NEW YORK — Kyoto-based Buddhist monk Shoukei Matsumoto has published a book titled "A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and a Clean Mind," outlining a Zen-inspired approach to household cleaning he calls "Habitat Care." The book draws on the practices of Zen apprentices, known as "unsui" monks, who spend much of their time cleaning and tidying temple grounds.
Matsumoto framed the practice as a spiritual exercise rather than a household task. "We sweep dust to remove worldly desires. We scrub dirt to free ourselves of attachments," he said. "The time we spend carefully cleaning out every nook and cranny of the temple grounds is extremely fulfilling."
He described the philosophy behind the term he uses for the practice. "In our practice, we don't see cleaning as a chore to control the environment. Instead, we view it as 'Habitat Care,'" Matsumoto said. "Just as our bodies maintain a dynamic equilibrium to stay healthy, cleaning is an extension of that biological process into the space we inhabit. When we clean, we are not just fixing a room; we are tending to our expanded self. It is a way of caring for the relationship between us and the world."
Holly Schiff, a clinical psychologist based in Greenwich, Connecticut, said the approach aligns with psychological research on routine activity. "I definitely think there is a link between mental health and the act of cleaning," Schiff said. "Repetitive, physical activities like cleaning can be regulating for the nervous system because they're predictable, structured and give a clear sense of completion. Plus, you can immediately see the result of what you've done, which can be satisfying in a way that many cognitive or emotional tasks aren't."
Schiff offered suggestions for people who find cleaning unpleasant. "For people who tend to see cleaning as drudgery, I think the shift is less about forcing yourself to enjoy it and more about changing how you engage with it," she said. "A lot of the overwhelm comes from anticipating the entire task rather than just engaging with that first step. Just choose one surface, one task or one room for starters."