“When we eliminate effort, we eliminate life’s pleasures…”
This sums up perfectly why our impatience & the need for instant things deplete us of life’s simple joys.If you read ‘Zen The Art of Simple Living’ by Shunmyo Masuno, you will find literally hundreds of such wisdom nuggets.
The book is divided into four parts and gives practical action items for all walks of life. These action items are so simple that you can implement all of them immediately after you read them. That makes the writer the most admirable teacher of our times.The first part is for energizing yourself & the writer has suggested thirty points to work upon. I loved the one where he suggested lining up the shoes when we take them off. This one habit helps in keeping the mind organized. You will be amazed to know that making a delicious cup of coffee by taking all the required time & energy will surely enhance the taste of the coffee.
The second part is for building up confidence and courage. Another 30 nuggets or chapters give clearly defined Zen philosophical aspects for making you confident and courageous. While reading, you may find that most of the things are not new and probably you might know them, but the beauty of the book lies in highlighting the profound impact of these actions on our lives. For example, thinking simply and not worrying about the future is the key to staying focused on the present.
The third part consists of 20 chapters and suggests ways for alleviating confusion. Cultivating a sense of gratitude, not getting fixated on right or wrong, not getting swayed by the opinion of others, and having faith are some of the 20 gems, I liked the most.
The final part again comprised another 20 chapters, highlighting the ways of making a day the best day. This section is the most important and if someone wants to spend a few minutes only, I suggest reading these last 20 chapter titles. The titles are self-explanatory and summarize all essential yet effortless actions for keeping negativity at bay and getting the best out of the day. There are some very thought-provoking ideas like we must also contemplate how to die which in other words means not to waste a second as death is uncertain and can happen at any time.
The beauty of the book is its bite-size chapters that can be finished in a few minutes. The language is very simple & therefore, it should be included in all school and university courses. This will help our younger generations to prepare for life in a very systematic, simple, and pragmatic approach.
This book takes very little time to finish but needs years to practice and therefore should be read again and again to let the divine wisdom guide our path.
Thanks to Shunmyō Masuno for this wonderful book. I would always cherish this book.
#artofliving #ShunmyōMasuno #ZenTheArtOfLiving # #happyliving #zen
Categories: Moral Boosting, Non Fiction, Parenting
Live With Books 
Leave a comment