Shoshin (初心) is a word from Zen Buddhism meaning “beginner’s mind.” It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner would.
Each moment arrives fresh, untouched by what came before. In today’s Koan lesson about ‘Beginner’s Mind’, Henry Shukman invites us to examine whatever appears in our consciousness with fresh eyes. To notice each breath entering and leaving, each sensation and sound appearing and disappearing, as if experiencing them for the very first time.
I sit with this practice. Each breath becomes a wonder, and gratitude wells up for simply being alive and healthy. Nature’s orchestra surrounds me – birds, the creek, my own breathing, distant cars weaving together. Thoughts and sights come and go, neither invited nor uninvited. In this space, a simple truth emerges: “It is just perfect!”
The Weight of Experience
As life unfolds, we collect experiences and perspectives that can cloud our vision. These accumulated layers become filters, adding opacity to how we see the world. We bring preconceptions to almost everything we encounter.
Watch how biases about colleagues colour our perception of meetings and encounters, perpetuating tension and ineffective partnerships. Notice how frustration builds with our spouses, even as they genuinely try to address our concerns. See how people of different religions and ideologies become harder to understand when we close ourselves to their thoughts and opinions.
But with Beginner’s Mind, we have another choice. We can meet each event as if it’s our first encounter – free from the weight of prior experience. We can approach others with genuine curiosity about their intentions. Mysteriously, this shift in our own attitude often awakens a similar openness in others. It’s one of life’s beautiful paradoxes.
The Bridge to Understanding
Openness, when genuine rather than performative, becomes our best tool for resolving conflicts and nurturing harmonious relationships. Beginner’s Mind offers a path to create more peaceful spaces, both in our professional worlds and personal lives.
Yet knowing differs from doing. We understand that openness serves us, but how often do we genuinely practice this awareness in our daily actions? This is where meditation becomes our ally. Through daily practice, we strengthen our ‘pause to check in’ muscles. When old judgments surface, we now have a choice – to pause, reflect, and gently guide our attitude back toward Beginner’s Mind.
What might you discover if you approached just one situation today as if seeing it for the very first time?
