The Monkey and The Way of Zen: A Transformational Journey in 28 Short Stories—Embrace Mindfulness, Overcome Overthinking, Let Go, and Find Inner Peace and Happiness (Zen Philosophy Books) - Softcover

Choo, Serena

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0954597486 ISBN 13: 9780954597481

Publisher: Sispara Hodford, 2025

Synopsis

Does your mind ever feel like a restless monkey—jumping from thought to thought, never quite landing?

What if you stopped trying to make it sit still?

Most of us have spent years trying to think our way to calm—meditating harder, reading more, working on ourselves. And still, the noise returns. The thoughts keep coming. The mind keeps moving.

What if the peace you're looking for isn't on the other side of all that effort but closer, quieter, and far less complicated than you've been led to believe?

The Monkey and The Way of Zen is a collection of 28 short, Zen-inspired stories, not to teach you anything, but to create a pause. A place where the noise softens on its own, without you having to do anything at all.

Through quiet encounters between a curious monkey and a patient Zen master, each story offers a moment of stillness to rest in. Not answers to hold onto or lessons to remember. Just space.

There is nothing to practise. Nothing to fix. Nothing to figure out.

Who This is For

This book is for anyone whose mind runs a little too fast—and who suspects that the problem might not be the mind itself, but the fight against it.

◆ You've tried meditation, journalling, breathing techniques—and something still feels unsettled
◆ You'd love to feel calm without having to earn it
◆ You want something you can pick up for ten minutes and actually feel different afterwards
◆ You're drawn to Zen and Eastern wisdom but don't want a philosophy lesson.

Why Readers Return to These Stories

Each story takes just 5–10 minutes to read and stands entirely on its own—open anywhere, read one, and notice what happens.

Readers often say they don't rush through this book. They open it when life feels heavy. They notice they're breathing again before they've reached the end.

◆ Short, gentle stories readable in 5–10 minutes
◆ A quiet, contemplative atmosphere that softens mental tension naturally
◆ Feels like sitting with a wise, unhurried friend
◆ Rooted in Zen philosophy — no prior knowledge needed
◆ A book many readers keep by the bed and return to often.

"At times, I found myself experiencing 'aha' moments based solely on one sentence… This is the type of book you will highlight and reread often." — Jennifer Brown, Licensed Professional Counselor and Adjunct Professor of Psychology

Included Companion Bonuses

Inside the book, you’ll also find access to five optional companion resources, offered in the same quiet spirit as the stories themselves:

◆ A simple guide to the Zen insights behind each story
◆ A final, bonus-only conversation between the Monkey and the Master
◆ Six beautifully designed mobile wallpapers with reflective quotes
◆ Five short, two-minute reflections for everyday calm
◆ A guided meditation collection for those who wish to explore further.

These are companions, not practices—there if you want them, ignored if you don't.

Sometimes a small shift in how you see changes everything.

Sometimes, a simple story is enough.

Scroll up and click “Add to Cart” to begin. Your inner monkey is waiting.

About this title

About the Author

Serena Choo brings over 25 years of experience in personal transformation coaching, grounded in an earlier career in accounting and investment banking. A lifelong learner and storyteller, she blends practical tools with timeless wisdom to support meaningful change. She holds a BSc Honours degree, an MBA, and certifications in coaching, NLP, Human Design, and more. Her writing spans from evidence-based self-help-addressing anxiety, imposter syndrome, and emotional resilience-to gentle fables that offer quiet shifts in awareness. Shaped by her Chinese heritage and a lineage of scholars, her work honors both intellect and intuition. She once thought she'd stop formal studying after her MBA unless it was something like knitting, but that didn't happen. When not writing, she's baking, reading, enjoying good food with friends, or having long coffee chats with her husband.Visit her website at: serenachoo.com

Edition details

• Publisher: Sispara Hodford
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0954597486
• ISBN 13: 9780954597481
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 152