Kyle’s Reviews > A Monk’s Guide to A Clean House & Mind > Status Update

Fascinating to read about the items and daily habits within a Japanese home, especially as the mindful inhabitants follow the practices of Buddhist monks. What I have seen so far is true: there is a special calm and contemplative feel to a well-kept home. The only puzzle comes in the fourth chapter which starts out advising to mend all broken things yet ends with the urge to get rid of excess. Perhaps this is a koan?

Great respect for the monk and his insightful way of keeping a clean house and enlightened soul, but his business sense of preaching to the Zen Buddhist choir is a bit off as there are probably not many monks who go about buying books or attach to such worldly things. For a general reader on the other hand, the simple antiquated items and the mantra of Always Be Cleaning seem as much of an imposssible goal as satori.