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Summary:

Wisdom and thoughts by Buddhist monk, Haemin Sunim, to practice mindfulness. Haemin Sunim offers simple advices to navigate overwhelming life demands to connect with our inner peace. Chapters covers various aspects: well-being, relationships with others, and spirituality. Each chapter starts with personal story, followed by quotes and calming visuals. The ideas are not novel but we might find value from simple yet soothing words of wisdom. 

Highlights:

• The world is what you see as is. The we reality that we experience is a small part of the universe that our mind chooses to focus. When we feel overwhelmed and busy, we are not powerless. When our mind rests, the world also rests.
• When life disappoints, have a rest. When you have an unpleasant feeling, don’t grab hold of it and turn it over and over. Leave it alone so it can flow. The wave of emotion will naturally recede on its own if you’re not dwelling on it.
• Negative emotion is not not a fixed reality nor defining part of yourself. It naturally transforms into something else, like a passing cloud. Don‘t fight negative emotions, just observe and befriend them.
• On tempering eagerness: we make mistake of equating our own eagerness and effectiveness. Getting the job done well is more important that one’s feelings of doing a good job. Controlling our overflowing passion is effective when we work harmoniously with the interest of others.
• Being right is not as important as being happy together. We musk ask whether it’s worthwhile if we make each other feel unhappy for the sake of defending our beliefs. Maturity comes in not taking our thoughts too seriously and learning to curb ego and see the bigger picture.
• On relationship: striking balance between maintaining personal space and effort to stay in touch is the key. That way we won’t feel trapped in a relationship, but still feel the warmth of their love.
• The person who makes our life difficult today could be an undercover teacher sent from above, tasked with your spiritual growth.
• The wonder of love and devotion creates the feeling of being truly alive and experience of vanishing ego, giving a universe of infinite meanings, and a glimpse of God.
• Three liberating insights:
  • Nobody is more interested in you more than what you had always believed. Don’t worry how you may appear to the others.
  • Not everybody has to like you. You can’t control what others feel about you.
  • It takes brutal honesty to realize that the things we do for others are mostly for ourselves. Do what your heart desires and stop worrying what others think. Only when you are happy, you can make the world happier.
• Life isn’t a hundred meter race against your friends, but a lifelong marathon against yourself. Rather than focusing on getting ahead of your friends, try to discover your unique color.
• How to find your calling:
  • Expose yourself to an array of indirect experiences by reading. Books broaden horizons and introduce you to new philosophies.
  • Second, dive in. Immerse in a job’s reality and discover whether it’s a good fit.
  • Third, increase your self awareness by interacting with a wide range of people in a wide situation.
  • Last, don’t select career based on what others will think of your choice.
• When you feel life perpetually chases you, bring your awareness into the present. Slow down and observe our thoughts. As we slow down, wisdom arises naturally. For it is not something we strive, but it’s been there all along. When we are in the present, we realize there’s silent observer within us. Befriend with the silent observer, let all your thoughts merge into silence.