The Monkey and The Way of Zen cover art

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)

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for £0.00
£8.99/mo thereafter. Renews automatically. Terms apply. Offer ends 31 July 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

The Monkey and The Way of Zen

By: Serena Choo
Narrated by: Kevin Harries
Try for £0.00

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends 31 July 2025 23:59 GMT. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £11.99

Buy Now for £11.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

Let go of overthinking, make peace with uncertainty, and discover a calmer way of living—without needing to attend meditation retreats, follow rigid philosophies, or master complicated teachings. The Monkey and the Way of Zen is a lighthearted yet profound journey told through 28 short stories, following a restless Monkey and his encounters with a wise Master. As the Monkey stumbles through his questions, doubts, and frustrations, he begins to uncover a quieter truth beneath the noise of his thoughts.

In these gentle, engaging tales, you’ll find wisdom wrapped in humor and simplicity—unexpected lessons that don’t tell you how to fix yourself, but invite you to see life through a softer lens. You’ll hear about the Master’s unusual perspective on “good” and “bad,” and how it helped the Monkey stop trying to control everything. You’ll laugh as the Monkey wrestles with taking two steps forward and one step back—and learn what helped him finally feel unstuck. And you may find your own moment of ease in the Monkey’s quiet reflection as he watches a cherry blossom fall. These calming stories are easy to return to—perfect for listening over coffee, before bed, or any time you need a moment of peace. They don’t preach or overwhelm. Instead, they meet you where you are, gently shifting your perspective so that life feels lighter, less exhausting, and a little more magical.

Written for modern listeners by an author with ancestral roots in the Chinese scholar tradition, this book blends timeless Zen insights with everyday challenges we all face. Imagine feeling calm even when life doesn’t go your way. Imagine moving through your day with more mindfulness, more humor, and more ease. Come—your inner monkey is waiting.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Serena Choo (P)2025 Serena Choo
Anthologies & Short Stories Buddhism Philosophy Short Stories Witty Meditation Mindfulness

Listeners also enjoyed...

A Cup of Zen cover art
Awareness cover art
Letting Go of Imposter Syndrome cover art
Blue Bear cover art
Buddhism Plain and Simple cover art
The Satsuma Complex cover art
All stars
Most relevant  

Listener received this title free

The Monkey and The Way of Zen is a beautifully crafted audiobook that offers a refreshing take on mindfulness and Zen philosophy. What I particularly liked about this audiobook is its soothing narration and gentle storytelling approach. Rather than prescribing rigid solutions, it allows the listener to absorb lessons naturally. The light-hearted anecdotes resonated with me.

Beautifully crafted

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

Each story offers a little nugget of wisdom, wrapped in humor and everyday scenarios. This isn't a book that preaches or gives you complicated homework. Instead, it gently shifts your perspective so that life feels lighter and less exhausting.

Shift your perspective

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

This audiobook is like a warm cup of tea for your overthinking mind—gentle, funny, and quietly profound. The Monkey’s journey is relatable and refreshing, offering bite-sized lessons in mindfulness without the heavy-handedness. It’s perfect for winding down, letting go, and learning to laugh at life (and yourself) just a little more.

Zen Wisdom with a Playful Twist

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

This is a transformative book that offers 28 short stories inspired by Zen principles. The stories follow a restless monkey as he searches for answers from a wise master, learning unexpected life lessons along the way.
The book aims to help readers find inner peace and happiness by embracing the present moment.
It provides guidance on releasing past burdens, fears, and anxieties, promoting a sense of freedom and calm.

Inspiring

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

This was a beautifully written book that offers a gentle and thoughtful journey into mindfulness and letting go. The short stories are simple and relatable, each one shares a lesson through the Monkey’s journey that gets you thinking about your life. Each chapter teaches a lesson. The Pause and Reflect section at the end of every chapter was my favorite part. I found myself really enjoying this time for reflection. I found myself thinking deeply about the message and considering how it might apply to my life. It turns a simple reading experience into something more introspective and personal. Each short story delivers a powerful message about slowing down, breathing deeply, and finding inner peace. I tend to go to much and stay to busy. This was a reminder that I want more calmness and peace in my life. I enjoyed this book very much and one I will read again.

Embracing Inner Peace

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

This was a very enjoyable audiobook. I loved the monkey as he went on his journey asking questions and seeking answers. I liked the way the way monkey was impatient (like most of us) and the answers he often sought were already there, inside him. This was a very cool audiobook in the way it was read and presented. The narrator, Kevin, does a wonderful job bringing this story to life and has good tones and cadence. I highly recommend this audiobook for any of us looking to learn some life lessons through light-hearted zen teachings.

Fantastic audiobook!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very easy to listen to. All the stories are rather simple and it isn’t difficult to find a lesson in each of them.

I don’t know

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.