“Zen: the art of simple living” by Shunmyō Masuno

The author 🖋

Shunmyō Masuno is a very respected Japanese Buddhist monk and the head priest of the 450-year-old temple Kenkō-ji.

He’s also an award-winning garden designer who designs gardens worldwide, a professor of environmental design and best-selling author with over 500,000 copies sold in Japan alone.

Key takeaways 🎓

1. Simplify your life

A simple life reduces anxiety.

Masuno emphasizes the importance of decluttering both our physical and mental spaces to focus on what truly matters.

Subtle shifts in habits and perspective based on the Zen philosophy can bring peace and happiness to anyone’s life.

2. Be present

We should pay attention to what's happening right now, without thinking about the past or worrying about the future.

Simple things like being in nature or taking time to enjoy our food can help us feel less stressed.

The author also suggests practices such as meditation, reflection and journaling to cultivate a sense of awareness and appreciation.

3. Let go

Sometimes things don't go as planned and that's okay.

Instead of trying to control everything, we can learn to let go and accept what happens.

This helps us feel more calm and peaceful, especially when things don't go the way we expected.

Closing thoughts 🧠

The book is a practical guide to applying Japanese Buddhist principles to modern life.

It’s structured with 100 daily lessons that draw on centuries of Zen wisdom to help us reduce stress, let go of negative emotions and appreciate the present moment.