Zen: The art of simple living

Reading while listening to the sounds of birds and the rush of water. Enjoying a drink of sake while gazing at the moon’s reflection in your glass. Communing with wildlife. The ability to live with a free mind, accepting things for what they are. This is the way of life that has come to be idealized.

Try getting in touch with nature yourself. If you notice a stone lying on the ground, pick it up and hold it. When you see flowers blooming by the side of the road, stop and smell their fragrance. Then, inside your mind, create a miniature garden of your very own. It will relax you.

Any given day, a mere ten minutes is all you need. Try making time for emptiness, for not thinking about anything. Just try clearing your mind, and not being caught up in the things around you.