Shoshin - Beginner’s Mind
“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”
Shoshin is a concept in Zen Buddhism that refers to the "beginner's mind". The term comes from the Japanese words "sho" meaning "beginner" and "shin" meaning "mind." Shoshin encourages an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when approaching a subject, even if one is experienced in it.
As a child, I was raised with both Eastern and Western philosophies. I lived in both Japan and the United States. I learned values such as humility, integrity, loyalty and dignity. One of the concepts I have picked up is of “beginner’s mind”, which would be under the value of humility. I am always a beginner. Sometimes I need to remind myself of that.
The idea is that a beginner's mind is free from the limitations of expertise and preconceived notions, allowing for a more receptive and creative mindset. In contrast, as people gain experience and accumulate knowledge, they may develop an "expert's mind," which can be burdened by assumptions, fixed ideas, and the belief that one already knows the answers.
Shunryu Suzuki, popularized the concept of beginner’s Mind in the West. In 1970 a compilation of his talks was published in a book titled, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Informal talks on Zen meditation and practice." In the book, he talks about the importance of practicing Zazen with the beginner’s mind. Zazen is a form of seated meditation that is central to Zen Buddhism. The word "Zazen" is derived from the Japanese words "za," meaning sitting, and "zen," which is a Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word "chán," itself derived from the Sanskrit term "dhyāna" (meditation). Zazen is considered the heart of Zen practice and is characterized by a focused and alert sitting posture. Zazen is not seen as a means to an end but rather as the practice itself. It is a way to cultivate mindfulness, clarity, and insight. The ultimate aim of Zazen is to experience a direct realization of one's true nature. Suzuki discouraged the idea of practicing Zazen with a specific goal in mind. Instead, he advocated for sitting without expecting to gain anything. The emphasis was on the process itself, not on achieving a particular state of mind or enlightenment. For example you may have the wonderful results of a clean kitchen by doing the dishes, but you should not do the dishes to have a clean kitchen. You should focus strictly on the washing of the dishes. You are not thinking about a clean kitchen. You are present in washing one dish at a time at the moment. When you observe a baby, you are witnessing their true nature. They have no agenda. They are in the moment. They have no past or a future to know of. They just are. As adults living with all the experiences and programming we have accumulated it will take effort such as a practice to get to our true nature.
Things are always changing, moving, growing. The practice of Shoshin helps us to hold loosely the impressions left by the experiences of our past, making room for a new view on things. Leaving room for the possibilities that things may change or are not as they appear to be, frees us from attachments that no longer serve us. This is the practice of being present and in the moment. How often do we get carried away by our thoughts about the past or anticipation or anxiety about the future? How much of our energy is being pulled away from the present moment? How much of our knowledge gets in the way of learning new ideas?
In Byron Katie’s book, Loving What is she introduces us to “The Work” in which we undergo inquiry and ask ourselves four questions. She has you write down your thoughts about a situation and ask these four questions. The answer to the first 2 questions is one syllable, a yes or no.
Is it true?
Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
How do you react, what happens when you believe that thought?
Who would you be without that thought?
By going through this process, we can uncover false beliefs and opinions we have of others and ourselves and get down to reality before making meaning out of it. This process helps us see the many assumptions we make about the world that causes us to suffer. It is a way of clearing our lens.
The bible has many examples of the importance of humility in our leaders and how many times Pride came before a fall.
In Matthew 18:1-5 The disciples enter the house and Jesus asks them about who the greatest is in the kingdom of heaven? He holds a child and tells them that they must become like this humble child if they are to enter God’s kingdom.
What do you think Jesus was saying to his disciples? The short answer would be, to be humble, to let go of all knowing and surrender your will to his will. He was in essence showing his disciples the difference of being great in this world, and being great in his Kingdom.
It seems many of the great philosophers of our time had a similar idea to “beginner’s mind.”
“All I know is that I know nothing” - Socrates
There are many interpretations of this quote by Socrates. One probable interpretation is that he was simply acknowledging his own fallibility and lack of omniscience. After all, even the wisest person can’t know everything.
Another way to look at this statement is to see it as a recognition of the inherent limits of human knowledge. We can never really know anything for sure, and even our most firmly held beliefs could be wrong. Of course, this doesn’t mean we should give up trying to learn and understand the world around us, but it reminds us that we should always be open to new information and perspectives.
Think of how many wars could have been avoided if we would have practiced Shoshin?
I believe our greatest leaders are the humble ones, always seeking to understand rather than being understood. The practice of humility can teach us so much. We can choose at each moment to either live in a world of possibility or probability. I think we can all benefit from the practice of Shoshin. Ways to enhance this practice would be to meditate daily, becoming a better listener by being silent and attentive to what others are saying. Pausing before responding. Not being afraid of asking questions. Being the observer of our own thoughts and the behavior of others. Adopting a beginner’s mind can enrich our own lives and the lives of others.
That being said, I should remind the reader of what Shunryo Suzuki made clear in his talks, which was to practice Zazen as a purpose in itself, as we should practice beginner’s mind in the same way. If you are wanting to practice Shoshin to attain something else, you have missed the point.