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Don't Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety from a Zen Buddhist Monk
Discover why 90% of your worries won't come true in this highly practical, internationally bestselling guide by the renowned Zen Buddhist author of The Art of Simple Living.
Think of a time when you were worried about something, but then you suddenly realized how insignificant it was. Isn't it amazing how much lighter you felt? The key is to focus only on the here and now. By doing so, you free yourself from unnecessary anxiety, and your mind will be at peace. In Don't Worry, you will learn to:
- Lesson #1: stop comparing yourself to others--90% of your obsessions will disappear;
- Lesson #4: remove unnecessary things from your life and make your life absolutely simple;
- Lesson #10: stop seeking, stop rushing, stop obsessing;
- Lesson #11: interpret things positively--you are the one to decide whether you are happy or not;
- Lesson #14: stop taking in too much information;
- Lesson #19: take a break from competition--it's the Zen way of avoiding anxiety;
- Lesson #24: act instead of worrying--things will definitely work out better.
By following this book's 48 simple lessons-and taking to heart the nearly 30 zengo, or Zen sayings, quoted throughout-you'll enjoy a calmer, more relaxed, more positive version of yourself.
Think of a time when you were worried about something, but then you suddenly realized how insignificant it was. Isn't it amazing how much lighter you felt? The key is to focus only on the here and now. By doing so, you free yourself from unnecessary anxiety, and your mind will be at peace. In Don't Worry, you will learn to:
- Lesson #1: stop comparing yourself to others--90% of your obsessions will disappear;
- Lesson #4: remove unnecessary things from your life and make your life absolutely simple;
- Lesson #10: stop seeking, stop rushing, stop obsessing;
- Lesson #11: interpret things positively--you are the one to decide whether you are happy or not;
- Lesson #14: stop taking in too much information;
- Lesson #19: take a break from competition--it's the Zen way of avoiding anxiety;
- Lesson #24: act instead of worrying--things will definitely work out better.
By following this book's 48 simple lessons-and taking to heart the nearly 30 zengo, or Zen sayings, quoted throughout-you'll enjoy a calmer, more relaxed, more positive version of yourself.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 20, 2013
About the author
Shunmyō Masuno
85 books195 followersSee also：枡野 俊明(Japanese)、枡野俊明(Chinese)
Shunmyō Masuno is a Japanese monk and garden designer. He is chief priest of the Sōtō Zen temple Kenkō-ji, professor at Tama Art University, and president of a design firm that has completed numerous projects in Japan and overseas. He has been called "Japan's leading garden designer".
Shunmyō Masuno is a Japanese monk and garden designer. He is chief priest of the Sōtō Zen temple Kenkō-ji, professor at Tama Art University, and president of a design firm that has completed numerous projects in Japan and overseas. He has been called "Japan's leading garden designer".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
March 19, 2022
I love the concept of this book and while there were some very good insights, I was surprised that it is actually geared specifically for someone working in the corporate world, which made it less relatable for me. If you work in business, I do recommend it!
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on June 5, 2022.
I received an ARC from NetGalley. The book will be released on June 5, 2022.
September 16, 2024
• 48 de lecții pentru reducerea anxietății - după cum o spune și titlul, cartea ne învață cum să tratăm anumite situații (la locul de muncă, dar eu consider ca le putem aplica oricând în viața de zi cu zi) și cum să le depășim într-un mod mai plăcut și mai sănătos. Mi-a placut foarte mult, o voi păstra ca pe o cărticică de buzunar, căci nu se știe niciodată în ce moment o să-mi fie mai de folos
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 23, 2022dnf @30 pages in. It’s a very simplified version of Buddhist thinking that’s mostly aimed toward readers of the corporate world, with examples of such for each chapter. Didn’t share any in depth / ground breaking insight - there are better books imo
July 7, 2022
Don’t Worry is a book that has 48 life lessons on how to ease anxieties and worries about the uncertainties of life.
This book is written from the perspective of a Zen Buddhist Monk, so it comprises a significant number of Zen & Confucious teachings.
While most of it are beneficial, I do noticed that certain tips are against the Islamic teaching. As a Muslim reader, I have to relate the concepts back to the Islamic way to comprehend it better.
I also noticed that the author emphasises the lessons to people who are in the corporate world and the retired ones. I can relate to some of it but mostly not.
Anyway, it’s a very good book and easy to read. I love the simplistic manner of the writer in delivering his insights, and I love how convenient it is to bring anywhere to read. You know, to kill the time.
Some of the quotes that I like:
💌 Whatever lodges in your mind, whatever clings to and constrains your heart—these are all delusions.
💌 All that matters is how we live in the here and now.
💌 Once you accept for yourself the things you have no control over, you will be able to live with the circumstances.
💌 God never gives us more than we can handle.
💌 Once you begin to cherish the things you’ve always taken for granted, you’ll soon feel grateful for everything.
This book is written from the perspective of a Zen Buddhist Monk, so it comprises a significant number of Zen & Confucious teachings.
While most of it are beneficial, I do noticed that certain tips are against the Islamic teaching. As a Muslim reader, I have to relate the concepts back to the Islamic way to comprehend it better.
I also noticed that the author emphasises the lessons to people who are in the corporate world and the retired ones. I can relate to some of it but mostly not.
Anyway, it’s a very good book and easy to read. I love the simplistic manner of the writer in delivering his insights, and I love how convenient it is to bring anywhere to read. You know, to kill the time.
Some of the quotes that I like:
💌 Whatever lodges in your mind, whatever clings to and constrains your heart—these are all delusions.
💌 All that matters is how we live in the here and now.
💌 Once you accept for yourself the things you have no control over, you will be able to live with the circumstances.
💌 God never gives us more than we can handle.
💌 Once you begin to cherish the things you’ve always taken for granted, you’ll soon feel grateful for everything.
June 22, 2023
I'm torn between giving this book 1 or 2 stars but I'll be generous and make it a 1,5 ☆ as I liked a few paragraphs. Or words.
Maybe it's just me but I've taken notice of an increase in such books oversimplifying the Zen teachings. Which I appreciate, in a way, as one must be quite acquainted with the teachings in order to fully grasp their meaning and actually apply them in their day-to-day life. My main problem is in the how they're being 'handed' out to the general public.
I'll make a few remarks as to why I did not really enjoy it, both as someone who has studied about anxiety and whatnot and one who enjoys reading about Buddhism/Zen:
・As many people have pointed out, this book is mostly aimed at corporate people, how to build relationships at the workplace, how to tackle the day, how to change the environment at work etc. Ok. Pretty vague. And overly-used, those aspects are tackled in many self-help books such as this one.
・A lot of things Shunmyō has mentioned can be narrowed down to a few techniques in combating anxiety/depression: cognitive reconstruction, reality fact-checking, 'changing' the environment, introspection and many more. He just attributed them to Zen teachings, and somehow I'm convinced the techniques may or may not have, depending on the viewpoint, been inspired by oriental teachings. So this is not something I'd recommend to someone who deals with chronic anxiety.
・Things are easier said than done... which can be applied to a lot of self-entitled 'self-help' books out there.
There are many other points I could've mentioned, such as the way words from the Zenguage (Zen language, I just made up the word because yes :) ) are thrown around and explained. But this comes as a subjective plus, since I like learning about Chinese characters and Japanese words and their meanings.
Overall is an okay-ish book for people wanting a light read and those who want to swim shallowly through the waves of changing their environment.
Maybe it's just me but I've taken notice of an increase in such books oversimplifying the Zen teachings. Which I appreciate, in a way, as one must be quite acquainted with the teachings in order to fully grasp their meaning and actually apply them in their day-to-day life. My main problem is in the how they're being 'handed' out to the general public.
I'll make a few remarks as to why I did not really enjoy it, both as someone who has studied about anxiety and whatnot and one who enjoys reading about Buddhism/Zen:
・As many people have pointed out, this book is mostly aimed at corporate people, how to build relationships at the workplace, how to tackle the day, how to change the environment at work etc. Ok. Pretty vague. And overly-used, those aspects are tackled in many self-help books such as this one.
・A lot of things Shunmyō has mentioned can be narrowed down to a few techniques in combating anxiety/depression: cognitive reconstruction, reality fact-checking, 'changing' the environment, introspection and many more. He just attributed them to Zen teachings, and somehow I'm convinced the techniques may or may not have, depending on the viewpoint, been inspired by oriental teachings. So this is not something I'd recommend to someone who deals with chronic anxiety.
・Things are easier said than done... which can be applied to a lot of self-entitled 'self-help' books out there.
There are many other points I could've mentioned, such as the way words from the Zenguage (Zen language, I just made up the word because yes :) ) are thrown around and explained. But this comes as a subjective plus, since I like learning about Chinese characters and Japanese words and their meanings.
Overall is an okay-ish book for people wanting a light read and those who want to swim shallowly through the waves of changing their environment.
July 18, 2022
2.5⭐️
This should've been called Don't Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety *in the workplace* because it was mostly based on work anxiety.
The overall message was about being positive which isn't anything new or insightful. Most people say the cure to anxiety is positivity and this can fuel into toxic positivity teachings.
This should've been called Don't Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety *in the workplace* because it was mostly based on work anxiety.
The overall message was about being positive which isn't anything new or insightful. Most people say the cure to anxiety is positivity and this can fuel into toxic positivity teachings.
October 26, 2022
I've enjoyed many books on Zen; this one felt overly simplistic. I enjoy zen's clarity and how it wakes up our minds to the big picture. This felt like an out-of-touch monk trying to write about laypersons' lives via platitudes.
March 24, 2024
O carte foarte scurtuță, cu capitole la fel de scurte, dar care chiar are impact dacă te afli în situațiile menționate.
M-am regăsit cel mai mult în primele 3 părți ale cărții și am încercat să iau toate informațiile de bune pentru mine și sănătatea mea fizică și mentală. Este o carte de care simți că ai nevoie la un moment dat în viață, așadar e bine să o ai în bibliotecă.
Dacă simțiți că viața voastră este extrem de agitată, că nu știți pe ce drum să o apucați, sau nu știți ce aveți de făcut în această viață, este posibil ca aici să găsiți răspunsul. Dacă nu vă va spune cartea ce aveți de făcut, sigur o va face sufletul și inima.
M-am regăsit cel mai mult în primele 3 părți ale cărții și am încercat să iau toate informațiile de bune pentru mine și sănătatea mea fizică și mentală. Este o carte de care simți că ai nevoie la un moment dat în viață, așadar e bine să o ai în bibliotecă.
Dacă simțiți că viața voastră este extrem de agitată, că nu știți pe ce drum să o apucați, sau nu știți ce aveți de făcut în această viață, este posibil ca aici să găsiți răspunsul. Dacă nu vă va spune cartea ce aveți de făcut, sigur o va face sufletul și inima.
January 22, 2024
Exceeded my expectations :)
A great little book full of great life advice to be always reminded of.
It'd be a good re-read, or re-listen
A great little book full of great life advice to be always reminded of.
It'd be a good re-read, or re-listen
September 13, 2024
Marnotractwo papieru
June 21, 2023
Iga peatükk on “soovitus” ja umbes 2 lehekülge pikk.
Mõnus ja kerge lugemine- hea raamat riiulile ja see aegaajalt uuesti avada.
Isiklikult leidsin ka midagi uut, kuna Zen-buddhismiga kokku pole veel puutunud- näiteks: nad usuvad esivanematesse! Ja kui tähtis on perekond!
Ka esimene raamat jaapani-hiina buddhistlikule vaatele.
Mõnus ja kerge lugemine- hea raamat riiulile ja see aegaajalt uuesti avada.
Isiklikult leidsin ka midagi uut, kuna Zen-buddhismiga kokku pole veel puutunud- näiteks: nad usuvad esivanematesse! Ja kui tähtis on perekond!
Ka esimene raamat jaapani-hiina buddhistlikule vaatele.
February 2, 2024
Tę książkę czyta się tak szybko, że nawet nie zauważyłam, kiedy przewinęłam ostatnią stronę. Bardzo podobało mi się, że każda z tych lekcji była krótka i zarazem bogata w treść. Nie wszystkie z nich znajdą zastosowanie u każdego człowieka, lecz można z niej wynieść wiele cennych wskazówek.
Ponadto - bardzo spodobały mi się pytania kierowane do czytelnika, które skłaniają do zatrzymania się na chwilę i przemyślenia odpowiedzi.
Ponadto - bardzo spodobały mi się pytania kierowane do czytelnika, które skłaniają do zatrzymania się na chwilę i przemyślenia odpowiedzi.
January 16, 2024
Don't Worry: 48 Lessons on Relieving Anxiety from a Zen Buddhist Monk by Shunmyō Masuno is the first book I finished this year and the second one I read from the author.
I went into this one with very high expectations (it was a 5-star prediction for me), because I previously read Zen: The Art of Simple Living which I enjoyed more. This one talks about anxiety and I was hoping I could learn or see a new different perspective around this subject.
Unfortunately, it did not bring anything new to the table for me.
What I did like about this book was that it made me reflect a lot. It has 5 parts and 48 lessons and I read a few of them each morning while drinking my coffee and enjoying the sun rays on my skin.
It helped me by reminding me some things, but other than that, I felt like the author just barely mentioned a few things for each lesson. And this made it really hard for me to truly get into each section.
But take my review with a grain of salt, because you might enjoy it a lot. I for one took the things that worked out for me, left the rest. It was a cozy nonfiction to enjoy each morning, so I suggest you try it. You might end up loving it!
I went into this one with very high expectations (it was a 5-star prediction for me), because I previously read Zen: The Art of Simple Living which I enjoyed more. This one talks about anxiety and I was hoping I could learn or see a new different perspective around this subject.
Unfortunately, it did not bring anything new to the table for me.
What I did like about this book was that it made me reflect a lot. It has 5 parts and 48 lessons and I read a few of them each morning while drinking my coffee and enjoying the sun rays on my skin.
It helped me by reminding me some things, but other than that, I felt like the author just barely mentioned a few things for each lesson. And this made it really hard for me to truly get into each section.
But take my review with a grain of salt, because you might enjoy it a lot. I for one took the things that worked out for me, left the rest. It was a cozy nonfiction to enjoy each morning, so I suggest you try it. You might end up loving it!
May 22, 2022
Az én meglátásom szerint nem mindegyik tipp volt adaptálható a könyvből, ettől függetlenül viszont hasznosnak éreztem. Alapvetően a buddhista tanok a nyugati életvitelbe is átültethető lépéseit sorolja fel, ötvözve az ázsiai kultúra alapjaival. Például hogy ne birtokolj a szükségesnél több tárgyat, értékeld a csendet, vagy akár találd meg a békét a rendben.
Összességében hasznos, és javarészt könnyen elsajátítható szemléletmódot mutat a Nyugalom, amire a mai rohanó világunkban sokunknak szüksége lehet. Nem világmegváltó olvasmány, de lassan, meg-megállva a fejezeteknél elgondolkodtat, lassításra ösztönöz Masuno kötete. Buddhista zen gyakorlatok azoknak, akik nem tudnak teljesen lelassítani, ám mégis igénylik a nyugalmat a hétköznapi taposómalomban.
Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2022/05/sh...
Összességében hasznos, és javarészt könnyen elsajátítható szemléletmódot mutat a Nyugalom, amire a mai rohanó világunkban sokunknak szüksége lehet. Nem világmegváltó olvasmány, de lassan, meg-megállva a fejezeteknél elgondolkodtat, lassításra ösztönöz Masuno kötete. Buddhista zen gyakorlatok azoknak, akik nem tudnak teljesen lelassítani, ám mégis igénylik a nyugalmat a hétköznapi taposómalomban.
Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2022/05/sh...
October 30, 2022
Pare away the things you don’t need. Live an infinitely simple life, Free from unnecessary anxiety or worry, Without being swayed by other people��s values.
Zen teaches us to believe that we all have Buddha nature (kindness and understanding, warmth and magnanimity . . .), and that if we try to see it in everyone, we will find that it reverberates in our own heart. When we remove our colored glasses and see with clear eyes, we won’t miss those momentary glimpses of the Buddha nature in others.
Once you begin to cherish the things you’ve always taken for granted, you’ll soon feel grateful for everything . . . even boring, annoying, and depressing things. With that attitude at the front of your mind, you can always maintain a sense of gratitude, and this will have a profound effect on your life.
Highlight(yellow) - 12. Cherish the Morning. > Page 53 · Location 558
Rise early, let some fresh air into your room, observe the ever-changing season outside your door or window as you take a deep breath. That’s all it takes to get your blood pumping and to fill yourself with vigor. Notice the chirping of birds, or the breeze, or the tree leaves turning color—your sensibilities will be stimulated and enhanced. While you savor a cup of tea or coffee after breakfast, both mind and body take in the briskness of the morning, and you are inspired to make the most of the day.
You may feel as though you exist independently, but we all have parents. And each of our parents has two parents of their own. Going back ten generations, you have 1,024 ancestors; twenty generations, and there are well over a million. Take away just one of your ancestors, and you wouldn’t be here now. You are alive today because they managed to survive. When you think of it this way, you can’t help but feel that you’re here not thanks to your own self, but thanks to your ancestors.
Everyone is familiar with the phrase “All things must pass,” which in fact comes from Buddhism. It means that each and every thing in this world is always changing, that nothing remains the same for even a moment. We are in a state of perpetual transition. This being said, the fact is that we readily accept good changes and struggle to accept bad ones. But no matter how discouraged we feel or how much we fret, that won’t change the circumstances. On the contrary, it serves only to increase one’s negative feelings, creating a downward spiral of resentment and grief, and leading us toward a psychological dead end. This is no way to think. You are capable of taking advantage of whatever circumstance arises—the experience you gain from it can become a springboard for the future, toward progress; it can become what nourishes you. . . . Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic, said, “Regardless of whether your circumstances are favorable or adverse, the important thing is to move through them graciously.” Truly a wise saying. When you live graciously, there’s no such thing as good or bad circumstances. There is nothing else to do but to embrace where you find yourself.
Accept other people’s way of seeing things. Doing so will eliminate dissatisfaction and enable you to be more carefree and lighthearted. What’s more, it will allow you to acknowledge one another’s strengths and weaknesses.
“In victory, remember your humility, and in defeat, remember your fighting spirit.” Let’s try to cultivate a calm and quiet mind.
That’s really what home should be—the place where you are most suited to be. Maybe you need a home reset to bring it in line with this? You might think of it as a kind of renovation, but since one of the fundamentals of Zen is practice, it’s really more about changing your relationship to the space. Greet your family brightly when you wake up in the morning, and express gratitude for them.
Yielding to others with the phrase “After you” exemplifies the practice of “Gentle face, loving words.” By putting “Gentle face, loving words” into practice every day, we brighten our surroundings, spread happiness, and increase our sense of ease. It’s almost too good to believe. Life is an accumulation of days. Finding greater ease in each day goes a long way toward creating a fulfilling life. I urge you to add “After you” to your guiding principles.
There is a zengo, “When you see a flower, savor the flower, and when you see the moon, savor the moon.” The meaning is that each encounter with nature should be experienced fully. In other words, don’t worry about unnecessary things; just let your mind drift, and give your body and soul over to nature.
Human desire is boundless. There is no limit to it. The classic manifestation of desire is money. There is no end to our pursuit of it. If there is something we want, we save our money in order to acquire it. But once we acquire it, we soon want something else or something better. And so we desire more and more money. Ultimately, even when there is nothing in particular that we want, we still find ourselves in pursuit of money. We are constrained by it, driven by it. It’s hardly a way to be free. Life can be seen as being about doing what we want, working hard at what we’re good at, and making some kind of contribution to society. And we can make some money for doing that. But we do not live for money. We live to work hard at what we want and to contribute to society, not to amass money. It is when these things are reversed that I think life feels empty.
“When awake, half a mat; when asleep, one mat; even if you rule the world, four to five bowls.” No matter how great you are, when you’re awake, all the space you need is half a tatami mat; when you’re asleep, a full tatami mat; and no matter how much status and influence you may have, all you need for one meal is four to five small bowls.
When Danshi Tatekawa, the famous rakugo comic storyteller, was young, he had gone to the beach with another rakugo master, the late Enraku Sanyutei. Tatekawa-san happened to look out at the sea and see that Enraku-san was far from shore and in danger of drowning. But instead of trying to rescue him, apparently Tatekawa-san just sat there, calmly watching Enraku-san drown. Someone else came to Enraku-san’s rescue and, not surprisingly, Enraku-san then reproached Tatekawa-san. “Why didn’t you try to help me?” he asked. It is said that Tatekawa-san responded nonchalantly, “If both of us were to die, that’d have been the end of the rakugo world. I figured if at least I survived, it might be saved.” Imagining this scene, don’t you find that your lips relax and curl into a smile? The mood softens, doesn’t it? Humor has extraordinary power.
Dogen Zenji also said, “When we are alive, we must live completely. When we die, we must die completely.” Why does Zen always complicate things, you may ask? But this is not all that difficult, really. While we are alive, thinking about death creates anxiety and fear. This is because we conceive of death as the end of life, an extinguishing of it. There is a Zen expression, “Do not judge the past or future.” Each moment exists unto itself, with no relationship to that which came before it or that which comes after it. Life and death are each its own absolute. Life is not about moving toward death, and death is not about being the end of life. To live completely is to fulfill the absolute of this life by living it to the best of your ability. Since we have no control over our own death, we should entrust it to the Buddha. If we live completely, the absolute of death will naturally follow. That is how to die completely. . . . I think this is what Dogen Zenji meant. While you are alive, dedicate yourself only to living. There is no anxiety or fear of death inherent in doing that.
Zen teaches us to believe that we all have Buddha nature (kindness and understanding, warmth and magnanimity . . .), and that if we try to see it in everyone, we will find that it reverberates in our own heart. When we remove our colored glasses and see with clear eyes, we won’t miss those momentary glimpses of the Buddha nature in others.
Once you begin to cherish the things you’ve always taken for granted, you’ll soon feel grateful for everything . . . even boring, annoying, and depressing things. With that attitude at the front of your mind, you can always maintain a sense of gratitude, and this will have a profound effect on your life.
Highlight(yellow) - 12. Cherish the Morning. > Page 53 · Location 558
Rise early, let some fresh air into your room, observe the ever-changing season outside your door or window as you take a deep breath. That’s all it takes to get your blood pumping and to fill yourself with vigor. Notice the chirping of birds, or the breeze, or the tree leaves turning color—your sensibilities will be stimulated and enhanced. While you savor a cup of tea or coffee after breakfast, both mind and body take in the briskness of the morning, and you are inspired to make the most of the day.
You may feel as though you exist independently, but we all have parents. And each of our parents has two parents of their own. Going back ten generations, you have 1,024 ancestors; twenty generations, and there are well over a million. Take away just one of your ancestors, and you wouldn’t be here now. You are alive today because they managed to survive. When you think of it this way, you can’t help but feel that you’re here not thanks to your own self, but thanks to your ancestors.
Everyone is familiar with the phrase “All things must pass,” which in fact comes from Buddhism. It means that each and every thing in this world is always changing, that nothing remains the same for even a moment. We are in a state of perpetual transition. This being said, the fact is that we readily accept good changes and struggle to accept bad ones. But no matter how discouraged we feel or how much we fret, that won’t change the circumstances. On the contrary, it serves only to increase one’s negative feelings, creating a downward spiral of resentment and grief, and leading us toward a psychological dead end. This is no way to think. You are capable of taking advantage of whatever circumstance arises—the experience you gain from it can become a springboard for the future, toward progress; it can become what nourishes you. . . . Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic, said, “Regardless of whether your circumstances are favorable or adverse, the important thing is to move through them graciously.” Truly a wise saying. When you live graciously, there’s no such thing as good or bad circumstances. There is nothing else to do but to embrace where you find yourself.
Accept other people’s way of seeing things. Doing so will eliminate dissatisfaction and enable you to be more carefree and lighthearted. What’s more, it will allow you to acknowledge one another’s strengths and weaknesses.
“In victory, remember your humility, and in defeat, remember your fighting spirit.” Let’s try to cultivate a calm and quiet mind.
That’s really what home should be—the place where you are most suited to be. Maybe you need a home reset to bring it in line with this? You might think of it as a kind of renovation, but since one of the fundamentals of Zen is practice, it’s really more about changing your relationship to the space. Greet your family brightly when you wake up in the morning, and express gratitude for them.
Yielding to others with the phrase “After you” exemplifies the practice of “Gentle face, loving words.” By putting “Gentle face, loving words” into practice every day, we brighten our surroundings, spread happiness, and increase our sense of ease. It’s almost too good to believe. Life is an accumulation of days. Finding greater ease in each day goes a long way toward creating a fulfilling life. I urge you to add “After you” to your guiding principles.
There is a zengo, “When you see a flower, savor the flower, and when you see the moon, savor the moon.” The meaning is that each encounter with nature should be experienced fully. In other words, don’t worry about unnecessary things; just let your mind drift, and give your body and soul over to nature.
Human desire is boundless. There is no limit to it. The classic manifestation of desire is money. There is no end to our pursuit of it. If there is something we want, we save our money in order to acquire it. But once we acquire it, we soon want something else or something better. And so we desire more and more money. Ultimately, even when there is nothing in particular that we want, we still find ourselves in pursuit of money. We are constrained by it, driven by it. It’s hardly a way to be free. Life can be seen as being about doing what we want, working hard at what we’re good at, and making some kind of contribution to society. And we can make some money for doing that. But we do not live for money. We live to work hard at what we want and to contribute to society, not to amass money. It is when these things are reversed that I think life feels empty.
“When awake, half a mat; when asleep, one mat; even if you rule the world, four to five bowls.” No matter how great you are, when you’re awake, all the space you need is half a tatami mat; when you’re asleep, a full tatami mat; and no matter how much status and influence you may have, all you need for one meal is four to five small bowls.
When Danshi Tatekawa, the famous rakugo comic storyteller, was young, he had gone to the beach with another rakugo master, the late Enraku Sanyutei. Tatekawa-san happened to look out at the sea and see that Enraku-san was far from shore and in danger of drowning. But instead of trying to rescue him, apparently Tatekawa-san just sat there, calmly watching Enraku-san drown. Someone else came to Enraku-san’s rescue and, not surprisingly, Enraku-san then reproached Tatekawa-san. “Why didn’t you try to help me?” he asked. It is said that Tatekawa-san responded nonchalantly, “If both of us were to die, that’d have been the end of the rakugo world. I figured if at least I survived, it might be saved.” Imagining this scene, don’t you find that your lips relax and curl into a smile? The mood softens, doesn’t it? Humor has extraordinary power.
Dogen Zenji also said, “When we are alive, we must live completely. When we die, we must die completely.” Why does Zen always complicate things, you may ask? But this is not all that difficult, really. While we are alive, thinking about death creates anxiety and fear. This is because we conceive of death as the end of life, an extinguishing of it. There is a Zen expression, “Do not judge the past or future.” Each moment exists unto itself, with no relationship to that which came before it or that which comes after it. Life and death are each its own absolute. Life is not about moving toward death, and death is not about being the end of life. To live completely is to fulfill the absolute of this life by living it to the best of your ability. Since we have no control over our own death, we should entrust it to the Buddha. If we live completely, the absolute of death will naturally follow. That is how to die completely. . . . I think this is what Dogen Zenji meant. While you are alive, dedicate yourself only to living. There is no anxiety or fear of death inherent in doing that.
May 19, 2024
I started reading this while seeing someone who met a lot to me... but I had a feeling that things were rocky with us. I felt anxious more often than not. The day I finished this book he amicably ended things with me. During this time, I also found out that someone really special in my life is dying. I keep trying to think of ways to take her pain away.
I'm heartbroken and incredibly sad but this book helped somewhat. It's a stretch saying that - there are pieces of advice in this that are foolish and, frankly, idiotic. Timing is everything though, and this book showed up when I needed it.
I think my biggest takeaway, for my current situation, was the wind analogy referenced. The author mentioned the importance of allowing emotions to pass and not bury them. Be like bamboo that never breaks but moves with the wind, letting your emotions take hold as they flow through you. Right now, I'm grieving in many different ways... the loss of someone who feels like family who I know will not live much longer. I'm also grieving the loss of a guy who made me smile and laugh and feel seen, who challenged me to be more vulnerable, tough, and understanding. I cannot bury my sadness. I need to let the emotions run their course.
I hope this book finds you when you need it. Some of it may be directly applicable to you in times of loss, grief, or anxiety.
I'm heartbroken and incredibly sad but this book helped somewhat. It's a stretch saying that - there are pieces of advice in this that are foolish and, frankly, idiotic. Timing is everything though, and this book showed up when I needed it.
I think my biggest takeaway, for my current situation, was the wind analogy referenced. The author mentioned the importance of allowing emotions to pass and not bury them. Be like bamboo that never breaks but moves with the wind, letting your emotions take hold as they flow through you. Right now, I'm grieving in many different ways... the loss of someone who feels like family who I know will not live much longer. I'm also grieving the loss of a guy who made me smile and laugh and feel seen, who challenged me to be more vulnerable, tough, and understanding. I cannot bury my sadness. I need to let the emotions run their course.
I hope this book finds you when you need it. Some of it may be directly applicable to you in times of loss, grief, or anxiety.
June 4, 2024
Gimana ya, aku merasa banyak ajaran Buddha ini too good to be true. Mungkin karena aku baca buku ini dalam kondisi enggak baik. Hati penuh protes dan ketidakpuasan. Sulit bagiku untuk melepaskan banyak hal.
Tapi memang ada beberapa bagian yang menurutku terlalu menggampangkan masalah orang. Misalnya dalam bab jangan ragu untuk minta bantuan. Kita diminta untuk lebih terbuka sama orang lain. Nggak semudah itu. Kalau memang semudah itu, orang-orang yang stres dan depresi karena gak punya tempat yang aman buat bercerita gak akan sebanyak ini. Gak semua orang mau mendengar. Gak semua orang beneran peduli. Bahkan meskipun kitanya udah berusaha dengar dan peduli, nggak berarti kita bakal diperlakukan sama. Dunia nggak semudah itu.
Still, kurasa aku akan coba baca buku ini lagi di lain waktu. Barangkali dalam kondisi lebih fresh, isi bukunya lebih mengena.
Tapi memang ada beberapa bagian yang menurutku terlalu menggampangkan masalah orang. Misalnya dalam bab jangan ragu untuk minta bantuan. Kita diminta untuk lebih terbuka sama orang lain. Nggak semudah itu. Kalau memang semudah itu, orang-orang yang stres dan depresi karena gak punya tempat yang aman buat bercerita gak akan sebanyak ini. Gak semua orang mau mendengar. Gak semua orang beneran peduli. Bahkan meskipun kitanya udah berusaha dengar dan peduli, nggak berarti kita bakal diperlakukan sama. Dunia nggak semudah itu.
Still, kurasa aku akan coba baca buku ini lagi di lain waktu. Barangkali dalam kondisi lebih fresh, isi bukunya lebih mengena.
November 30, 2022
"Don't Worry" is really a very simplistic Zen Buddhism primer, focused primarily on business and work related issues. It has almost nothing to do with "anxiety" in the typical self-help sense. There are a few paragraphs about vague breathing techniques, and suggestions like "spend 10 minutes a day in nature", but that's about it for concrete help with anxiety. Lots of poorly defined Japanese words, bewildering sayings, and name dropping of historical Zen masters and Japanese CEOs. I got the feeling halfway through that the translation was probably not very good, as it just doesn't make any sense in many parts. Disappointed.
April 13, 2022
I found reading this book to be a very grounding experience, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I have a lot of questions that remain unanswered, I think this book is a good insight for those new to Zen Buddhist teachings. I think I would like to start each day with a lesson at a time for 48 days, as I think this would provide gentle reminders to carry reflections on these daily. The artwork is also beautiful.
June 6, 2023
Berharap lebih dari buku ini sebenarnya. Pas baca chapter-chapter awal wah semangat banget, banyak pesan yang bagus. Tapi pas makin ke belakang kok mulai bosan, dan agak mulai susah dimengerti kalimat-kalimatnya. Lalu aku tersadar sepertinya ini terjemahan english-nya yang kurang bagus. Jadi sulit dipraktekkan juga selain karena terjemahannya, kebanyakan contoh kasus yang ditulis tuh dalam bidang office work.
February 29, 2024
Momentami ciężka ale w taki przyjemny sposób. Mimo, że czasem trzeba się namyślić nad treścią, każdą stronę chłonie się zupełnie naturalnie jakbyśmy już kiedyś ją czytali. Bardzo mądra, nie inwazyjna, pełna zrozumienia i rzetelnych wskazówek. Chętnie jeszcze nie raz do niej powrócę.
March 3, 2023
Bardzo fajna, można dowiedzieć się wielu rzeczy o buddyzmie
March 9, 2023
fajnee w sumie i fajnie sie malowało
March 22, 2023
short lessons to service as a reminder that worrying will bring you nowhere. we don’t have power of certain stuff in life, let go and let God.
April 3, 2023
Introductory to the point of seeming facile.
May 13, 2023
Bardzo średnia, trochę narzucająca swoje przekonania
December 18, 2023
War ganz okay, nicht viel neues
May 21, 2023
Some good advice with relevant links to Zen and Confucius perspectives. Nothing new.
April 21, 2022
Kalmerend boekje, mooie uitgave.
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