just about “enlightenment” (whatever that meant), it also asked me to look at myself and how I treated others.
So a coffee shop was a perfect place to try and be Buddhist! Plenty of different emotions and situations and relationships. I remember at some point, probably a couple of years into my employment, thinking that I couldn’t commit to Buddhism yet because I “wasn’t good enough” — I wasn’t treating people as well as I should be if I were to be a Buddhist. And I didn’t feel like I had become Buddhist until I went to visit the New York Buddhist Church and “accidentally” recited the Three Treasures.
That is another story that I can’t tell here, but the outcome was that I realized that 1) Now I was Buddhist, and 2) I could be Buddhist without being perfect! I now felt that I had to try and be more aware of how I could behave in a more proper Buddhist way, even under the pressure of distributing caffeine to people at the start of their day.
Two: “I like people!”
The other thought I remember was probably after another few months. It was a sudden realization, as I stood behind the register, that I liked people. I grew up as an only child, and due to a variety of circumstances, was very shy, introverted, and insecure. I wasn’t particularly comfortable around people, I was even afraid of some of them! But working at the coffee shop led to this realization. I also recognized that this included the difficult people as much as the friendly ones.
This could be interpreted simply as a result of my continuing interaction with people and a gradual maturation. But I don’t think that’s all it is.
I could easily have become cynical, judging others for the faults I perceived. Instead, I think it came from my engagement with Buddhism that I partially outlined above. Even though I was probably not behaving well in a Buddhist sense at all times, my viewpoint had been transformed. Not through any effort of my own. I didn’t set out thinking, “How can I improve my valuation of humanity?” The realization that I liked people just dawned on me.
Would it have happened if I hadn’t recited the Three Treasures in New York City? Maybe, maybe not. But reciting the Three Treasures and taking on the challenge of “being Buddhist” definitely changed me.
I would go on to discover the Institute of Buddhist Studies, quit my band, move out to Berkeley, etc. In my studies since then, I have learned so much more.
One set of concepts that apply here are “self-benefit/benefiting others” and “other’s benefit.” The first two are a pair. These are related to bodhicitta, the mind aspiring for enlightenment and to save all beings, but I think we can also understand them in a mundane, everyday sense as well. I took the coffee job for my own sake — I needed money! I also benefited from the interpersonal interactions. And even further, I came to enjoy helping others.
Ultimately, however, I see that it was me receiving benefit from others. From my customers, from my co-workers, and in the big picture, from Amida Buddha, even if I wasn’t aware of it yet at the time. Who knew coffee could have such an impact?
The author's journey from a Starbucks employee to a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist reveals profound insights about self-worth and human connection. While navigating the challenges of food service, they realized they could embrace Buddhism without perfection. Their love for people blossomed unexpectedly, transforming their perspective. Much like in the Wordle game , where each guess reveals more about the word, their experiences unveiled deeper truths about compassion and understanding.
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As time went on, I would eventually learn about the Institute of Buddhist Studies, I would leave my band, I would relocate to Berkeley, and so on. Since that time, I have gained a great deal of knowledge via my studies. tunnel rush