For Zen students, a weed is a treasure.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
In Japan we have the phrase, "Shoshin," which means "beginner's mind." Our "original mind" includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient within itself. This does not mean a closed mind, but actually an empty mind and a ready mind. If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything. It is open to everything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The concept of 'beginner's mind' emphasizes openness and readiness for new experiences, allowing for greater possibilities.
Shunryu Suzuki's quote highlights the importance of maintaining a 'beginner's mind'—a perspective characterized by openness, eagerness, and a lack of preconceived notions. It contrasts this mindset with that of an expert, suggesting that while experts may have valuable knowledge, they often limit themselves to familiar patterns and possibilities. An empty and open mind, as described in this philosophy, is more flexible and prepared to embrace new ideas and experiences, fostering creativity and growth.
Themes
Beginner'S MindOpennessPossibilityWisdomCreativityLearning
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation session, the instructor emphasized the importance of maintaining a beginner's mind to fully appreciate the experience.
More from Shunryu Suzuki
All quotes →If you take pride in your attainment or become discouraged because of your idealistic effort, your practice will confine you by a thick wall.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
As long as you seek for something, you will get the shadow of reality and not reality itself.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
No teaching could be more direct than just to sit down.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
Everything is perfect, but there is a lot of room for improvement.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
When you do not realize that you are one with the river, or one with the universe, you have fear. Whether it is separated into drops or not, water is water. Our life and death are the same thing. When we realize this fact, we have no fear of death anymore.
Shunryu SuzukiRead
Similar quotes
Soul, if you want to learn secrets, your heart must forget about shame and dignity. You are God's lover, yet you worry what people are saying.
RumiRead
The principal use of prudence, of self-control, is that it teaches us to be masters of our passions, and to so control and guide them that the evils which they cause are quite bearable, and that we even derive joy from them all.
Rene DescartesRead
Only when you combine sound intellect with emotional discipline do you get rational behavior.
Warren BuffettRead
The desire of glory is the last infirmity cast off even by the wise.
TacitusRead
I have flown in just about everything, with all kinds of pilots in all parts of the world - British, French, Pakistani, Iranian, Japanese, Chinese - and there wasn't a dime's worth of difference between any of them except for one unchanging, certain fact: the best, most skillful pilot has the most experience.
Chuck YeagerRead
Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.
William ShakespeareRead