The Art of Simple Living: 100 Daily Practices from a Zen Buddhist Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy

by Shunmyo Masuno, Allison Markin Powell (Translator), Harriet Lee-Merrion (Illustrator)

Overview

"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

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780143134046
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/02/2019
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	116,495
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Shunmyo Masuno, the head priest of a 450-year-old Zen Buddhist temple in Japan, is the author of the international bestseller Don’t Worry as well as an award-winning Zen garden designer for clients all over the world and a professor of environmental design at one of Japan’s leading art schools. He has lectured widely, including at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cornell University, and Brown University.

Allison Markin Powell (translator) won the PEN Translation Prize for her translation of Hiromi Kawakami’s The Ten Loves of Nishino and is also the translator of Kawakami’s Strange Weather in Tokyo and The Nakano Thrift Shop as well as Shunmyo Masuno’s Don’t Worry and works by Osamu Dazai, Fuminori Nakamura, and Kanako Nishi, among others. She was the guest editor of the first Japan issue of Words Without Borders and maintains the online database Japanese Literature in English. She lives in New York.

Harriet Lee-Merrion (illustrator) is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been published worldwide in such publications as The New York Times, Marie Claire, and The Guardian and exhibited in New York, London, and Berlin.

Read an Excerpt

1
MAKE TIME FOR EMPTINESS.
First, observe yourself.

Be with yourself as you are,
but without haste, without impatience.

In our everyday lives, do any of us have time to think about nothing?

I imagine most people would say, “I don’t have a moment to spare for that.”

We’re pressed for time, pressured by work and everything else in our lives. Modern life is busier than ever. All day, every day, we try our best just to do what has to get done.

If we immerse ourselves in this kind of routine, unconsciously but inevitably we lose sight of our true selves, and of true happiness.

Any given day, a mere ten minutes is all you need. Try making time for emptiness, for not thinking about anything.

Just try clearing your mind, and not being caught up in the things around you.Various thoughts will float up in your mind, but try to send them away, one by one. When you do so, you will begin to notice the present moment, the subtle shifts in nature that are keeping you alive. When you are not distracted by other things, your pure and honest self can be revealed.

Making time for not thinking about anything. That is the first step toward creating a simple life.

Editorial Reviews

03/04/2019

Zen monk and garden designer Masuno (Zen and Art of Minimalism) does for mental clutter what Marie Kondo has done for household clutter: pare down and simplify. Masuno offers 100 directives that he insists are small and subtle: “With really only minor effort, it is possible to savor the extraordinary,” he promises. Readers will indeed find some easy-to-implement suggestions, such as joining one’s hands together to temper irritation. The format underscores the theme of simplicity. Each directive is accompanied by a page of explanation and a minimalist line drawing by Harriet Lee-Merrion, making for daily bite-size reflections. Not every instruction is equally obvious: “see things for what they are,” “make time to be alone,” and “give up the need to be liked by everyone.” Some of the ideas require elaboration, but, unfortunately, Masuno’s own explanations never extend beyond a page for each directive. A bestseller in Japan, this will certainly resonate with fans of Zen practice, or those simply looking to declutter a busy mind. Agent: Chandler Crawford, Chandler Crawford. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Even just the title of this book appeals. There are many reasons that a Zen monk might acquire a lifetime of wisdom—the least of which is my personal edification—but I’m grateful for it all the same.” —Estelle Tang, Elle.com

“100 snack-size Zen activities you can do daily to add more calm to your life . . . The Art of Simple Living brings the spirit of Zen Buddhism to everyday life.” —The Daily Telegraph

“Powerful . . . A profoundly beautiful work, easy to read, encouraging deep thought and reflection, but most importantly, acting as a practical guide to Zen action.” —The Japan Times

“This in­ternational bestseller has helped people around the world quiet the chaos of everyday life, stress less and appreciate more. . . . Masuno’s tips are easy to execute. . . . Through this inspiring guide, Masuno shows that every step you take on the path of personal growth, no matter how small, can have a major impact.” —BookPage

“A bestseller in Japan, this will certainly resonate with fans of Zen practice, or those simply looking to declutter a busy mind.” —Publishers Weekly

“100 deceptively simple daily practices . . . to help you find, and embrace, the stillness at the center of your existence.” —Energy Times

“Pithy tips on how to increase our feelings of well-being.” ―Lion’s Roar: Buddhist Wisdom for Our Time

“Living a simpler life is a practice. It’s ordinary and it’s everyday. Shunmyo Masuno’s simple and relevant practices land gently and with the most comforting ordinariness, like a warm breath of familiarity to us, the frazzled masses.” —Sarah Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of First, We Make the Beast Beautiful

“Our mind is blazing in the new dopamine war between alarmist news and attention-hooking apps. The Art of Simple Living is a bucket of water on the flames.” —Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome and The Happiness Equation

“I love this book. These little Zen practices can bring so much serenity to your life.” —Francine Jay, bestselling author of The Joy of Less and Lightly

“I haven’t carried a purse in years, but this book almost made me wish I did, so I could keep it within reach.” —Cait Flanders, bestselling author of The Year of Less

“I love The Art of Simple Living. With easy-to-follow, inspiring advice and lovely stories illustrating little things you can do that can have a big effect on your peace of mind, it’ll bring joyful moments into every day of your life.” —James Wallman, bestselling author of Stuffocation

“The Art of Simple Living makes the time-tested wisdom of the Buddha radically accessible by providing easy-to-follow yet profound practices that blend perfectly with, and are a natural part of, everyday life. It is an encouraging and straightforward companion for all who seek to amplify the inherent peace of their minds.” —Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, author of Emotional Rescue and Rebel Buddha

“This little treasure needs to be at every bedside. It awakens us to the most ordinary, everyday moments of our lives, revealing the richness, peace, and joy that come from living simply.” —Allan Lokos, founder and guiding teacher, Community Meditation Center, NYC; author of Through the Flames, Patience, and Pocket Peace

From the Publisher