Seven Zen principles to guide life, finance and career

I have often found good gems of wisdom in Zen teachings, and yesterday's post on Consumerism Commentary reminded me of the seven principles or characteristics of Zen that are considered the design force behind Japanese gardens. Check out the link for more details, but here are the seven principles in brief:

  1. Kanso: adopt simplicity in everything you do--espouse virtues like cleanliness, freshness, truthfulness, and frankness.
  2. Seijaku: embody stillness in activity--seek quietness and calmness over disturbance.
  3. Datsuzoku: break free from your possessions and the need for material attachments--stop 'fitting in' and discover your individuality.
  4. Koko: focus on the bare essentials--decide what in your life is not essential and eliminate it.
  5. Shizen: let your natural self shine without any pretense--focus on substance over form.
  6. Fukinsei: don't be trapped in regularity--discover yourself by experiencing what is different.
  7. Yugen: choose subtlety over directness and suggestion over total revelation--be the best and let others declare it for you rather than declaring it yourself.
Of course, these gems of wisdom are not directives that apply in every situation. These are general principles that are consistent with many world philosophies and religious teachings but they have their limitations as well. However, I find that whenever there is a crisis at hand, the above seven traits aid rational thinking and a focused mind.