Photo courtesy of Arwen Abendstern

How to Live Life to the Max with Beginner’s Mind

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” – Zen Master Shunryo Suzuki

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Mary Jaksch of Goodlife Zen.

I’m an expert at many things. And I’m sick of it. Being an expert, that is. Because being an expert is boring. That’s why I started kite surfing a few month ago. I wanted to be a beginner again.

Kite surfing looks easy – until you try it. The challenge is to control both kite and board. A kite is unpredictable. One moment it’s behaving. Next, it’s totally out of control. Like the time when my kite took off - and I was suddenly swept off my feet and into the air. I could see my instructor far below: eyes agog and jaws agape. Then I crashed down into the sea. Next moment I was being dragged backwards under water at high speed like an out-of-control torpedo. Finally I managed to come up for air. Rather alarming, but on the whole great fun!

I love being a beginner again. I love following impossible instructions. I love failing gloriously!

This is Beginner’s Mind. It’s a Zen state of mind.

What if we had that approach to everything we did? What would life be like?

Let’s take a look at seven aspects of Beginner’s Mind and see how they can transform our life:

1. Take one step at a time. We tend to think in sequences. For example, when we go grocery shopping, our mind is on what we need to buy and where to shop. We’re likely to skip over all the little experiences on the way: locking the front door, seeing the neighbour standing at the window, rain splattering on the windscreen, the noise of traffic, and so on.

The same thing happens when we learn something new. We’re always looking towards what we’ll know or be able to do in the future, instead of focusing on the next step right now. I’m definitely guilty of that. You too?

Tip: Take one step at a time without worrying about the journey.

2. Fall down seven times, get up eight times. Yesterday a friend of mine brought her toddler to visit. The little girl, Stephanie, is just learning to walk. She would pull herself up, wobble along a few steps and then plop down on her bottom. She had a determined look on her face and got up again, over and over. When did we last learn something with such determination and such little obvious success?

Tip: Celebrate falling down as well as getting up: it’s all part of learning.

3. Use Don’t Know mind. In martial arts, a don’t know mind is the wisdom of the warrior. Because we can easily get it wrong by prejudging a situation. When faced with a big opponent or a big challenge, we might assume that we will lose out. And when faced with an opponent who seems smaller or weaker, or a challenge that seems surmountable, we might assume that we will be on top. In both scenarios our judgment might be wrong. Don’t know means keeping an open mind and responding according to circumstances, not according to how we assume things will be. A don’t know mind leaves room for intuition.

I think don’t know mind has wider implications. Because, we really only know things up to now. Let me give you an example: I have a couple of dear friends who are moving into adolescence. It’s a time of great change. One day they’re still playing Ninjas, next day they’re confiding in me about the kiss their boyfriend stole behind the bikeshed. If I had a fixed view of who they are, I’d miss all the changes along the way and lose connection with them.

Tip: Let go of knowing – that’s real wisdom.

4. Live without shoulds. I could write a whole book about how I should be, what I should have done and what I should be doing, couldn’t you? The world seems to be full of experts on my life who like to tell me what I should be doing. Living with Beginner’s Mind means letting go of shoulds. I’m not advocating living without our own moral standards. I think that most of our shoulds reflect other peoples’ ideas on what our life should look like. We can let go of them.

Tip: Shake off shoulds and own your life.

6. Make use of experience. Beginner’s Mind is great, but it’s not so useful when crossing the road. You don’t want to be squashed flat by a car in the process of learning anew that you need to get out of the way! It’s always good to use our experience and native wisdom. That’s how we learn. Beginner’s Mind doesn’t mean negating experience; it means keeping an open mind on how to apply our experience to each new circumstance.

Tip: Utilize your native wisdom and experience.

7. Let go of being an expert. We are all experts. Experts in our job, in raising children, in crossing the road, in signing our name. It’s difficult to let go of being an expert. Because it means confessing that we really know nothing. What we know belongs to the past. Whereas this moment now is new and offers its unique challenges. If I let go of being an expert, I can listen to others with an open mind. Then I can find that even a beginner has something to teach me.

Tip: Letting go of being an expert enables you to keep learning.

8. Experience the moment fully. Have you ever taken a small kid to the movies for the first time? Everything is amazing for them. They stare at the bright lights in the foyer. They investigate each popcorn with great concentration. They stare at everyone sitting around them. They flinch when the music starts. They scramble on to your lap when the monster appears on screen. They laugh out loud when it’s funny. They live each moment.

Just imagine living like that! Most of the time we live in a daydream in which we think of the past, and dream of the future. Meanwhile life runs on without us. Without us being present, that is. We miss so much when we live in a daze. Beginner’s Mind allows us to take it all in. Then even ordinary things begin to shine.

Tip: Live life to the full – one moment at a time.

9. Disregard common sense. ‘Common sense’ is what the culture we live in regards as ‘normal’. If inventors like Da Vinci or Edison had stayed with a ‘common sense’ mindset, our life would be very different because their inventions changed the world. In an interview Thomas Edison said about energy:

“Some day some fellow will invent a way of concentrating and storing up sunshine as energy. I’ll do the trick myself if some one else doesn’t get at it.”

I bet you that Edison’s fellow citizen’s thought he was crazy. “Turn sunlight into energy – how absurd!” they would have said because his idea didn’t fit with the common sense of the time.

Tip: Release yourself from common sense and become creative.

10. Discard fear of failure. When did you last start something new? Was it maybe a while back? As children we are always starting something new. Then, as we go through our twenties, thirties, and further, we become more hesitant about being a beginner again. Why? Maybe because we don’t want to look silly when we fail.

There are always plenty of people ready to snigger when we take the first wobbly steps. But it’s our choice whether to take notice or not.

Tip: Immerse yourself in your actions and forget the watchers.

11. Use the spirit of enquiry. Beginner’s Mind is about using the spirit of enquiry – without getting stuck in preconceived ideas. There’s a Zen story about this:

A professor once visited a Japanese master to inquire about Zen. The master served tea. When the visitor’s cup was full, the master kept pouring. Tea spilled out of the cup and over the table.

“The cup is full!” said the professor. “No more will go in!”

“Like this cup,” said the master, “You are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

You can see how this story applies not only to learning about Zen, but to learning about anything at all. The spirit of enquiry is the mind that is open to the unknown, and empty of pre-conceived ideas.

Tip: Focus on questions, not on answers.

If you’ve read this far, you’ll have a sense of how precious Beginner’s Mind is. It can transform the way we experience life. It makes life exciting and fresh, and keeps us young and eager to learn.

However, there are some questions that are still unresolved in my mind. The main one is: what about goal setting? Doesn’t that clash with Beginner’s Mind? Goal setting is about imagining the future, and building one’s life around one’s hopes and expectations. Personally, I aspire to Beginner’s Mind, and I set goals. But it sometimes feels like a culture clash. What’s your sense of this?

Let’s have a conversation. What’s your experience of Beginner’s Mind? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Mary Jaksch is a Zen master, psychotherapist, and author. She’s a Karate Black Belt, and loves dancing Argentine tango in skimpy dresses. Read Mary’s blog, Goodlife Zen.

How to Live Life to the Max with Beginner’s Mind

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” – Zen Master Shunryo Suzuki

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Mary Jaksch of Goodlife Zen.

I love being a beginner again. I love following impossible instructions. I love failing gloriously!

This is Beginner’s Mind. It’s a Zen state of mind.

What if we had that approach to everything we did? What would life be like?

Let’s take a look at seven aspects of Beginner’s Mind and see how they can transform our life:

Tip: Take one step at a time without worrying about the journey.

Tip: Celebrate falling down as well as getting up: it’s all part of learning.

Tip: Let go of knowing – that’s real wisdom.

Tip: Shake off shoulds and own your life.

Tip: Utilize your native wisdom and experience.

Tip: Letting go of being an expert enables you to keep learning.

Tip: Live life to the full – one moment at a time.

“Some day some fellow will invent a way of concentrating and storing up sunshine as energy. I’ll do the trick myself if some one else doesn’t get at it.”

Tip: Release yourself from common sense and become creative.

There are always plenty of people ready to snigger when we take the first wobbly steps. But it’s our choice whether to take notice or not.

Tip: Immerse yourself in your actions and forget the watchers.

11. Use the spirit of enquiry. Beginner’s Mind is about using the spirit of enquiry – without getting stuck in preconceived ideas. There’s a Zen story about this:

A professor once visited a Japanese master to inquire about Zen. The master served tea. When the visitor’s cup was full, the master kept pouring. Tea spilled out of the cup and over the table.

“The cup is full!” said the professor. “No more will go in!”

“Like this cup,” said the master, “You are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

Tip: Focus on questions, not on answers.

Let’s have a conversation. What’s your experience of Beginner’s Mind? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Mary Jaksch is a Zen master, psychotherapist, and author. She’s a Karate Black Belt, and loves dancing Argentine tango in skimpy dresses. Read Mary’s blog, Goodlife Zen.

Posted on 19 September 2008 in Happiness, Simplicity |
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Comments (66)

Kimberlee Says:

September 19th, 2008, 14:25 pm

Beginner’s mind is very important, no matter what you set out to achieve. I’ve found when I take this approach to my freelance writing business, I have great success. Whether writing an SEO article or a novel, you have to sit down, ignore what others think of you (and even your own inner editor) and take a trip with your characters and/or topic.
I believe goal setting has its place with beginner’s mind. You have chosen a path, and are starting your journey down an unfamiliar road. Not having beginner’s mind can often derail you from your chosen path. Without goals, you are just wandering aimlessly.

Angela Says:

September 19th, 2008, 14:30 pm

Excellent post. I really enjoyed this quote: “Most of the time we live in a daydream in which we think of the past, and dream of the future.”

I try to catch myself most times. And it’s the simple trips to the store with my favorite music on that I find myself enjoying the most. It’s when I notice the sun setting or kids walking home. And I try to remind myself that the only time I’m living is now.

Thank you for the reminder.

ceres Says:

September 19th, 2008, 15:22 pm

As you stated in your title, having a beginner’s mind is about the how, but setting goals is about the where. The two can co-exist in harmony because they are two different sides of the same coin. Having a goal means knowing where you want to end up ultimately, but having a beginner’s mind is a guide to get there.

Will Says:

September 19th, 2008, 15:43 pm

great post. thank you!

I don’t think that setting goals should be seen as a contrary to a beginners mind. Setting goals to my mind is absolutely not about dreaming of the future. The goals we set represent what we are feeling today, they show how we think of our self right in that moment. They mirror our current inner self, the way only we see us. Just the manifestation takes some time.

bw, Will

Ryan Says:

September 19th, 2008, 15:53 pm

Man, I’m sick of being a beginner. The thing with being a beginner, no matter how much you try and take it one step at a time, enjoy the moment, etc., is that you’re always the dumbest kid on the block. Well, this block head is tired of it. When can we stop being beginners?

Matthew Sperry Says:

September 19th, 2008, 16:00 pm

Shouldn’t it be, “fall down seven times, get up seven times”?

Mike Sporer Says:

September 19th, 2008, 16:18 pm

I’ve heard it said “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities; in an expert’s mind, there are few.” Great post!

Sid Savara Says:

September 19th, 2008, 16:20 pm

Nice post Mary about remembering what got us to where we were in the first place - being a beginner and persevering and learning. My favorite quote was this:

“Letting go of being an expert enables you to keep learning.”

It reminds me of Benjamin Franklin, who had to learn to listen rather than constantly telling people he was right. IIRC, once he stopped talking to much and started listening, he realized he didn’t know everything, and he became smarter as a result of not always having to be the expert.

Valentina Says:

September 19th, 2008, 16:30 pm

the worst post read here even :)

I’ve understood Mary’s intent to highlight a series of good approaches to things, but I think the final result is actually out of zen spirit. :)

“the beginner’s mind” is not zen. “many possibilities” is not zen.
simplicity is the way, as usual. Leo teaches.
and the expert’s mind is the one knowing more and more: that’s not but doing.

(sorry for my english)

Ken Allan Says:

September 19th, 2008, 16:34 pm

Tēnā koe Mary!

You are so right! Being an expert is boring.

Y’know, an expert is just as ignorant of what they don’t know as someone who knows little. Is a two year old child bored when it’s taken to the playground? Then an expert can be just as fascinated by what’s not known.

Learning has its difficulties, and for some, it doesn’t get any easier even among the experts. But what thrills is the aquisition of something new in the mind.

Experts have become the way they are through a process of exploring what they’ve found to be fascinating. It’s not what’s known that’s fascinating. It’s what isn’t. But experts are so often lost in what they know that they get bored. They have to seek out the boundary of their knowledge so they can continue to be thrilled by what they find outside it.

Ka kite

JapanDave Says:

September 19th, 2008, 17:00 pm

Great post. Be a child again. And if that is impossible, simply watch children–you can learn a lot from them.

I enjoyed all your points, and that little Zen tale (the overflowing cup) is always a good one to read.

Thanks!

Valentina Says:

September 19th, 2008, 17:18 pm

I’m sure all of you know Kathy Sierra. She realised a graphic Ken’s last comment let me remember: I’ve just googled the link (http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2006/03/how_to_be_an_ex.html)

Expert’s mind can’t be “bored” so easily, folks!: it keeps pushing itself, “there’s always some way to do it better”. Expertise is a process, not a state. Leo taught me that :)

If dedication is the core concept: too many beginnings are often just the way to stay less dedicated.

A suggestion for Mary: if you like so much to talk about your course of kite surfing, avoid to do that during “zen habits” sessions :D :)

And a suggestion for Leo: keep your policy to limit guest posts, your faith to zen habits is preciously yours. You see that ;)

(sorry for my english)

Nick Says:

September 19th, 2008, 18:05 pm

I agree that perhaps there are too many guest posts lately? Perhaps limit them to 1 or 2. I don’t mind not having a post every day.
Help - I feel overwhelmed with the posts - when 1 post lists 10 or 20 things every day I can’t keep up, if I tried just one tip in one post every day or every week it would take forever…….I enjoy your posts Leo, your approach has a certain freshness to it, although i do enjoy guest posts occasionally!

Valentina Says:

September 19th, 2008, 18:25 pm

yeah :) don’t ever renounce to your brand, leo!

mary’s entry should be very well guested on lifehack.org, you know. :) if you don’t moderate your contributors the right way, it will become more and more difficult to distinguish it from other more generalist how-to blogs and this one will slowly cease to be your beautiful, unique “zen habits” :)

(sorry for my english)

J.D. Meier Says:

September 19th, 2008, 18:49 pm

It’s funny how mindsets shape our experience. Blink. We can hear an old song new. Blink. we can hear a new song old.

As I read this post, I shut off the inner critica and chose to find a lesson.

Here’s my lessons from this post …
I like the connection of the beginner’s mind to the Zen mind. It’s Zen-like to be the moment. Not just in the moment, but be the moment. You can always be your critic later, but defer your training mindset from your trusting mindset.

As a kid I just played. Now sometimes I catch myself thinking about how I play.

Valentina Says:

September 19th, 2008, 19:16 pm

“I shut off the inner critica and chose to find a lesson” :D

ehm, here the same :) really.

…but I should notice it perfectly equals my concept of “a terrible post” :D - where the poorest expression depends just by my more limited knowledge of English ;)

@J.D.: you’ve been totally fascinating with your lesson, I can agree. :)
sorry if I’ll use it to better express that, even if a content contains some useful (and each content contains some useful, IF WE chose to find a lesson)… an uncorrect definition of the content is undefendable in itself.

(sorry for my english)

Ryan McLean Says:

September 19th, 2008, 19:52 pm

In my blogging I live with a beginners mind. I run a young entrepreneurs blog and I have a dream of earning a full time wage from it so I am going for it. I am falling down and getting back up and I am working my little heart out to get there.
This was a really inspiring post. Thanks

Shad0wfire1 Says:

September 19th, 2008, 20:41 pm

Very nice article, I do try to teach a lot of people to approach new things as if they know nothing.

I’ve read this zenhabits blog for years and you have all my respect.

Cheers

Mary@GoodlifeZen Says:

September 19th, 2008, 20:41 pm

Hi Ceres!
I like the way you put it: “Having a goal means knowing where you want to end up ultimately, but having a beginner’s mind is a guide to get there.”

Hi Will!
What you say about goal setting is very interesting: “The goals we set represent what we are feeling today, they show how we think of our self right in that moment. They mirror our current inner self, the way only we see us. Just the manifestation takes some time.”

This way of seeing things really removes any conflict between being in the moment and setting goals. I like it!

Hi Ryan!
I can understand your frustration. I come from a family of achievers. So in the past, my first thought when learning something new has always been, “How do I get over this beginner thing real fast?”
For example, when I went to my first karate class, I immediately wanted to be a BlackBelt. It took five years of hard training. During that time I always thought, “When I’m a BlackBelt, I’ll be the REAL thing!” Then, when I became one, I realized I had been the REAL thing right from the start!

"Motivate Thyself" Says:

September 19th, 2008, 21:13 pm

I’ve always been a strong promoter of never losing the kid in you. And this goes for the way you view the world as well. As you pointed out, when our perspectives come from ‘knowing it all’, we then tend to lose our ability to imagine and see the little things that make life unique.

You have some great points here.

Mary@GoodlifeZen Says:

September 19th, 2008, 21:32 pm

Hi Valentina!
I sometimes feel like you do when my favorite blogger takes a break and someone else steps in.

I too love Leo’s posts, both here on Zen Habits, and on WritetoDone!

Cheers
Mary

Success Professor Says:

September 19th, 2008, 23:17 pm

Thanks for the article Mary. Your advice towards the end of the article is fantastic for any aspect of life. I think that’s why point #10 & 11 are my favorites.

I do have one question. How do you allow yourself to still be curious and child-like, and still be sure use the knowledge and expertise that you do have? We all have strengths and areas of knowledge that we need to use wisely, to benefit ourselves and others.

Maxsuccess Says:

September 19th, 2008, 23:31 pm

Yes. It’s hard for someone who knows everything to learn something new.
Great post!

Mary@GoodlifeZen Says:

September 19th, 2008, 23:47 pm

Hi Success Professor!

That’s a fine question!

Let me give you an example of how I experience the interplay between knowing and not knowing:

In my Zen work I often do Q&A sessions, when anyone in the room can come up and ask me a question in front of the group. Some of my senior students can come up with some very challenging questions! It’s open slather and I have no idea at all what the next person will ask. That’s quite challenging. Especially because these are not just theoretical questions, but ones that rise up from the depth of the soul.

This is what I’ve observed: If I’m relaxed, enjoy the cut and thrust, have a good laugh at times and trust myself, all is well. My answers seem to come instictively from somewhere deep inside me, and hit the target spot-on. Whereas, if I’m anxious about how I might perform - then I can’t reach that clarity of response. The difference is quite simple: In the first instance, I am fully focused - body and mind - on the other person. In the second, I am partly focused on myself.

To get back to your lovely question, when I allow myself not to know, and to be open and childlike -without any pretense - that’s when whatever knowledge and wisdom I may possess. is most likely to appear.

How would you answer your own question?

Bob Says:

September 20th, 2008, 0:51 am

Hi Success Professor, Ceres and the rest of Zen Habits,

I must say that I appreciate the goal of this post and this blog very much, and I believe that there is great value in learning to apply concepts from the martial arts such as “don’t know mind”, or “letting go of being an expert” to one’s every day life. It is absolutely possible and can lead to continued development and constant growth in any domain from the martial arts, to the fine arts. So, my comments are not meant to be critical.

With that said, I think the questions Success Professor and Ceres raise are extremely important. You are most likely having difficulty trying to understand how to live with a don’t know mind while at the same time using your experience and long-term thinking ability, because many people unfortunately misinterpret the true meaning of “don’t know mind”; or at least do not interpret it completely.

As Mary explains, Mushin - “no–mindedness” or more fully Mushin no shin - “mind of no mind”, is indeed “the wisdom of the warrior”; and it requires clearing one’s mind to allow “intuition” to flow freely. However, there is more to Mushin. You might believe that Mushin is almost a leap of faith, letting go of your assumptions, or what you think you know, and allowing something that perhaps you were not even consciously aware of to come naturally from you. You might think that Mushin is a process of discovery where you learn about, and eventually understand your “native” intuition by allowing it to be expressed freely.

However, for the warrior, Mushin is not a process of discovery, it is not at all unknown. The “intuitive” actions that flow from the warrior in a state of Mushin are not “innate”, “native” responses. They are placed there, very, very, very carefully by the warrior, in a deliberate, thoughtful, goal directed process. Relying on experience, information from others, and years, and years, and years of physical and mental conditioning and training, the warrior perfects tactics, strategies, and techniques and literally “installs” his or her intuition with extreme precision.

So, go into battle (and life) mindlessly, but before you turn your mind off, be sure that you have spent many years using it to teach your body, or you will die young.

Sincerely,

A Martial Artist

DanGTD Says:

September 20th, 2008, 2:41 am

There’s a great book “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”, by Shunryu Suzuki. I highly recommend it.

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

September 20th, 2008, 2:58 am

We all need to start seeing the world from a different perspective. That comes from going out everyday and keeping our eyes open to all the possibilities. It comes from learning new and exciting things that force us to stretch our minds and move outside our comfort zones.

(From Work in Progress)

Jay Says:

September 20th, 2008, 7:28 am

Excellent post to start off the weekend.
Thanks.

tigerbee Says:

September 20th, 2008, 8:58 am

I liked the post and the message. It is very easy to think we’ve reached capacity for learning something and think ourselves experts in a certain field or subject - that is when we truly shut off any other influence or input that might be vital to our growth. When I studied martial arts we did learn the warrior mind but we also practiced just as hard- visualizing yourself succeeding in the fight…which is just as important as learning the exercises.

Mary@GoodlifeZen Says:

September 20th, 2008, 9:17 am

Hi Bob!
Thanks for your great explanation of ‘Don’t Know Mind’ in martial arts. The point you make about long-term practice being the basis for intuitive responses is vital!

jak Says:

September 20th, 2008, 10:38 am

the beginner mind is a very cool concept. Love these tips. reminds me of how I approach my art. many times in art school some amazing work gets produced from this same kind of perspective. or in sports when some rebel rousing new team goes up against the big guys, they are too naive to know they are not suppose to be able to win, so its a bigger possibility to them (see US vs Russia hockey 1980).

brains Says:

September 20th, 2008, 11:13 am

I enjoyed reading you comments, I think it is a wonderful idea
my husband has demintia. and I believe he would improve if he could just start over and not require so much of himself.
I don’t have a beginers mind . I wish I did. I already think I know it all.He has a college education and he is use to knowing every thing . I wish there was some help for him,maybe for me too

Mary@GoodlifeZen Says:

September 20th, 2008, 11:41 am

Hi Brains!
I feel for you. My mother had dementia before she finally died. It was a heart-break to see a proud woman who was a Cambridge graduate reduced to someone who had only the faintest grasp of reality.

Maybe the two most important things family members can do is to be kind, and to make sure they don’t put our their life on hold.

In light of what happened with my mother, I’ve said to my son Sebastian, “If I ever get dementia, put me into a home as soon as possible. Even if I beg you to keep on living in my home or with you. Because either I’m still well enough to forge a new life in a care facility, or I’m too far gone and it doesn’t matter anyway/ I don’t want you to put your life on hold for me, ever!”

Shilpan | successsoul.com Says:

September 20th, 2008, 14:36 pm

Mary - This is incredibly fantastic post. As you know, many experts carry a great deal of stress as their tolerance for failure is limited. I have built a successful hotel business not because I am an expert in real estate deal making but because I am the most creative deal maker when it comes to making all parties happy. I always walk away with what I want with minimal cash injection as I try to think possibilities that others don’t. The result — I end up buying hotels that experts have considered not so profitable and still end up making substantial profit.

Now, you have energized me to do become more creative.

-Shilpan

Valentina Says:

September 20th, 2008, 17:23 pm

@Mary: my concept was -clearly- your post sucks :) and you suck, too -even more than I thought yesterday- if the sense you’ve taken by my comments is I miss Leo :D

Trust me, I’ve no interest in whom steps in :) ;)
Zen Habits is a place where to talk about Zen Habits. Stop.

You’ve written shit. :) Simple to understand, isn’t it?

I hope you’ll do better elsewhere, as a Zen Master. :D

Cheers,
Vale

Jae Says:

September 20th, 2008, 18:02 pm

I’d like to refer readers again to the classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind; Informal talks on Zen meditation and practice by Shunryu Suzuki, first master of Zen Center at San Francisco… (1970)

Or as we say here in the Midwest: it’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.

Thanks Leo. Good work. Thanks Mary. Namaste.

Brooks Says:

September 20th, 2008, 18:07 pm

What a thought-provoking article. Thanks also for your attention and presence when responding to comments. You indeed practice what you preach. I had never visited this blog. Just happened upon it last night, bookmarked it, then saw your post this morning. Now I am excited to come back and read more from you and the Blog’s author that everyone references. Many thanks, Mary!

Praveen Says:

September 20th, 2008, 18:24 pm

Great Post, thanks for reminding us on how to approach learning.

Susan Says:

September 20th, 2008, 19:45 pm

You don’t have children, do you Mary?

“We are all experts. Experts … in raising children”

I don’t believe there has been a parent in the history of the world who would claim that!

Dawn Says:

September 20th, 2008, 22:05 pm

Wonderful…thank you for posting that.!!

Success Professor Says:

September 20th, 2008, 23:34 pm

@ Mary

Thanks for the reply your thoughts are helpful. I guess one thing I do that fits with your thoughts is how I try to relate to the students in my college classes. I try to create a learning community. I know that as their professor, I am a senior learner, but I also know that I can learn from the students - in fact I do all the time. This naturally happens more and more as students move through their education - I know I learn more from seniors than freshman etc.. but I can always learn from both.

Stephen - Balanced Existence Says:

September 21st, 2008, 0:32 am

I’m struck by the similarities between some of the ideas of Zen and Socrates. Probably because I just started reading The Consolations of Philosophy. This article is a very good exposition on beginner’s mind.

On the subject of goal setting and beginner mind - I’ve considered this a number of times in recent years and my thinking is that we can have a beginner mind while setting goals.

I come to this conclusion from considering how some people I know have said that to plan for the future is not living in the present. However I say that if in the present moment we are planning for the future then that is what is happening in the present moment. Which is to say one can plan for the future and live right now in the endless present.

It all depends on the level of awareness. If we are mindful the ego can be off doing whatever it likes - getting angry, being jealous, placing conditions on love and so forth - while we, because of mindfulness, are just calmly watching. To me an increased level of awareness equals not getting caught up. Not becoming entangled. Because of this I say we can both plan for the future and have beginner mind.

Shreekanth Says:

September 21st, 2008, 1:16 am

wonderful post - i had an occasion to climb mount killimanjaro and this aptly can answer your question about goal vs beginners mind. the goal of reaching the mountain top is always there - but each day, each movement, we had to focus on the now(specially as we went up or went rock climbing) and completely forget the goal - so do have goal, plan, etc. but when acting have the beginners mind

Mary@GoodlifeZen Says:

September 21st, 2008, 2:42 am

Hi Susan!
I have a son. You are right - we can never get parenting quite right, however much we try.

And yet I think each parent is an ‘expert’. I’ll give you an example, then it’ll be clearer what I mean. A couple of weeks ago I was helping out with a tango class that my partner was giving. He was teaching a young couple who have a 9 month old daughter. They couldn’t find a baby-sitter, so I spent a whole hour walking up and down dandling a toddler who was too tired to sleep.

I instinctively knew exactly what to do: I bounced her up and down gently, while walking around and around. It was as if I immediately clicked back into being the mother of a baby.

What I mean by being an ‘expert’ is that we’ve done something so often that we know it in our bones.

tigerbee Says:

September 21st, 2008, 9:19 am

Happy Peace Day everyone! Happy Peace Day Valentina- telling people they suck is very mean spirited and not in line with being “zen” at all. I wish you lots of peace on this Peace Day and hope you can find the way to being harmonious in yourself instead of lashing out at others.
Peace.

jtwatt Says:

September 21st, 2008, 12:10 pm

The minute you think you know, you don’t. In fact, the minute you think ‘not knowing’ is ‘knowing’ you don’t know. Yank the tablecloth, or just grab and smash the freakin’ dishes.

Thanks Mary for your insightful post!

Michel Thigpen Says:

September 21st, 2008, 17:26 pm

Great post, I really enjoyed it.
And having skipped most of the comments I might be repeating one.
I think having at goal is important, because you are using your experience that way. Like crossing the road without using your experience, a goal is never met if you do not use your experience to get there… following the Beginner’s Mind of course :-)

Giorgio Constantine Says:

September 21st, 2008, 18:49 pm

This is a video i made for the Feeling Zen and a direct link to zenhabits.
Thank you Leo.

Giorgio Constantine Says:

September 21st, 2008, 18:51 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtLGHMIyLmU
This is a video i made for the Feeling Zen and a direct link to zenhabits.
Thank you Leo.

ZenDude Says:

September 21st, 2008, 20:08 pm

Anyone who thinks they are an expert at “many things” is actually an expert at nothing.

Ryan McLean Says:

September 21st, 2008, 23:38 pm

Wow I am a little shocked that this post has been up so long and has only had 45 comments or so. Where is the reader interaction?
There are 70,000 subscribers and only 45 comments…what is up with that?

Jonathan Mead Says:

September 22nd, 2008, 11:17 am

This is an awesome post Mary and something I’ve been thinking about lately. There’s so many different avenues for learning, it’s always an incredible journey to start something new and experience it for the first time.

I would also add, that mastering something, only unveils a new level of mastery you prior to did not see. What you thought was a 10 before, was really a 7.

Mary@GoodlifeZen Says:

September 22nd, 2008, 11:31 am

Hi ZenDude!
I agree with you - in a way. I think we can only be an expert at one thing at a time. I reckon it takes at least 10 year of single-minded effort to be an expert at anything. It has to be the most important thing in your life during that time.

However, we can be serial experts, so to speak. We can develop more than one area of expertise during a life-time. But only one will truly be current. Anyhow, that’s my experience.

Hi Jonathan!
That’s a very interesting comment, Jonathan. I agree, when we delve deep into an area of skill or knowledge, we find more and more to discover.

deepali Says:

September 22nd, 2008, 13:27 pm

I don’t claim to be an expert in Zen, but I do know something about cause-and-effect. How do you get up 8 times if you’ve only fallen 7?

While I tend to find as much value in the guest posts as I do Leo’s, I wasn’t super keen on this one. It turned me off from the first line:
“I’m an expert at many things. And I’m sick of it. Being an expert, that is. Because being an expert is boring.”

Blech. But I suspect I’m not the audience for this. I might be an overachiever, but I never would think that I’m solely responsible for accomplishing anything.

Kent @ The Financial Philosopher Says:

September 22nd, 2008, 15:23 pm

Mary, I believe I can help you to resolve the “uresolved” question in your mind with regard to the “clash” between “goal setting” and the “beginner’s mind:”

First, let go of your desire for the answer. Your desire to know the answer is distracting you from resolving what remains unresolved.

Second, the beginner’s mind may aspire to set goals but would not label it as “goal setting.” Given the capacity to express it into words, a child might label goal setting as balancing responsibility with adventure, which may be expressed more simply as enabling opportunities — not planning or goal setting.

Children do not hyper-intentionally attempt to “make things happen” — they allow them to happen — they make room for randomness — for fun — for discovery…

“Freedom from the desire for the answer is essential to the understanding of a problem.” ~ Jiddu Krishnamurti

“As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

By the way, I mean no disrespect to Leo, but this is by far the best post on Zen Habits in weeks. Great job!

Kent @ The Financial Philosopher

Brian Says:

September 22nd, 2008, 19:37 pm

Totally know how you feel about reconciling the child mind with goals, with action.

I was recently given some knowledge, a sort of punch to the gut. Action is not the antithesis to “child mind”. Toaism talks about the uncarved block, potential.

Children, set goals. “Today, I am going to climb a tree.”

I think the lesson is control. Have goals, have ambition, make magic and create. But, don’t think for a second that you can control anything, that’s just absurd.

People seems to believe that Action is a form of control, but the two are not mutually exclusive.

Mary Says:

September 23rd, 2008, 13:54 pm

It’s so true. Sometimes it is better to see the things with beginners’ eyes. So you have less borders and so you can reach more.

tara chettle Says:

September 23rd, 2008, 14:07 pm

Hi are you kids ok that is on here

tara chettle Says:

September 23rd, 2008, 14:09 pm

I am 9 years old and I have brown hair and i go to priestic primary school and I am in yr 5.

steve bickel (Yoga Video DVD dude) Says:

September 23rd, 2008, 19:59 pm

Hi Mary,

It is great that you are sock of being an expert. Where do you kite surf? When is your Zen sitting done. I sit with Zen groups here is San Diego. I have a kite but no board yet and I too want to be a beginner again :)

Namaste,

Steve

Rudolf Adamkovič, Salutis Says:

September 24th, 2008, 6:45 am

Great post! Thanks.

Matt Says:

September 24th, 2008, 11:51 am

Interesting idea what I like about the beginner’s mind is the simplicity. When we become experts what ends up happening is we’re full of ideas and opinions and I think things just get a bit cluttered up. It becomes more difficult to do anything where with the beginner mind you start with a blank slate.

Great post Mary.