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

Description

"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 a Japanese monk who embodies the wisdom of Zen.

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. About the Author

Shunmyo Masuno is the head priest of a 450-year-old Zen Buddhist temple in Japan, 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) is the translator of Hiromi Kawakami's Strange Weather in Tokyo, The Nakano Thrift Shop, and The Ten Loves of Nishino, as well as 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.