Haemin Sunim (b. December 12, 1973) is one of South Korea’s most influential Zen monks, known for his bestselling books on meditation and overcoming life’s challenges.
After completing formal monastic training at Haein Monastery, he moved to the United States and taught Buddhism at Hampshire College in Massachusetts for seven years.
Today, with a massive social media following, Haemin Sunim travels the world, inspiring a new generation of spiritual seekers with his accessible teachings on mindfulness and compassion. That’s why I’m sharing three best Haemin Sunim books on mindful living.
1. The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World
The world moves fast, but that doesn’t mean we have to.
In The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Haemin Sunim (which means “spontaneous wisdom”), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher born in Korea and educated in the United States, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life.
By offering guideposts to well-being and happiness in eight areas—including relationships, love, and spirituality — Haemin Sunim emphasizes the importance of forging a deeper connection with others and being compassionate and forgiving toward ourselves.
The more than twenty full-color illustrations that accompany his teachings serve as calming visual interludes, encouraging us to notice that when you slow down, the world slows down with you.
2. When Things Don’t Go Your Way: Zen Wisdom for Difficult Times
Have you ever felt like life has thrown you a curveball? Are you struggling to overcome unexpected challenges and setbacks?
While loss, heartbreak, and loneliness are all part of the human experience, in this warm guide, internationally bestselling author Haemin Sunim shows us that these moments can actually be rare opportunities for self-discovery, serving as stepping stones to greater things in life.
Drawing on Zen Buddhist philosophy and Sunim’s own experiences, When Things Don’t Go Your Way helps you navigate life’s challenges with resilience and grace.
Whether you’re dealing with rejection, uncertainty, loneliness, conflicts in relationships, or burnout — or simply seeking to improve your mental and emotional well-being — Sunim offers a new spiritual perspective, one that helps us face life’s challenges with greater ease and understanding, and offers solace and courage when we need it the most.
3. Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection
Many of us respond to the pressures of life by turning inward and ignoring problems, sometimes resulting in anxiety or depression.
Others react by working harder at the office, at school, or at home, hoping that this will make ourselves and the people we love happier.
But what if being yourself is enough? Just as we are advised on airplanes to take our own oxygen first before helping others, we must first be at peace with ourselves before we can be at peace with the world around us.
In this beautiful follow-up to his international bestseller The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, Zen Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim turns his trademark wisdom to the art of self-care, arguing that only by accepting yourself — and the flaws that make you who you are — can you have compassionate and fulfilling relationships with your partner, your family, and your friends.
With more than thirty-five full-color illustrations, Love for Imperfect Things will appeal to both your eyes and your heart, and help you learn to love yourself, your life, and everyone in it. When you care for yourself first, the world begins to find you worthy of care.
Complement this list of best on mindful living by Haemin Sunim with best Thich Nhat Hanh books on mindfulness.
