Hardship is part of life. Suffering is a choice.

In this concise book, Buddhist monk Ryushun Kusanagi presents a central teaching of the Buddha’s path: it is not what happens that disturbs the heart, but the desires, aversions, and judgments that arise in the mind. When we stop reacting, the mind settles and we find peace.

Drawing on Buddhist practice, Kusanagi shows how to release anger and anxiety, loosen the grip of “good” and “bad,” and allow each reaction to arise and pass, like waves in the ocean.

Loved by hundreds of thousands of readers across Japan, this life-changing book is now available in English for the first time. For anyone seeking the vital freedom that comes with the practice of non-reaction, this is your guide.

About the Author

Ryushun Kusanagi is a Buddhist monk and scholar. He has written several bestselling books on Buddhism and runs a Buddhist center in Tokyo.