The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

December 12, 2016
Sunim, a Korean Buddhist monk educated in America, confronts life’s challenges in this practical book, which has sold more than three million copies in Korea. In mostly six- or seven-line stanzas, Sunim presents his philosophy on well-being and happiness in eight areas: rest, mindfulness, passion, relationships, love, life, the future, and spirituality. Using modern colloquial language for concrete examples, he explains that when we slow down, we are no longer tangled with our own thoughts and pain. Much of Sunim’s wisdom is common sense: learn from mistakes; build in some personal time in your relationship with your loved one. He also offers insightful observations: the world has never complained about how busy it is, so it is we who are too busy; love is real once you stop trying so hard; it’s important to let children know that it’s okay to fail. Sunim evokes a calm assuredness in his philosophy, reminiscent of Lebanese-American poet Kahlil Gibran, whose spiritual prose has inspired Sunim. In today’s divisive world, Sunim’s call for selflessness and generosity sometimes comes across as too idealistic, but his book is perfect for readers looking for a respite from busy lives and tumultuous times.