Review: “A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind” ★★★★☆

Japan has produced two major exports in the fields of self-help and cleanliness in the past decade: Marie Kondo and Shoukei Matsumoto. “Kon Mari” is by far the bigger name, but I must say I’ve never been a fan of Japan’s queen of clean. I bought her best seller, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying,” and watched Season 1 of her Netflix show, but there’s just something so forced about her happiness mantra: “Discard everything that does not spark joy.”

I’m too much of a contrarian to put all my fruit in one basket. I like rough edges and darkness, and I like blue skies and rain. That’s probably why “A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind” by Shoukei Matsumoto resonates with me more.

If you’ve never heard of Shoukei Matsumoto, he’s a Shin-Buddhist monk from Hokkaido in the north of Japan, born in 1979. He moved to Tokyo for his higher education, where he studied philosophy at the prestigious University of Tokyo. He later received an MBA from the Indian School of Business and also studied at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Matsumoto has been selected as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and has launched several initiatives aimed at introducing Buddhism to young people, such as the “Temple Café Project” and an online “virtual temple,” “Higanji.” His work focuses on the practical application of Buddhist principles to everyday life.

Shoukei Matsumoto at the WEF in 2016. Photo: WEF

“A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind” is more than just a guide to keeping your house clean. It’s about the connection between our physical surroundings and our mental well-being. Matsumoto’s writing is a charming mix of poetry, philosophy, and simple everyday life. Through his guidance, readers are encouraged to see cleaning and organizing as a form of meditation, a way to cultivate inner peace and clarity. The book balances sublime ideas with down-to-earth grit and grind. In the introduction, he notes the wide range of experiences with cleaning in the world. For some, it can be therapeutic, while for others, it is a painful task if you’re a single parent raising a family. I like his ability to see the world in different shades.

The book is divided into six short chapters that are easy to read and understand. Each chapter talks about a different aspect of house management, such as cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, or toilet, or doing repairs and maintenance, and how each of these processes can positively impact your life. These practical talks are interspersed with broader life lessons and tips on repurposing cleaning as a form of meditation.

Matsumoto shares simple techniques such as “cleaning as you go,” or “focusing on one task at a time,” and “using natural cleaning products.” I particularly liked his “10-minute rule,” where you spend 10 minutes each day decluttering a specific area of your home. This approach can help prevent getting overwhelmed and make decluttering feel more manageable.

Another tip he gives is to practice gratitude for the items you do keep in your home, rather than focusing on the things you no longer need. By doing so, you can cultivate a sense of contentment with what you have, rather than constantly seeking more.

Further on in the book, he explains how a daily routine can serve as a powerful means for achieving a sense of calm. Setting up a regular schedule for cleaning and other daily activities helps create discipline and structure in our lives. He acknowledges that it can be challenging to stick to a routine, but emphasizes that the benefits are worth the effort.

A Monk’s Guide to a Clean House and Mind offers simple advice on how to achieve a clean and organized home while also promoting inner peace and mindfulness. While some of the concepts may seem repetitive or overly simplistic, the book’s message is clear: taking care of our physical environment can have a positive impact on our mental and emotional well-being. Overall, it’s a worthwhile read for anyone looking to declutter their physical and mental space. If, like me, “Kon Marie” wasn’t quite your cup of tea, give this book a whirl. It’s worth the effort.

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