The Beauty of the Beginner’s Mind
When we watch babies explore their world there is something so incredibly special. They see everything anew and bring curiosity that inspires. Wouldn’t it be nice if people, as adults, could capture some of that magic? How would our world be different? Instead of bringing previous experiences and judgments to our days, what if we did bring that spirit of openness?
Zen Buddhism provides a concept that may be of benefit. Hoshin or “beginner’s mind” talks about bringing an attitude of openness, eagerness, and a lack of preconceptions to our efforts to study a new subject no matter if it is at an advanced level. Beyond learning a new subject, it might be of benefit to even apply this concept to daily actions. There are so many occasions and times that preconceptions and judgments come into our actions. It happens automatically. There is some neuroscience to explain why this happens, but for now, the focus remains on outward behaviors and internal experiences.
Oftentimes our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions happen so quickly that their origin is often missed. We just react instead of act. That means patterns and experiences are brought up lightning-quick, even before we have time to process what is happening. So the trick becomes to practice, slowing down to catch when this is happening and activating the “beginner’s mind” instead, approaching the situation with an openness to learn and make a different choice.
Two types of examples may provide further insight. The first is about learning new subjects. Let’s say that someone wants to learn another language, and has never learned a new language. That person will most likely approach the subject with a strong willingness to learn and be open and eager to take on this new task. Now let’s say that person has now already learned two languages and wants to learn another language. There is a chance that the person could be thinking that, “I already know how to learn a language. There is not much more that I can learn in terms of the learning process.” That becomes problematic. There is always more to learn, and it may be beneficial to approach the situation with more openness to find out new ideas and concepts that may be even more effective. This is the first type of example of where the “beginner’s mind” is of benefit.
Transitioning to the second type of example, there is more to learn. In daily life chances are thoughts like, “I know how ____ is going to act,” or “Her behavior is so predictable,” or “I always do that.” This list continues with different variations, but the pattern here is assuming someone’s behavior or even one’s own behavior. Happens so frequently and, as mentioned above, it happens so quickly. Enter the concept of the “beginner’s mind.” What if, when this happens, the situation is entered into with curiosity and a desire to look at the picture anew instead of seeing the old pattern and bringing in preconceptions. It might be surprising how much one learns. With that said, this process is not always easy. It asks everyone to slow down and notice when assumptions and old patterns are arising. It asks for action instead of reaction. While at times challenging, this process is always worth the work. And thinking of the “beginner’s mind” gives the brain a concept to grasp and introduce which may help the process of slowing down.
Yellow flower on a white books with the title: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.
Take Action Today Moment:
Find ways that you can integrate the “beginner’s mind” into your daily life. Start simple! Practice in situations where there is not a lot of pressure and things are calm. When you practice during calm times it makes it easier for the brain to access this new skill in times of stress and pressure.
Pay attention to how you bring preconceptions to your actions. Take a few moments each day to see when and how you bring preconceptions into your daily actions. It might surprise you to see how often they come up even during tasks that might be considered mundane.
If you have the ability, watch a baby or young child explore their world. Take those moments to just enjoy the pureness of the moment.