What is Beginner’s Mind?
A few years ago, I attended an international railway conference with my partner, a railway consultant. A conference perk was a ride on a steam locomotive-powered train that rides the rails on special occasions between Calgary, Alberta, and Lake Louise, Banff National Park, and back.
The luxuriously appointed railcars have wide, open-air platforms at each end, where you can stand, wave to onlookers gathered along the tracks, absorb the breath-taking scenery, and breathe in the fresh mountain air.
I grew up near the mountains. I’ve taken a similar ride before. I know the railway tunnels. I know the names of mountains and trails along the track. I know where to expect wildlife to appear. I know how long it takes to get from A to B. I’ve been there, done that.
I had a choice. I could experience this adventure in one of two ways: either with an expert’s knowledge or a beginner’s mind.
Although it was spring and quite cool, I spent most of my time on the platform, savouring the adventure, watching for wildlife and taking mental pictures of the natural beauty around me. I watched steam curl over the rail cars ahead, whenever the historic locomotive chugged around a long curve. I heard the rushing water in fast-flowing streams and listened to the wind blow through the pines.
Life is fresh, new and exciting in a beginner’s mind. Perspective changes. The mind is empty, open and eager to embrace new experiences. Like an innocent, the beginner has no expectations and no preconceived notions. Everything is a surprise. As a beginner, it’s easy to savour fine details and feel gratitude for the wonder that surrounds you.
The beginner’s mind is based on a Zen Buddhist philosophy called shoshin. Anyone can practice this philosophy every single moment of every day.
Imagine bringing a fresh outlook to everyday life: to open your heart and not allow pre-set attitudes, judgments or expectations to cloud your mind. A beginner’s mind looks at everything as if it’s brand new – embracing the “new” in the “old” and viewing life with curiosity and wonder.
Opening the door to new perspectives is a scary proposition, but it’s the first step on the road to change, renewal and forward motion.
How does beginner’s mind relate to core shamanism?
With a beginner’s mind, you can interpret messages from the Spirit World through new eyes – look at spiritual journeys from fresh or different perspectives to extract more details and information; hence, more wisdom, knowledge or messages that resonate with you.
Spirit World messages can be cryptic or metaphorical. Bringing a beginner’s mind to their interpretation can help you to see completely new possibilities, rather than pulling your interpretations out of the same old box of thoughts.
Adopting a beginner’s mind
Here’s a simple exercise. Next time you go outside, look more closely at your surroundings. What colours do you see on the ground? In the sky? What textures are on the trees or grasses in your yard? What sounds do you hear? Take a deep breath. What do you smell? Listen. Do you hear the wind? Savour the moment, as if it’s the first time that you’ve ever walked outside your door. Do you notice anything new?
Avoid taking anything for granted. Every sight and sound is precious, and every moment, fleeting. You will never be in this place at this time again. Enjoy it, and be thankful for it.
With a beginner’s mind, leaving your house to do errands, go to work or travel from A to B can be transformed into a wonderful experience.
Benefits of beginner’s mind
If you approach life with a beginner’s mind, you will rarely experience disappointment or frustration. Without preconceived ideas, judgments, assumptions, fantasies or expectations – let’s call this the closed box – your barriers drop, and you become more open to what’s really happening outside your mind.
Sound easy? It takes a great deal of practice to let go and open your heart, because, as a beginner, you are vulnerable. And being vulnerable means that there’s always a chance you’ll get hurt. What you may not realize is that, by having no expectations, there is less chance that you will be truly hurt, because you are more likely to take whatever happens in stride – with confidence, wonder and curiosity. You will develop resilience and flexibility, because your mind is open to any possibility.
Mundane tasks at home and work will become easier. The beginner’s mind unburdens you from feeling frustrated, anxious and bored. You’ll stop procrastinating and start living the Nike philosophy, “Just do it!” And, you’ll enjoy the Zen moments that it offers.
Instead of worrying, the beginner’s mind wonders about everything. It’s a subtle change of attitude that comes with practice. Instead of worrying that you’ll fail at something, wonder what it will be like. Instead of worrying about what will happen, be curious about what will happen. Enjoy each moment. Like the eating exercise, explore the details. What will you learn? Even the smallest takeaways have value to appreciate. Feel gratitude.
Opening the box will enable you to view relationships through new eyes. It’s easier to step into someone else’s shoes, to feel kindness and empathy when they don’t live up to your preconceived ideas of how they should act or feel. It becomes easier to appreciate people and their imperfections. They are struggling, just like you, to make sense of the world. Opening the box can transform your relationships.
How to practice beginner’s mind
Beginner’s mind is a central part of meditation. Daily meditation can help you to open the closed box and release its contents in a safe and secure environment. This practice prepares you to think with a beginner’s mind in your daily work and home environments.
Begin by sitting upright and comfortably in a quiet place.
Take a deep breath, and then let it go. Take another. Let it go. Breathe deeply until you begin to feel relaxed. Return to normal breathing, but continue to focus on your breathing, in and out.
Before long, your thoughts will wander. Your relaxed mind will begin to open the box. Preconceived ideas, expectations, fantasies and judgments may pop into your conscious mind. Notice those thoughts.
Then release them. Throw them away. Empty your mind. Focus on your breathing.
Whenever thoughts from the closed box surface, repeat this practice. Let them go. Just let them go. Open your beginner’s mind to focus on the experience of breathing: how it feels in your body, the sound of inhalation and exhalation, the texture of air flowing through your mouth, down your throat, in your lungs.
When you practice this meditation regularly, you will find that it’s easier to open the box in everyday situations, release its contents and appreciate your experiences with a fresh outlook and beginner’s mind.
You will feel love, gratitude and joy in ways that you never anticipated.