Zen Wisdom for the Anxious: Simple Advice from a Zen Buddhist Monk

by Shinsuke Hosokawa, Ayako Taniyama (Illustrator)

By dipping into this little book of simple Zen Buddhist sayings, you can calm your anxiety and return serenity to your soul.

Are you feeling stress and anxiety from the demands of daily life? Do you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list and the constant deluge of information from all quarters? Are you unhappy with your life and envious of those around you? At times like these it's important to step back and take a breath.

Zen meditation may conjure up images of sitting in silence for long hours, but according to Buddhist monk and author Shinsuke Hosokawa, Zen can be summed up as "the knowledge needed for a person to live life with a positive outlook." With this in mind, he has produced this charmingly illustrated collection of thoughts and sayings to help you live life with less stress and anxiety. The sayings include:
Pay attention to what is right in front of your eyes
Nothing happens by chance. Every encounter has its meaning
Be careful not to confuse the means and the purpose
Keep flowing just like water
Nothing will control you
Even a bad day is a good day
Check the ground beneath your feet when you're in trouble
You'll never walk alone
These 52 mindful sayings mirror the 52 steps traditionally taken to achieve Buddhist enlightenment, and they also coincide with the 52 weeks of the year—passing through the seasons, both in the natural world and our lives. Each page has an illustration and a simple, meditative reflection to help you see into your own heart, accept your current state of being, reduce anxiety and find peace.

Whatever the time of year, whatever your time of life, by browsing the pages of this book you are sure to quickly find a piece of universal wisdom that will resonate with your soul.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Self Help, Buddhism, Mental Health, Zen, Japan

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 29, 2020

Reviews

[Chaimaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There is no need to be too occupied with being efficient and rational.
Sometimes it’s fine to try something silly, like filling up an old well with snow.
Don’t expect to produce results immediately. Don’t expect to receive a response immediately.
Don’t complain about the meaning of doing something.
Don’t complain that it’s useless to try to find peace.
There is meaning in just carrying on, believing in what you are doing.
Even if it is just a small action."

I need to hear this now. 💔

[Manolo González · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT book! Excellent to read it a little bit day by day, if you do so, you’ll finish it in about a month or more; it’s small but there is plenty to analyze and reflect, I absolutely recommend it :)

[Aina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, Zen Wisdom for the Anxious, was recommended to me by my friend. Although I am not diagnosed with anxiety, I have symptoms and frequently experience anxiety in daily life. Therefore, when I heard about this book, it immediately piqued my interest since I have also been trying to find ways to deal with anxiety and stress. In addition, when I heard that this book is based on a Japanese Buddhist monk, I was surprised to see that the book was formatted in such an animatic way which helped me feel at ease and be more accepting of the messages that were written throughout the book. As a result, I would also like to recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with feelings of anxiety, stress, or insecurity to help them feel at ease about life.

[Abigail Longson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little poetry book with some good viewpoints. Was in a Buddhist Era at this point in time and really enjoyed thinking in a new mindset and interpreting some of the quotes in here. Had some cute drawings and I kinda just love the metaphors and connection to nature and the perspective with all the ups and downs of life.

[Mallya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and easy. Amazing to uncover how aligning to nature is what we need to do and everything else is taken care of 😊

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, accessible, and impactful intro to Zen Buddhism. I read one saying a day, on average, and the ideas that stuck with me the most were the simplest ones. Lots of good reminders to reconnect with nature.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, but not life changing. I think this is a book best read several times, and then read daily, throughout the year.

[Nils De Smet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentle reminder to take a step back and focus on what really matters.

[Vitória · Rating 5 out of 5]

para reler muitas e muitas vezes. 🤍

[Jarryd Munslow · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5 - still anxious

[Lukas Hofmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was nicely written

[Monserrat Irazoqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book! It's full of wisdom for everyone, not just for the anxious or those interested in mindfulness. As an anxious person myself, I have to say that it helped me reframe certain thoughts and perspectives that were doing me no good. And, for that, I'm really grateful for this book!

[Anita Nyotosetiadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple Analogy yet Powerful.
Love the illustration
Love the Quotations wrote in Japanese Kanji & Hiragana - and of course it's translated into English.
Semi Bilingual =D

Here's some snippets:

Words can't tell everything.
Teaching can't teach everything.
Some things are only communicated soul to soul.

Life’s answers are not to be gained by asking others, and getting them to teach you. Life’s answers cannot be communicated with words. The questions to be asked are from your own heart, to be understood through your own body.

The answers given by others are merely opinions. Question yourself, and look directly into your own heart. Think things through carefully by yourself. The answers that you feel when you do this are the truth. To live a life without regrets, the only thing you can do is to find your own answers, and keep moving forward.

If you think of the place you are now as the best place to be, then your life will overflow with happiness.

[grinch_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my first encounter with Zen buddhism philosophy.
It changed my perception of life and helped to calm my anxieties.
Nothing in my entire life gave me such peace of mind and content feeling!

[Looh · Rating 5 out of 5]

TOLL!!!

[Leiya Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the rare books that I can read over and over again. On my second read and it really quite is a stress relief to read. It calms the anxiety and I take this book everywhere when I need a little pick me up.

[Hryhorivna · Rating 2 out of 5]

lol zen buddhism is not for me

[JL · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a Buddha in each of us.
Look inside our heart. Who am I? What am I living for? What is my purpose? What is my duty?
Don’t let our heart by tied up with tribal details. The heart is what is important. The techniques do not matter.
We do not know what tmr will bring. We don’t know if tmr will come at all. Was I able to live today without regrets? Did I achieve what I set out to do? Did I live today as best as I could?


Be a shade for others - happiness

The moment we are are born, we are going towards death. Human are part of nature. Be free. It’s a waste of our spirit to complain over things we have no control.

In pursuit of the moon, If I let go, I’ll fall into the water and there I will shine in 10 thousand directions. Do not cling onto anything

To scoop water from far below, a long handle is needed. Flex your tools according to what’s needed. Don’t be obstinate

[Thisisrizka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book for people who feel anxious about their life. Because I am constantly asking about "my purpose of life", reading this book really helps soothe my thoughts. Some of the paragraphs are illustrated in minimalist-Japanese-ink-style-drawing to picture the stories. The blank spaces in this book help the reader to stop and think. It is really calming.

"The hundreds of flowers in the spring do not bloom for anyone, they just bloom.
So for whom do we live? For what reason do we live? Do we live to be thought as a great person? To be envied? To be the center of attention? Just like flowers, we humans simply need to live our lives to the fullest -that is enough. Nothing else is asked of us."

[stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across this book while on vacation. I walked into a bookstore, and usually I’ll take note of a book and buy it another time. But this book seemed to have this magnetic pull where I couldn’t not buy it.

With that being said, this is the first time I’m going to write a review before I finished a book. Here’s why. I read this book when I cannot keep my anxiety in check. The quotes, excerpts and artwork are so helpful. Each quote is relatable and applies to everybody’s lives.

Every page is minimal but speaks volumes. I think everybody should have a copy of this book. I feel so much better reading just four pages. It’s so validating and encouraging all packed into a neat little package.

[Boon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Zen Wisdom for the Anxious" is a straightforward yet profound book that offers more than meets the eye. While the text is easy to read, it requires deep focus and thoughtful reflection to truly grasp the wisdom on each page. This book is a comforting companion during tough times, filled with memorable quotes that stick with you long after you finish reading.

I found this book uplifting and insightful, making it a great read not just for those who feel anxious but for anyone seeking a little peace and wisdom in their life. I highly recommend it to everyone, as it has lessons and insights that are universally applicable.

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zen Buddhism. I had heard about it and learned about it in history class, but I never really came to understand the true purpose and practices of its philosophy. This book was informative because it allowed me to practice and understand the central values of Zen Buddhism. I also really enjoyed the structure of the books since it was separated by the year's seasons. It felt like I was experiencing the different stages of life since each season embodied a unique theme that progressed through each Buddhist saying. I would recommend this book to anyone experiencing any stress or anxiety because, from the very first page, this book will immediately pull you into the peaceful and calming world of Zen Buddhism. (WC:121)

[Avi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A zen perspective on living told in a poetic form mostly through nature imagery and divided by seasons which I assume represent a person’s life (spring is youth, summer maturity, fall the cusp of old age, and winter the edge of death) and how they should think about living at different times in their life so they can let go of the ideas and thoughts that gnaw at their hearts and appreciate being alive. It’s probably worth a reread. I felt like it went a bit over my head on my first read since the words often don’t mean what they literally say. Lots of allegory here.

[Jadenise Medina F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have 25 minutes to spare, you can easily read through this book. However, I believe everyone should instead take their time understanding the content and going back to it when they need a refresher or reassurance into their day to day lives. The illustrations really set you in a mood to reflect and invite you to pause, absorb the message, and see how it resonates with your own experiences. Definitely recommend it to anyone who has some spare time in their hands and is looking to practice mindfulness

[CAYLA ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book that encompasses the main teachings of Zen philosophy. In it are 52 aphorisms accompanied by illustrations that points the way for the reader to what matters most: the here and the now; and guides him/herself to where happiness can be found: within oneself.

Anxious or not, I believe this book to be a great read for anyone to pick up & ultimately gain a fresher perspective in life. 🖤

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

this little book packs in oodles of wisdom. it contains 52 aphorisms broken into seasons with beautiful illustrations and reminds the reader to focus on the present moment. these are the types of reminders we need again and again and it's the kind of book you can grab and open up into any one section and quickly feel grounded. helpful for the anxious and all others.

with gratitude to tuttle publishing and edelweiss for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Sonora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crisp, simple wisdom, paired w/ beautiful black and white illustrations that swept you away to quiet evenings alone by still, moonlit lakes. The grainy texture of the pages also added a pleasurable tactile dimension to the reading experience, and (after reading the book) I can only assume this was a generous intention on Hosokawa's part.

A good book to turn to for a 15-second read to close out a yoga or meditation session.

[Elvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comforting words of advice. But could have been more detailed. Helps if you're already familiar with Zen, philosophy, and other types of personal development material. Otherwise, you might be lost, asking for more clarification.

This is something to return to, reread, and contemplate for some time for it to have any lasting effect.

I especially liked the simple illustrations. They made it all more welcoming, soothing, pleasant, and comforting.

[Nurbaya Nuby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zen Wisdom for the Anxious adalah buku ringan tapi memberikan makna yang cukup dalam bagiku. Dalam satu halaman kadang hanya berisi beberapa baris kalimat, seperti puisi, namun memberikan pesan mendalam. Semacam terapi terhadap lupa. Seperti refleksi diri yang menenangkan.

Buku ini mengajak kita untuk ikhlas menerima dan menjalani hidup, apa pun kondisinya. Jalani dengan lapang, jangan dilawan.

[Kelsey Breaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed reading Zen Wisdom for the Anxious but overall I found it to be repetitive and lacking insight. I would more accurately rate this book a 2.5/5 stars if I could. There were some pages that I book marked but this isn’t the type of “wisdom,” book that will greatly inspire you. It’s just a cute, quick read.