Description
Haemin Sunim, a Korean Zen Buddhist teacher, tells readers to slow down, breathe, and look for the beauty in everyday life. In a world that values speed and production, this is a good thing to do. The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down is a simple guide to developing mindfulness, emotional balance, and real connection, based on decades of meditation practice and teaching. It can help you even if you’re racing between meetings, dealing with family obligations, or feeling lonely.
The book has seventy short chapters, each with a delicate watercolor painting by Haemin Sunim. Some of the themes it covers are: Finding Stillness in a Busy Life: Find out how short moments of awareness, like stopping to feel your breath or closing your eyes for ten seconds, can break you out of autopilot mode, focus your attention, and lower your stress.
Accepting Imperfection: Haemin Sunim teaches us that life is always changing. Instead of fighting discomfort or embarrassment, he tells us to be gentle to our defects and turn mistakes into chances to learn and grow.
Building Healthy Relationships: Using Zen ideas, he explains how deep listening, setting soft limits, and letting go of anger may help you get along better with your partner, friends, and family.
Taking care of yourself: We often take better care of others than we do of ourselves. Haemin Sunim teaches that self-kindness is the key to long-term health. He says that self-affirmation, a mindful cup of tea, and taking a moment to observe your feelings are all simple ways to show oneself kindness.
Finding a balance between work and rest: He talks honestly about his own burnout and suggests that we should redefine success to include rest, play, and reflection as important parts of a happy existence.
Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations: The author talks about how cultural and social media influences make people more anxious and unhappy. We may let go of comparison and live more genuinely by being attentive without judging.
Finding Joy in the Present Moment: Haemin Sunim shows how slowing down uncovers beauty that endurance cannot equal through common “mindful snapshots,” such witnessing a rain shower, enjoying a meal with someone else, or feeling the ground with your feet.
At the end of each chapter, there is a “Slow Down Practice” with activities you can do, such setting a daily reminder to breathe, writing down three things you’re thankful for, or picking one activity to finish without becoming distracted. These small exercises fit easily into hectic lives and help readers build a personal arsenal for staying strong emotionally.
Haemin Sunim’s voice is both fatherly and familiar; he talks like a mentor who has dealt with his own problems with anxiety, perfectionism, and cultural expectations. His anecdotes, which range from teaching kids in temple courtyards to comforting business leaders, show that we all want calm and a place to belong, no matter who we are or where we come from.
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down is more than just a self-help book; it’s a meditation companion. It combines Buddhist wisdom, modern psychology, and beautiful images to make an environment for deep thought that is also easy to go to. Each page encourages you to be curious, enjoy calm, and learn that by slowing down, you can really notice and enjoy the richness of each moment that passes.
About the Author
Haemin Sunim is a renowned Zen Buddhist teacher and the author of the international bestseller The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down. Ordained at age 24, he studied Eastern and Western philosophy at Seoul National University and gained popularity through his thoughtful online essays, podcasts, and retreats. Haemin Sunim teaches globally on mindfulness, emotional healing, and modern spiritual practice.
Product Details
- Title: The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down
- Author: Haemin Sunim
- ISBN-13: 9780241340660
- Publisher: Vintage
- Published: October 1, 2020
- Pages: 240
- Binding: Paperpack
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