The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World

by Haemin Sunim, Chi-Young Kim (Translator)

"Is it the world that's busy, or is it my mind?"

The world moves fast, but that doesn't mean we have to. In this timely guide to mindfulness, Haemin Sunim, a Buddhist monk born in Korea and educated in the United States, offers advice on everything from handling setbacks to dealing with relationships and loved ones, in a beautiful book combining his teachings with calming full-colour illustrations. Even as we speed toward what comes next, Haemin Sunim's messages of encouragement speak directly to the anxieties that have become part of modern life and remind us of the strength and joy that come from slowing down.

Overwhelmingly popular in his native Korea, Haemin Sunim is a spiritual leader whose teachings transcend religions and borders and resonate with people of all ages. With insight and compassion drawn from a life full of change, he shows, as millions have seen, he succeeds at encouraging all of us to notice that when you slow down, the world slows down with you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Philosophy, Spirituality, Psychology, Audiobook, Personal Development

288 pages, ebook

First published January 13, 2012

About the author

Zen Buddhist teacher & bestselling author.

Born in South Korea and educated at Berkeley, Harvard, and Princeton, he received formal monastic training from Haein monastery, in South Korea. He taught Asian religions at Hampshire College in Massachusetts for seven years.

He is one of the most influential Zen monks in the world. His first book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down has been translated into more than 35 languages and sold over four million copies.

His second book, Love for Imperfect Things was the number one bestseller of 2016 in South Korea and became available in multiple languages in 2019. Haemin resides in Seoul when not traveling to share his teachings.

Source: haeminsunim.com

Reviews

[Rebecca Jane Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. To summarise my thoughts: this book is what you reach for when you're feeling low - it's a hug in book format. I recommend you don't read from cover to cover in one sitting - read when you need a little inspiration or pick me up. It's such a sweet and simple book - anyone could read and glean the wisdom it provides.... I recommend <3.

(My book had an updated cover, it was blue and hard back.)

[Lau · Rating 1 out of 5]

Highly unsuitable if you've got mental health problems (like me), with advice such as:

"If work is making you unhappy
And you're sacrificing mind and soul
Consider how your work is helping others
And keep sacrificing yourself for them ✌🏻☺️🥰"

“If you're unhappy
Go to sleep
I swear
It works ✌🏻"

"Are negative memories haunting you?
Live in the present
And keep running away
From your past 🥰❤️🏃”

"Having trouble falling to sleep?
Think of all your loved ones
And you'll sleep right away
They're boring as fuck 🛏😴💤"

...ok I may have interpreted this a little different but I SWEAR this gave me anger issues. It's clearly written by someone who's not experienced PTSD or any other form of mental illness. I genuinely needed to meditate AFTER reading pieces of this to get rid of all my anger.

[Syeda Ahad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart warming, soothing, simple, yet full of wisdom :) Started reading it at a difficult time and this book helped me find myself back again. I wouldn't say it is filled with extraordinary enlightenment, but that is the best part about it. There are some simple yet powerful truth which we all know deep down inside, but it is so easy to loose our connection with those when we are too wound up in our busy life. This book was a kind a gentle reminder to those truths for me. A small book, but I took my time reading and thinking about the lines. Will definitely read again and again. And also will recommend to anyone who is distressed with anything in their life right now. This book is a gem indeed :) !

[Rosie Nguyễn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ba sao rưỡi là hợp lý.

Sách được anh Hoài tặng. Lần trước gặp ảnh có đề cập tới 1 quyển best seller bên Hàn, để chung với quyển best seller bên Việt, rồi bảo nếu được thì đọc thử, vì mình cũng hứng thú. Nhưng lúc tìm trong kệ sách thì đã hết sách. Vài tháng sau mình hẹn gặp bạn biên tập, ảnh thấy, liền đem sách ra tặng, trong khi mình đã quên mất tiêu. Không ngờ một chuyện nhỏ vậy mà ảnh còn nhớ. Thật cảm động.

Sách nhẹ nhàng tình cảm, với những câu chiêm nghiệm về nhiều lĩnh vực. Đôi đoạn đọc hơi oải xíu vì chỉ có những câu ngắn rời rạc không có câu chuyện liên kết, dù quan niệm thì hợp lý nhưng giống như đọc hết trích dẫn này tới trích dẫn khác hoài cũng đâm chán. Các tư tưởng trong sách cũng không có gì quá đột phá để người khác phải wow, nhưng ngắn gọn dễ đọc, phù hợp cho độc giả phổ thông, người bận rộn lâu lâu ra đọc vài trang để tự nhắc mình và người đang cần đi chậm lại.

Anyway, đối với mình thì sách có giá trị tham khảo tốt. Mình thích những ý sau đây:
- Chúng ta không chết vì gió bão mà chết vì những thứ cơn gió cuốn theo, chúng ta khổ không phải vì sự việc xảy ra mà vì suy nghĩ phức tạp của ta về sự việc ấy.
- Có hai câu hỏi để biết một người có hạnh phúc không. Thứ nhất, việc bạn đang làm lúc này có đem lại ý nghĩa gì cho bạn không? Thứ hai, mối quan hệ của bạn và những người xung quanh có tốt không?
- Điều căn bản thứ nhất để giữ mối quan hệ giữa người với người, là phải biết cách điều tiết ứng xử như cách ta làm với bếp lửa. Nếu đứng gần quá thì sẽ thấy ấm nhưng mau nóng dần, không cẩn thận sẽ bị bỏng. Nếu đứng xa quá thì sẽ cảm thấy lạnh lẽo.
- Không người thầy nào có thể giúp con người ta trưởng thành được nhiều như tình yêu. Cũng không gì cho ta biết rõ bản chất con người mình như tình yêu.

Mình thích nhất đoạn cuối, viết về yêu thương và chữa lành cho chính mình. Vừa đọc sách vừa ngồi trên ghế gỗ trong vườn và làm theo, cảm giác được xoa dịu tâm hồn. Rất cảm động.

[Brandice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: Guidance on the Path to Mindfulness from a Spiritual Leader after seeing a few positive reviews for it. It’s a short audiobook (approximately 3 hours) and while worth a listen, once, it didn’t offer any groundbreaking or novel new ideas. At best, it’s a reminder to be present in the moment. For example:

- Be aware of your emotions as you experience them. They are passing through.

- Witness the emergence of a thought. Witness the disappearance of a thought.

You can’t have the good without at least sometimes experiencing the bad. The audiobook was easy to listen to though at parts it seemed disjointed, transitioning to several (semi-related) topics in a short span of time, with extended pauses in between. Not sure what the actual book looks like and how the format of spacing and breaks are shown, but maybe that’s how this was accounted for in the audio format.

A decent, fairly short listen with good reminders about the here and now, but not my favorite in this genre.

[Chaimaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sincerely simple things have their own magic, right book at the right time.
When you read it you will feel like probably you have already met some of the advices mentioning here, but sometimes it's good to remind yourself, and this book is here for this reason.
❤

[Hestia Istiviani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read in English but this review is written in Bahasa Indonesia

Bagi yang mengikuti ceritaku di Twitter dan Instagram, atau mungkin sampai membacanya tulisanku di blog, hingga kini aku masih mencoba berusaha "sembuh" dari keadaan tidak baik-baik saja. Aku berulang kali melakukan konseling dengan psikolog dan meskipun tidak terdiagnosa dengan depresi klinis, psikologku tetap memberikan beberapa terapi agar aku tidak perlu sampai "overthinking". Salah satu rekomendasi yang diberikan adalah dengan membaca buku ini (ya, psikologku tahu sekali bahwa aku suka membaca buku).

"Don't struggle to heal your wounds. Just pour time into your heart and wait. When your wounds are ready, they will heal on their own."

Sesuai dengan judulnya, Haemin Sunim mengajak pembaca untuk memperlambat ritmenya sejenak. Ada apa sih kalau mau mencoba melambat? Apakah akan membuat seseorang menjadi kehilangan dunianya? Maka dari itu, semenjak awal Haemin Sunim mengatakan bahwa yang sibuk itu pikiran kita. Bukan semesta. Tetapi kita selalu memercayai kalau kesibukan dalam pikiran kita adalah cerminan dari semesta. Alhasil, kita merasa hidup ini terlalu melelahkan dan membuat terengah-engah.

Buku ini dibagi menjadi beberapa bagian. Sebenarnya semua saling berhubungan, hanya saja cara pembawaannya yang menggunakan studi kasus atau story telling difokuskan pada kasus tertentu. Misalnya dalam membahas tentang Relationship atau hubungan antar manusia. Selepas studi kasus, Haemin Sunim memberikan semacam short passage yang patut untuk direnungi. Membacanya mungkin tidak sampai satu menit, tetapi kalau dibaca tanpa dipikirkan oleh pembaca, diresapi atau coba untuk diinternalisasi, pesan itu juga tidak akan berimbas banyak.

"Find a song that speaks to your heart. Play it over and over, and sing along to it over and over, as though you are doing it for all the wounded souls."

Selama membacanya, aku merasakan bahwa apa emosi yang menghampiriku seperti kemarahan, sebenarnya adalah emosi yang nyata. Selama ini, di pikiranku sendiri, amarah adalah sesuatu yang negatif sehingga aku berusaha untuk merepresinya. Melalui psikolog ditambah dengan membaca buku ini, merasa marah itu manusiawi sebab manusia diciptakan satu paket dengan emosi. Mengobat luka di hati pun demikian. Tidak ada standar waktunya sehingga kalaupun aku sekarang masih merasa kehilangan, itu merupakan suatu proses untuk kesembuhanku.

Yang menarik juga ialah Haemin Sunim juga mengajarkan pembaca untuk tidak egois. Maksudnya bagaimana? Boleh saja merasa sakit hati dengan orang lain dan menjadi sebal. Tetapi bukan berarti kita tidak memaafkannya. Memaafkan sebenarnya lebih menguntungkan diri sendiri. Kita menjadi lebih ringan dalam menerima kenyataan dan melepaskan emosi negatif yang bergelayut di hati.

Menjadi tenang di dunia yang sibuk rasanya sudah makin menjadi kebutuhan. Kita seringkali mengejar sesuatu hanya karena sekitar kita memiliki pencapaian tersebut. Tetapi kita lupa bahwa pencapaian bisa berbeda untuk setiap orang. Kita lupa bahwa kebahagiaan menjadi sesuatu yang penting di dalam hidup ini (lagi, definisi bahagia pun sangat luas).

"The best way to get even with someone who has left you is to meet someone new and become happy again. Plotting for revenge and remaining jealous after many years is a formula for endless misery."

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing new here but I somehow felt lighter as I kept reading.

Don't dwell on negative thoughts.
Forgive others.
Remember to treat yourself with compassion.
Perspective can change any stressful situation.
Choose happiness, not success.
Always take time to listen.

See more of my reviews: Blog // Instagram

[SHOMPA · Rating 5 out of 5]

++++5 stars!

This self-help book in the nonfiction genre is written in a straightforward and well-organized manner. It felt like I was reading the private journal of a philosopher whose viewpoint was genuinely thought-provoking. Frankly, it wasn't anything deep or something I hadn't heard elsewhere, but it just reminded me of the things I needed to do to pull myself out of all the stress I've been feeling lately. The author's ability to convince or influence others is quite impressive.

Similarly, during my second reading, I derived the same level of pleasure from this fantastic book as I did the first time. I plan to go through it again at some point in the future!

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: Guidance on the Path to Mindfulness from a Spiritual Leader
by Haemin Sunim

I picked this up at the library thinking this would be a good book for inspiration or at least a feel good book. I was disappointed. It was really just common sense. Nothing I haven't thought of and try to do on my own now.

I did think the author was a bit full of themselves, lol, even in the title! If I already am thinking and doing these things does this make me a spiritual leader too? Lol!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some insightful mantras. ✌️

[Kent Winward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chicken Soup for the Fortune Cookie.
Home cooked homilies with an Eastern flavor.
Slow down and you'll not see anything new here.

[Myrthe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright, so this really disappointed me to be very honest. However, I don't think that's the book's fault, but rather my own: I went in with very wrong expectations. You see, I actually thought that this book would be full of things that you would see only when you slowed down: I was thinking things such as the way the moon reflects in the water on evening walks, or something. That's definitely not what this is: it's a book full of tiny quotes (or guideposts) on how to be happy. If you want to read this, please make sure you know that that is what you're gonna get! 1 star for enjoyment, but with an extra star because I know full well it's my own fault.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated this book’s emphasis on slowing down and being mindful and present. As someone who is generally locked in on my work and always doing things, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down served as a helpful reminder to take a step back and just feel one’s emotions, both the pleasant ones and the hard ones. I liked Haemin Sunim’s example of applying mindfulness and self-awareness to his own teaching practice, how he had to adjust his teaching style when he noticed it wasn’t working for his students.

I give this book three stars instead of a higher rating because I didn’t love some of the platitudes in this book; some of them came across as too trite. For example, Sunim writes about how if your boss gives you a task you don’t like, don’t try to resist it and just do it and release your negative emotions. On one hand I can see how this would be applicable sometimes, though other times we have bosses who are legitimately mistreating us – so this advice feels less practical or informed then. There are numerous other examples of these cliches (e.g., don’t gossip, not speaking ill of your ex romantic-partner) that weren’t nuanced enough for me to merit a higher star rating.

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

A great read if you've literally never had a single thought before.

[Jokoloyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A universal feel good book. I recommend this book for everyone. There is a reason why this book is pretty popular on general bookstores.

This book has a lot of calming illustrations. Indeed this is a book for slowing down and ease our minds.

[Karen.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook and the excellent advice on how to improve your mindset.

[Μαρία Αλεξοπούλου · Rating 4 out of 5]

Παρόλο που όλα είναι χιονοσκέπαστα και ειδυλλιακά στρώθηκα να γράφω μία σύντομη κριτική.
Οι χιονονιφάδες χορεύουν ρυθμικά έξω από το παράθυρο.
Η ανάγνωση του συγκεκριμένου βιβλίου προσφέρει ένα διάλειμμα στοχασμού μέσα στην πολύβουη καθημερινότητα. Για του λόγου το αληθές τα δοκίμια και οι σύντομες ρήσεις διαλογισμού διακόπτονται από γαλήνια ιντερλούδια. Αφιερώστε ένα λεπτό σε κάθε σχέδιο προτού γυρίσετε σελίδα.
Οι χιονονιφάδες λαμποκοπούν καθώς πέφτουν πιο ορμητικά.
Όπως προτείνει και ο συγγραφέας δεν πρέπει να κάνουμε έναν μαραθώνιο ανάγνωσης, τουναντίον μόνο με νωχελικό ρυθμό θα αφυπνιστούν συναισθήματα γαλήνης και θα διαλυθούν οι διδαχές μες στην καρδιά μας όπως το αλάτι μέσα στο νερό.

''Όταν ησυχάζουν οι σκέψεις, ησυχάζουν και οι αναμνήσεις.
Γιατί οι αναμνήσεις είναι στην ουσία σκέψεις''.

''Μετρήστε την αυτοπεποίθησή σας με βάση όχι το ύψος του τραπεζικού λογαριασμού σας αλλά τη συχνότητα της γενναιοδωρίας σας''.

Με καλεί η απεραντοσύνη του χιονιού.

[Maria C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written by a Buddhist monk, who wishes us happiness, health, peace, and protection from all harm. Perhaps it didn’t quite teach me how to remain calm in this frantic world, as some of the advice feels almost impossible to put into practice.

I did, however, connect deeply with his reflection on love when he quotes Kahlil Gibran, saying that we should love one another like two pillars supporting the same roof. As we contemplate the horizon together, we must still leave space between ourselves and the person we love. Without that space, our love will suffocate and eventually burn out.

Another of his reflections that resonated with me is the idea that life consists of far more ordinary hours than extraordinary ones. We queue at the supermarket. We spend countless hours commuting. We water our plants and feed our pets. True happiness lies in finding joy in these everyday moments.

But the most valuable insight I took from the book is the reminder that everything in this universe is fleeting, and therefore precious. I want to make the most of this unique moment in a way that feels both wise and beautiful.

[Cláudia Azevedo]

Li tudo. Aprendi. Inspirei-me. Não irei classificar por manifesta incapacidade. Agradeço profundamente às minhas primas Alice e Ana Carolina pela oportunidade e pela experiência. O seu gesto, ao darem-me este livro, foi um ato de amor.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of Haemin Sunim's The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down by a dear friend after she undertook a stint of work experience at Penguin. Thoughtfully, Abbie wrote in her note that she thought this tome would be a good antidote to in-depth thesis reading, and it was.

Nearly three million copies of the book have been sold worldwide since its publication in 2012, and it has been translated from its original Korean by Chi-Young Kim in collaboration with the author himself. This year, in fact, marks the publication of its first English translation. It is essentially a guide to mindfulness, of how to make the most of oneself despite outside factors sometimes wishing to throw us off course. The subtitle of The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, 'How to Be Calm in a Busy World' will, I am sure, speak to many of us in the modern world. I am personally a very calm person, and rarely get stressed out, but I find books like this lovely to dip in and out of; they are soothing, almost.

Sunim is a Buddhist monk, who lives between his native South Korea and the United States, where he lectures. Building on a large Twitter and Facebook presence, where he tweets missives and guidance, he has aimed to offer 'advice on everything from handling setbacks at work to dealing with love and relationships'. His 'simple, compassionate teachings transcend religion, borders and ages, and serve as a calming reminder of the strength and joy that come from slowing down'. This inclusivity is admirable, certainly; one thing which we dearly need in this world is a demonstration of the things which unite us, rather than divide us.

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down has been split into several sections - 'Rest', 'Mindfulness', 'Passion', 'Relationships', 'Love', 'Life', 'The Future', and 'Spirituality'. Each chapter opens with an essay, which muses upon the subject in question and how best Sunim thinks we should approach it, and is then followed by a series of short pieces, 'words of advice and wisdom'.

To me, a lot of the short sections felt a little cheesy and patronising, which I'm sure was unintentional on part of the author; we are told, for example: 'Pat yourself on the back for the hard work you are doing. Then go to bed one hour earlier as a gift to your body'. I preferred the essays, which were largely thoughtful and well thought through. There are some nice pieces of advice given about how best to take notice of the world around us, and spending time with loved ones. Occasionally, though, this advice is just plain odd, and blunt in its delivery: 'A good family trip can prevent divorce'.

Much of the book, as one might expect, spirals around spirituality and religion, two topics which do not particularly appeal to me as an atheist. I did find that Sunim came across as rather preachy at times, which did not endear me to him. However, he suggests meditation as a way to grasp one's own consciousness of the world and their place within it, which, I felt, was quite a nice piece of advice which could be easily worked into even a hectic day. Some of his ideas are nice, and he is clearly passionate about what he is writing about, however, so there is a nice balance to be found within. It does seem at times as though Sunim was merely working through his own insecurities whilst writing, and several of the asides seem downright obvious.

On an aesthetic level, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down has been beautifully designed, and put me in mind of the recent craze of lovely hygge hardbacks. Lovely illustrations have been included throughout, which add yet another dimension of calm to the tome.

I believe that The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down will be of most use to those who suffer with anxiety disorders and depression; it is a rather light but fitting book that can be read one small part at a time, and offers useful advice for seeing positives and focusing upon things of importance to the individual. The author, in fact, recommends that it is not read all in one go, from cover to cover; rather, he says, sections should be digested and reflected upon by the reader before he or she moves on. The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down would be a very thoughtful addition to a loved one's bedside table or reading stack, to provide respite from hectic lives, stresses, and other problems.

[jennyliest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein schönes Buch, auch wenn die Illustrationen nicht so meins waren - die Texte waren es dafür umso mehr! Ich konnte einiges für mich mitnehmen, sehr inspirierend 🙏🏻

[Diana Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

A philosophy of promoting peace and tranquility into our lives regardless of religious beliefs. The author is a Buddist Monk from Korea and yet he is comfortable quoting favorite passages from the Bible or making references to Kalil Gibran. Enlightening and Inspirational.

[Vui Lên · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tất cả những đau khổ, mệt mỏi, tuyệt vọng chán chường mà em đã trải qua đều đến từ suy nghĩ, em có biết.

Một ngày với công việc, áp lực, facebook, smartphone, định kiến, áp lực từ xã hội có bao giờ em dừng lại để cho những vết thương được chữa lành.

Dành thời gian cho bản thân mình, nghĩ về bản thân mình, chú ý tới hơi thở của mình, thật sự nghỉ ngơi trong chốc lát, rồi thế giới sẽ nghỉ theo em.

Rồi em sẽ nhận ra.

Năm 18 tuổi, em có suy nghĩ mình là trung tâm của sự chú ý, mọi người đều quan tâm đến em.

Tới 40, em nhận ra chỉ còn một vài người thân thật sự quan tâm đến em.

60 về, em nhận ra chỉ bản thân mình quan tâm đến mình, không ai khác.

Tuổi 20, em lạc lối khi chưa biết mình muốn gì trong cuộc đời này.

Không sao cả, đó không phải là lỗi của em, hệ thống giáo dục đã có quá nhiều vấn đề.
Nhưng nó sẽ là lỗi của em nếu em nhận thức được mình phải thay đổi nhưng vẫn lười biếng.

The things we can see only after we stop – Bước chậm lại giữa thế gian vội vã, ai đặt tên sách mà tinh tế quá.

Đây là một cuốn sách đặc biệt, những dòng đầu tiên của bài viết giới thiệu này mình đã làm theo format của cuốn sách, cố gắng đưa những vấn đề về lạc lối, đau khổ, khó khăn thành những vần thơ, phần tiếp theo sẽ là những câu chuyện ngắn về trải nghiệm của tác giả để giải quyết những vấn đề ấy.

Cuốn sách nhỏ với 8 chương, bắt đầu bằng việc nghỉ ngơi từ chính bản thân, rồi tới những mối quan hệ, lo lắng về tương lai, cuộc sống tươi đẹp, tình yêu một đời, con đường tu hành, nhiệt huyết tuổi thanh xuân và kết thúc bằng tôn giáo, cái kết như để cảm ơn cho những giá trị tu hành mà nhà sư Hae Min đã nhận được trong cuộc đời mình.

Có vẻ như việc học đại học, rồi tiến sĩ ở những trường Đại học danh tiếng nhất của Mỹ, trước khi bắt đầu con đường tu hành đã khiến những điều tác giả chia sẻ rất đời thường và gần gũi, tựa như một sư thầy thông thái trò chuyện cùng những người thành tâm vậy.

Những trải nghiệm, bài học thông thái từ cuốn sách này khiến mình có cơ hội nhìn lại những quan điểm, giá trị sống của bản thân, có những cái đã tốt, nhưng cũng có nhiều cái chưa tốt, có những cái đã hoàn chỉnh, nhưng vẫn còn nhiều những cái phô trương lệch lạc.

Mình thích nhất những quan điểm của tác giả về tình yêu, mặc dù con tim chỉ mới rung động chứ chưa chính thức yêu thương một người nào. Nhưng có lẽ vậy là đủ để có những chiêm nghiệm sâu sắc về tình yêu trong sáng.

Nhiều khi ngẫm nghĩ, thấy khâm phục ba mẹ và những anh chị đã có gia đình và hạnh phúc, làm sao có thể tìm thấy nhau và ở bên nhau, ngoài kia hàng triệu con người đang chuyển động, sao biết được người nào dành cho mình?

Chắc tạm thời giải thích bằng chữ Duyên vậy. Sách cực hay và đáng đọc, bạn sẽ có thêm rất rất nhiều quan điểm và góc nhìn hay ho cho vốn sống của mình, mua nhanh kẻo hết.

Mình viết review những cuốn sách khác tại blog nhỏ này http://ahapyman.com

[bina · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Your boss asks you to run an errand that has little to do with your job.
Rather than getting annoyed, just do it and let it go.
Do not turn something trivial into a major source of agony.
By wasting time and energy thinking about it endlessly.”

so… one of my problems with reading nonfiction is that my brain sometimes interprets it as ‘told you this, told you that’ like that one specifically.

aside from that, some parts are actually very compelling and eye-opening like this one:

“There is a famous Buddhist saying that everyone appears as Buddhas in the eyes of the Buddha, and everyone appears as pigs in the eyes of a pig. It suggests that the world is experienced according to the state of one’s mind. When your mind is joyful and compassionate, the world is too. When your mind is filled with negative thoughts, the world appears negative as well. When you feel overwhelmed and busy, remember that you are not powerless. When your mind rests, the world also rests.”

[Joanito_a · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ένα βιβλίο- οδηγός με αλήθειες για πολλούς τομείς της ζωής μας, όπως οι σχέσεις, η πνευματικότητα, η ανάπαυση, το μέλλον και με υπέροχη εικονογράφηση που μας κάνει λίγο να σταματήσουμε τους φρενήρεις ρυθμούς μας για να την προσέξουμε.

"Μέσα στη γαλήνια ακινησία αυτής της παύσης, η ολότητα του είναι μας αποκαλύπτεται ατάραχα και ήρεμα"
" Η ευγνωμοσύνη φωτίζει την αλήθεια της αλληλεξαρτώμενης φύση μας "

"Σε αυτή την κατάσταση βρίσκεται η ύπαρξή μας. Ξεχνάμε ότι όλοι προερχόμαστε από έναν νου"

"Οι σοφοί δεν πολεμούν τον κόσμο. Με τον πιο ήρεμο και ευχάριστο τρόπο γίνονται ένα με αυτόν, ενσαρκώνοντας την αλήθεια του"

"Όταν ο νους κοιτάζει προς τα έξω, παραπαίει από του ανέμου τις ριπές. Όταν ο νους κοιτάζει προς τα μέσα, βρίσκουμε το κέντρο μας και αναπαυόμαστε μες στη γαλήνη"

"Ανά διαστήματα πρέπει να παίρνουμε μια βαθιά ανάσα και να παρατηρούμε τη σιωπή που υπάρχει ανάμεσα στους ήχους "

[শাহ্‌ পরাণ · Rating 2 out of 5]

কলেজের বাচ্চাদের জন্য ভালো বই। বইয়ের বেশিরভাগ জিনিসই জানা, অন্তত যারা বই পড়েন নতুন কিছু পাবেন না। জীবন সম্পর্কে সহজ এবং সাবলীল ধারণা যার আছে তার জন্য এ বইয়ে নতুন কিছু নেই। জীবন সম্পর্কে ধারণা যাদের একেবারেই কম, তাদের এই বই উত্তেজিত করবে।

[Ugnė Lukošienė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Viena * - už turinį.
Viena * - už viršelį.
Viena *- už esančias knygoje iliustracijas.

Jei nebūčiau tokia estetikė, knygą vertinčiau tik viena žvaigždute. Minčių yra gerų, bet jos labiau krypsta į budizmą, kas iš tiesų vargina...
Bet viršelis ir iliustracijos, tikrai wow 🥰

O šiaip. Knyga tokia sakyčiau net tinkanti dovanai, bet velgi, tiems kas jau tikrai suka į rytų filosofijos, budizmo pusę!

[Ahmed Faiq · Rating 5 out of 5]

"There is a simple way to test the veracity of the Buddha's teachings.
Find the most comfortable posture.
Remain in that posture for thirty minutes.
The most comfortable posture soon becomes the most uncomfortable.
Everything is impermanent, including the world's most comfortable posture."

One of the cutest and most quotable books I've read, combining the beauty of the Buddhist philosophy and a modern view into life in the globalization era, where everything is going faster and faster, making it easier to miss out on many good aspects of our lives.

The way this nice book came to existence -although this could be a bit of a spoiler- as is mentioned in the beginning of the book, was when the author was replying to comments and questions made by people wanting his advice on social media, and then his answers were liked and praised by those people. Then the author decided to collect them into a book that soon made it into the best sellers in his home country Korea. This by itself is so inspiring and encouraging. It shows that sometimes you don't have to try very hard to be successful, may be just being and a nice clear intention will lead you there.

The beauty of the book starts with the charming cover, and the printing, dividing the subjects into chapters like Mindfulness, Passion, Relationships and Love, all with very unique paintings that completes the picture and make it into a real masterpiece. A glance into any of these paintings is enough for you to "slow down" and see things differently.

Each chapter starts with a little introduction on the subject from a Zen view which is unique to the author, and then continues with small concentrated paragraphs, full of meaning and moving.

"He who knows only one religion knows none. Max Müller."

[Marieke | Marieke's Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oef, dit boek begon heel goed. Het las lekker vlot en het sprak me aan. Maar hoe verder ik kwam in het boek, hoe zweveriger het werd naar mijn idee. En ik hou dus echt niet van zweverigheid.

Door het hele boek heel staan quotes en/of korte levenslessen. Eerst vond ik dat wel fijn, maar hoe verder ik kwam in het boek, hoe meer ik deze delen scannend ging lezen. Ik vond de persoonlijke verhalen van de schrijver aan het begin van elk hoofdstuk wel erg goed, maar die quotes hoefde niet meer van mij.
De tekeningen die door het hele boek verspreid zijn, zijn wel een mooie toevoeging.

Er zaten echt wel mooie stukken in dit boek hoor, ook tegen het einde wel. Maar niet zoveel als dat ik hoopte. Ik vond dit boek niet erg bijzonder helaas..