Zen: The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyō Masuno - Book Review
In this book, you will find 100 easy-to-follow Zen pearls of wisdom and practices to create a calm and joyful life.
You don’t have to move to Japan to apply a bit of Zen in your modern life. The book has four main chapters. Let me walk through it.
Chapter 1: Thirty Ways to Energize Your Present Self
Make a subtle shift in your habits. I picked my favourite five from this chapter.
- Make time for emptiness
Modern life is busy. We have things to do, and no matter how hard we try to succeed, there is always something else that needs to be done.
In this busy schedule, we will lose ourselves. Our true selves and our true happiness. All you need is ten minutes of not thinking about anything.
Here is how I find ten minutes of emptiness.
Instead of taking my kid to kindergarten on the bike, we take the bus, and I walk home.
But if I’m working and the weather is bad, instead of taking the nearest metro station, I walk to the second nearest one (so badass, right?!).
You get the gist. All you need is ten minutes for yoursel, for your happiness.
2. When eating, pause after every bite
This is such a simple but brilliant advice. Stop for a moment when you taste your meal. Enjoy the bite. Roll the taste in your mouth. Don’t rush.
Remember, you are here for the journey, not for the outcome.
3. Sit zazen
Sit what? Trust me, it’s not about the posture.
In Zen, it is said that humans are not capable of thinking while moving. If our mind focuses on movement, then it is difficult to engage in deep thinking.
Sitting zazen: empty your mind and allow your thoughts to float up and then drift away.
Nothing crazy, right?!
4. Chose your favourite word
What do you want to feel when you are home? Write it down and put it in a place you will see every day. Paint a picture or do something creative with it. In this way, you will be reminded of what is important to you in this life.
5. Don’t think of unpleasant things right before bed
I usually think of every possible and impossible tragedy that can happen the next day and try to figure out how to solve it. Or the mistakes I made when I was younger or the mistakes I’ll make later in life.
This advice helped me fall asleep sooner than ever. I think of the nice things I saw, said, or did that day.
Chapter 2: Thirty Ways to Inspire Confidence and Courage for Living
Try changing your perspective.
- Seek not what you lack
This is about believing that no effort, talent, or skill goes to waste when you work hard in the present moment.
You might have an interest, knowledge, or talent in something that seems useless today. But wait patiently, and one day, it will make sense.
Have faith in you.
2. Plant a single flower
Plant a seed and watch it grow. I planted a snowflower to remind me that spring will come even if the winter is too long.
Every day is new and new again tomorrow.
So, no need to worry. Just keep going.
That’s why I take a look at my plant every day.
3. Try clearing your head
Do less, not more. Next time you sit down to drink something, don’t look at your phone.
Instead, look up at the sky and notice the sounds around you.
You are part of nature. The rain from the cloud might end up in your cup one day.
Chapter 3: Twenty Ways to Alleviate Confusion and Worry
Try changing how you interact with others
- Give up the need to be liked by everyone
I didn’t know that even monks at a Zen temple do not always get along. So, why would you try like that person whom you can’t stand?
The book does not suggest being unpopular. Sure, try to understand the other’s perspective, but don’t try to like someone or something that you can’t.
An example: I don’t like licorice, but I live in Denmark. They use licorice even in ice cream. My kid tried to give me some, and first, I accepted and tried to like it. The next time, they gave me again, but I refused. I just told them that I didn’t like it and didn’t want to give that black thing a third try.
It’s okay to have dislikes.
2. Have a conversation with a garden
Some gardens have flowers, bees, and rocks. If you can’t start a conversation with your garden, try to find a Zen garden. Those always have something to say.
3. Make someone happy
Try to make a meal that makes your family or friends happy.Here is a trick: make a meal that includes the past, the present, and the future.
How?
Carefully picked ingredients.
This meal should include a vegetable or fruit that is the last of the previous season, something from the current season, and something from the upcoming season.
What a wonderful idea!
Chapter 4: Twenty Ways to Make Any Day the Best Day
Try shifting your attention to the present moment.
1. Do not divide things into good and bad, and your worries will vanish
Whatever you want to achieve, just keep doing what you need to do. But instead of being fixated on the endpoint, try to enjoy the journey.
Don’t define things and actions as good or bad because that’s where worry and stress arise.
The best example is breathing. “You cannot deem your breathing to be good or bad. Just as you draw one breath after another, perform the routine habitually.”
2. Cherish being alive every single day
“Life goes by in the blink of an eye.”
When you are not yourself, you waste your precious time. When there are things that you want to do, you should do them as if your life depends on it.
My best example of this is my Medium account. I wrote many things for me, for the drawer. I had to lose my job to have enough courage to start sharing.
I’m still not good or can live from it, but I see I’m improving because of the comments people leave and because of the time and effort I put into writing.
3. Contemplate on how to die, whenever you are confused about how to live
If you find yourself thinking of what to do with your life, flip your question. If you knew that you would die next year, what would you choose?
What do you do to make sure when you die, you will be at peace with your choices?
Life is short. Before the end comes — not for the Buddhists - , what do you want to achieve?
Do it today, or start preparing for that action today and die in peace wherever it comes.
4. Make the most of life
Life is not yours. Life is a gift. Buddhism teaches that a life’s worth is not measured by its duration. You get a body, and you get time, and you have to use the body and the time wisely.
Make the most of life.
Thank you for reading!
Feel free to leave a comment.
The Witty Witch