Zen: The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo Masuno

Zen: The Art of Simple Living by Shunmyo Masuno explores Zen as an answer to the stress and uncertainty of modern life. Written by a Buddhist monk, it draws on centuries of Zen wisdom and reshapes it into straightforward, practical lessons for everyday routines.

Arranged as one lesson per day across 100 days, the book sets out simple ways to bring the essence of Zen into modern living. Suggestions include exhaling deeply to help release negative emotions, keeping your home simply arranged to support clearer thinking, and lining up your shoes at night to encourage a sense of order in the mind. It also encourages planting a single flower and watching it grow, worrying less about what you cannot control, and making time to think about nothing at all.

Key details

• Author: Shunmyo Masuno
• Structured as daily lessons over 100 days
• Practical guidance for applying Zen to modern life
• Draws on centuries of Zen wisdom

Synopsis

Presented as a sequence of clear, easy-to-follow lessons, this book brings Zen into everyday life over 100 days. Shunmyo Masuno shares practical ways to simplify routines, reduce negative emotions, and create a greater sense of order and calm, from small habits at home to making space for stillness.