The Art of Simple Living

100 Daily Practices from a Japanese Zen Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy

By: Shunmyo Masuno

Narrated by: Louis Ozawa Changchien

"Does for mental clutter what Marie Kondo has done for household clutter." —Publishers Weekly

Relax and find happiness amid the swirl of the modern world with this internationally bestselling guide to simplifying your life by the renowned Zen Buddhist author of Don’t Worry and How to Let Things Go.

In clear, practical, easily adopted lessons—one a day for 100 days—renowned Buddhist monk Shunmyo Masuno draws on centuries of wisdom to teach you to Zen your life. Discover how . . .

• Lesson #4: lining up your shoes after you take them off can bring order to your mind;

• Lesson #11: putting down your fork after every bite can help you feel more grateful for what you have;

• Lesson #18: immersing yourself in zazen can sweep the clutter from your mind;

• Lesson #23: joining your hands together in gassho can soothe irritation and conflict;

• Lesson #27: going outside to watch the sunset can make every day feel celebratory;

• Lesson #42: planting a flower and watching it grow can teach you to embrace change;

• Lesson #67: understanding the concept of ichi-go ichi-e can make everyday interactions more meaningful;

• Lesson #85: practicing chisoku can help you feel more fulfilled.

A minimalist line drawing appears opposite each lesson on an otherwise blank page, giving you an opportunity to relax with a deep breath between lessons. With each daily practice, you will learn to find happiness not by seeking out extraordinary experiences but by making small changes to your life, opening yourself up to a renewed sense of peace and inner calm.

A PENGUIN LIFE TITLE

Love this book

Love this book. Simple, straight forwarded with a calming voice. I'll listen to this multiple times.

Worth your while.

Insightful and inspirational. The only problem is that it is not easy to find a Japanese garden outside of Japan.

Will be revisiting this one

So many key points and great reminders. A breeze to listen to, I look forward to listening again!

Very good, but basic.

Read Lao Tzu & an article on Voluntary Simplicity. You'll learn far more of what you're seeking. This is written like an article in a lifestyle magazine. Far too basic.

Simple Living

I loved the simplicity of the daily actions coupled with memorable storytelling. I’m going to start again and spend 100 days applying each “art” to live with more calm and joy.