A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind cover art

A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £7.99

Buy Now for £7.99

About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind by Shoukei Matsumoto, read by Adam Sims.

We remove dust to sweep away our worldly desires. We scrub dirt to free ourselves of attachments. We live simply and take time to contemplate the self, mindfully living each moment. It's not just monks that need to live this way. Everyone in today's busy world today needs it.

The Zen sect of Buddhism is renowned for the cleanliness of its monks, but cleaning is greatly valued in Japanese Buddhism in general as a way to cultivate the mind. In this book, I introduce everyday cleaning methods typically employed in temples, while sharing what it's like to be a monk in training.

This book will improve the condition not just of your own mind, but also the people around you. I hope readers will discover that cleanliness is an opportunity to contemplate oneself.

Audio updated as of February 2018.

 Buddhism Cleaning & Organizing House & Home Philosophy

Critic reviews

The most unusual self-help book of 2018 ... There is something surprisingly calming about just reading the book, hearing Matsumoto's simple instructions and admiring the clean pen drawings of Japanese sandals and brooms (Jane Fryer)
A bestseller in Japan, this charming book offers practical cleaning tips as well as fascinating insights into the Buddhist approach to life, which counters the wastefulness of modern society with a respect for spaces and objects that is deeply humane ... Ideal preparatory reading for the January clean (PD Smith)
All stars
Most relevant
I didn't realise how meditative I'd find learning about how to clean a temple from a monk with a lovely relaxing voice... I live in a flat!!

now temple cleaning in my 2 bed flat!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book seem like a good entrypoint to a calm mind.
it unfortunately ends abruptly.

The narrator was excellent.

A good book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very interesting encounter on daily cleaning which takes place in Buddhist temples. It's short but contains lots of informations. I will definitevly listen to it again on slower speed and make some notes this time and research what exactly are all these tools he's been talking about. Especially I'm interested in the essential oil used as insect repellent in wardrobes as it might be nice change for traditional lavender used in eastern Europe.

Monks life

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
So relaxing, it's almost meditative. It's made me look at cleaning in a whole new light - something mindful and uplifting, instead of a chore. The narrator is very good too.

A joy to listen to!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An intelligent and thoughtful insight into mindful living – from the methods behind cleaning a temple or your home to the clothes you should wear. The book is almost poetic at times and a relaxing listen.

Thought provoking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews