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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Ok, I hear very critical opinions about this book. Some say that the author looks down on you (from his 'tranquil' Zen temple), some say the only thing that this book did for them was to give them guilt and self-hate, someone even said that these are all Catholic teachings...
Now, my opinion about this book is very simple: it changed my life. I'm serious. And thinking of mental health, it kinda 'saved' my life.
For me, the key was the idea that the practice of cleaning and tidying where you live (or work) is actually about cleaning your heart and mind. It's not just about living in a clean place, it is about the act of cleaning it, and also, doing it yourself! If you pay someone to keep your house meticulously clean, you're not going to get what this monk is talking about.
This book is written in such an extremely modest way. It's all so simple and so humble that I absolutely don't get it how people manage to feel bad about themselves after reading it.
I guess it's all about approaching it with an open mind, and then, this book will change your life, and that's absolutely no exaggeration. And last but not least, the illustrations are mind blowing!
Now, my opinion about this book is very simple: it changed my life. I'm serious. And thinking of mental health, it kinda 'saved' my life.
For me, the key was the idea that the practice of cleaning and tidying where you live (or work) is actually about cleaning your heart and mind. It's not just about living in a clean place, it is about the act of cleaning it, and also, doing it yourself! If you pay someone to keep your house meticulously clean, you're not going to get what this monk is talking about.
This book is written in such an extremely modest way. It's all so simple and so humble that I absolutely don't get it how people manage to feel bad about themselves after reading it.
I guess it's all about approaching it with an open mind, and then, this book will change your life, and that's absolutely no exaggeration. And last but not least, the illustrations are mind blowing!
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
I read this because everyone seems to be raving about it. I don’t get the mania— it was only average.
I don't know how much to attribute to the bad day I was having while listening to this book (or whether it contributed to said bad day) or if I genuinely did not like it, which may not be fair to the book. Still, it felt pretentious, judgmental, and wholly unrealistic (if not useless) and turned me off Zen Buddhism far more than I thought possible... it's probably all the impurities in my heart. I generally don't regret giving it a chance or dropping it...e for effort.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This was adorable, and made me wish I had become a Buddhist monk. Though some of the cleaning tips kind of get lost in translation, I thoroughly enjoyed the "why" of cleaning, and the little glimpse into the life of a Zen monk through his cleaning habits.
I think this book brings together how much your environment is involved with your soul and happiness. While some aspects of cleaning (such as ritualistic cleansing prior to entering a bathhouse) aren't applicable to the everyday reader; I found it interesting to learn about the ways of the Zen Monks and their daily lives. Those who mark it with low scores due to this are missing the tone and point of it all. That's all :)
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
Interesting perspective. I like how it encourages us to do everything mindfully, even washing dishes or cleaning the toilet. Don't focus on the desired result, but rather just doing the task as it is!