A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind

By: Shoukei Matsumoto

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan

Little known fact: Buddhist Monks are amazing at cleaning and tidying. In this one-of-a-kind guide to cleaning your home, Buddhist monk Shoukei Matsumoto reveals how to make your home as spotless as it is tranquil and peaceful.

For Buddhist monks, cleaning well is a cardinal skill, and in A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind, listeners will discover their never-before-shared cleaning pro tips. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, true enlightenment is impossible if your home has even a speck of dust, and as such, Buddhist monks have much to teach us lay people about achieving a truly Zen clean.

A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind features step-by-step instructions on such essential household cleansing tips as:

• First, air it out: Before cleaning anything, monks first open the temple windows to purify the air and let the crisp morning breeze in.
• Don't procrastinate: "Zengosaidan" is a Zen expression meaning that one should put all their efforts into each day, so they have no regrets. In the context of cleaning, this means don't put off cleaning those dishes you've left in the sink.
• Remember to put on your samue: Samue robes are worn by Japanese monks when they perform their daily duties of cleaning and looking after the temple. Easy to move in and to wash and care for, they are the perfect cleaning attire.

From cleaning up everything from your kitchen sink, toilet, and that pile of unidentified stuff in the corner of your garage to your mind, body, and spirit, this book will guide you in creating a home environment that will calm your thoughts and nourish your soul.

©2018 Shoukei Matsumoto (P)2018 Penguin Audio

Good

Good to hear perspective of a monk.
I did find the narrators voice grating.on my nerves. Good message though.

Really good.

From a person who really thinks they would like to sell all of their possessions and become a monk, except that they are a working parent, this book fills in a needed gap. Between reading about minimalism and hearing these perspectives from a Buddhist monk, it has been not only enlightening but also validating. How so validating? Well I've long since adopted these weird sorts of quirks in regards to cleanliness and housekeeping, that some might consider OCD except they're 'sub-clinical.' Turns out, monks also have practices like that and they really do make a lot of sense. There is a lot of peace of mind to be gained through a clean home, clean environment, and therefore a clean mind. I didn't love the narration because there was a bit of a sharp edge to his voice; but it was not that bad. I would love to read more by this author.

Nice content

I loved the content and perspective shared. The voice of the narration was not a favorite of mine.

Great- If you live in a temple

I expected that this book would be full of deeper meanings and spiritual lessons in regards to cleaning, but it really is a surprisingly superficial how-to cleaning guide. If you live in a monastery or have never cleaned a house before this is the perfect book for you.
Stay-at-home-parents cleaning house all day every day and looking for deeper meaning...? I'd pass on this one.

A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind

This book has given me a lot to consider. I don’t live in a temple but it does give tips to help clean a modern house and when that modern house is clean, so too will your mind and those of your guests.

This was a quick read but I hope it’s lessons resonate with me for a long time.

Clean house, clear mind

I listened to this as I was cleaning. 2 hours went by without any thoughts. I enjoyed it immensely.

Glossary on pdf would have been helpful...

Still listening to it, so my rating is just temporary... But by now I already miss not having a glossary of all those Japanese terms... it should have had an accompanying pdf however brief.

Inspiration for how to treat your home as a temple

This book is a lovely introduction to lessons from the lifestyle of a monk. I recommend this book if you are looking for inspiration for discipline.

The only thing that felt like it lacked nuance was how overly simple the author stated a direct correlation between messy/dirty rooms and the “purity” of one’s mind. “Purity” might not translate in quite the same way to a Western context because of Christian ideas of purity. So that that bit with a grain of salt or be open to what it means to “purify” in a Buddhist context.

Meditative Cleaning At Its Best

I feel different about Cleaning after listening to this book. It can be a spiritual practice you take joy in. Thank you!

Changed the way I clean

I am naturally a messy person. This book was helpful in my journey to being a clean and organized person. It explains everything, even how to go to the bathroom. The concept of it is a way of living and we could all use a lesson or two from a Buddhist monk. I learned sweeping my floor is for my sanity, not a task I have to complete on my long to do list. Good book to listen to while cleaning.