As I’ve been watching our three kittens grow, exploring all the cracks and corners of our home, exercising the classic curiosity of a cat, I’ve found myself returning to the Zen Buddhism philosophy of the “beginner’s mind,” also sometimes referred to as the “don’t know mind.”
When we approach our lives through the lens of a beginner and practice not knowing, we create the opportunity to open ourselves to the mystery of each moment, allowing the present moment to unfold as it will without feeling a need to direct, control or manipulate a situation or circumstance that we believe we know well. Taking the perspective of not knowing, as the Fool—numbered as 0 in every Tarot deck, indicating that this card can be placed either at the beginning or end of the tarot journey—does, we allow ourselves to view life from a fresh perspective and, essentially, get out of our own way. Although called the Fool, the significance of this card and exploring meditation—and all aspects of our lives—from the perspective of a beginner’s mind is anything but foolish. Rather, the Fool is wise and represents new beginnings, new opportunities and unlimited potential. Free from the burdens, beliefs, aspirations, rigidities and fears that we collect as we age, the Fool is focused on the new adventure that he is about to embark upon. As the ultimate beginner, he (or she) is open to learning, exploring and being present with and curious about what is and could unfold in any given moment.
Understanding A Beginner’s Mind
I love how author, Buddhist practitioner, Spirit Rock Meditation Center founding teacher and a direct teacher of mine Jack Kornfield describes the beginner’s mind and the don’t know mind in his article, The Beauty of the Beginner’s Mind.
Jack begins the article with these two paragraphs:
The wisdom of uncertainty frees us from what Buddhist psychology calls the thicket of views and opinions. “Seeing misery in those who cling to views, a wise person should not adopt any of them. A wise person does not by opinions become arrogant. How could anyone bother those who are free, who do not grasp at any views? But those who grasp after views and opinions wander about the world annoying people.” I like to think that the Buddha said this last sentence with a laugh. Ajahn Chah used to shake his head and smile, “You have so many opinions. And you suffer so much from them. Why not let them go?”
Freedom from views is like a cleaning of the glass, a breath of fresh air. Zen master Shunryu Suzuki calls this open-mindedness “beginner’s mind.” Listen to Rachel Carson, the great naturalist, as she evokes it: “A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune that for most of us that clear-eyed vision, that true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring, is dimmed and even lost before we reach adulthood. If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.”
Although difficult due to cultural conditioning, so much freedom from suffering can occur when we work on letting engrained ideas, thoughts, opinions and behaviors go. Or, at least begin to explore them with a beginner’s mind. When we put away the “expert” in us—the part that anticipates the future and believes that it ‘knows’ what’s going to happen, especially when fears loom and catastrophe fills the imagination—we become more open to exploring what could possibly happen. Perhaps what we discover would be a lovely surprise and something we didn’t expect. Rather than “knowing” and trying to control an outcome, practicing a beginner’s mind unlocks infinite possibilities.
Opening To New Possibilities
As I’m writing this, I’m thinking of a person who had to abruptly leave a scenario that was dangerous for her. As she sat in her car, struggling with her pride, she wondered who she could call for help. She was in a state of despair and really needed a helping hand. Drawing deep inside of herself, she remembered to use her Wise Mind. Although the Wise Mind is generally a concept associated with Buddhist philosophy, it overlaps concepts in contemporary Western psychology. According to American psychologist and founder of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Marsha Linehan, in addition to the Reason Mind and the Emotion Mind, the Wise Mind (this link from Therapist Aid has a helpful diagram to help you understand the difference and overlap between Emotion Mind, Reason Mind and Wise Mind), is also a core concept in DBT. According to an article in Behavioral Tech, Wisdom in DBT - Finding Wise Mind (Part 1), “Wise Mind is being able to go deep within and intuitively know what the most effective course of action is to pursue. It is very important to realize that Wisdom (Wise Mind) is found experientially. It is not found through our reasoning or our emotions.” The article also states, “Wise Mind is not something you have to develop. It is always present; we just do not always access it. Practicing the core mindfulness “What” and “How” skills are designed to assist you with being able to routinely access and act intuitively from Wise Mind.”
Utilizing her inner wisdom—her Wise Mind—helped her text several people she knew from a local program she was part of. To her surprise, the people she reached out to ALL came to help her and, as it turned out, each one of them had at one time been in a similar situation. Now, months later, they have all continued to foster a connected, supportive and enriching relationship that is beneficial to each of them.
When we are in the unknown, when we reach out for help, when we practice opening—utilizing a beginner’s mind and taking thoughtful risks—very often we are met with just what we envisioned and were hoping for.
Just like me with these three little kittens. When the opportunity to adopt them arose, I certainly experienced some trepidation and wondered more than once what I was doing! Yet, rather than succumb to fear and toss around all the “what-ifs”, we made the decision to welcome them into our home. One of the tremendous joys I’m experiencing is having them cuddle and sleep on my big office chair as I write this post. Having them in our home feels so complete and so joyful. It’s something I knew I had hoped for, but didn’t imagine that such a gift would be presented to me.
I don’t know how these mysteries happen. But, I think that’s the point, right? However, I do know that they often do. I also know that there are practices we can undertake to assist in expanding our perspective and lives.
5 Practices To Help You Embrace A Beginner's Mind
As you put the tips listed below into practice, simultaneously practice talking gently and kindly to yourself, saying your own name or a sweet term of endearment as you do so, which really can be quite powerful. This stimulates your Inner Nurturer and invokes loving tenderness.
Practice expanding boundaries—Push past the limits that you might believe define you.
Practice uncertainty—Push yourself to explore. Maybe you take different routes to work or try different foods or activities. Begin by taking risks that are manageable and that interrupt your habituated way of doing things.
Practice freedom from the outcome—Let potential mistakes or perhaps even failing be a part of the process. Remind yourself that every time we get lost or make a mistake, we learn something. Breaking apart also means breaking OPEN and presents an opportunity to move toward what else life can and will offer you.
Practice vulnerability—Practicing not knowing from a place of vulnerability allows you to trust that what you are looking for will come to you in ways your conditioned mind can’t possibly know. Trust that what you need will come to you.
Practicing opening to yes and asking for support—Trust that asking for a handhold, a hug, a connection, and taking in the uncertainty that is inherent in each moment that the unexpected will happen and that mystery unfolds when you don’t try to control the outcome.
As you put into practice the tips offered above, allow yourself to be surprised. To be in the moment of NOW. To be free of expectations. To free yourself from the wish to protect yourself by being certain that you ‘know’ what’s going to happen.
Embracing The Mystery Of Each Moment
I want to add that in most lives there is struggle, there is sadness and there is sorrow. There are things that happen that are painful and unfair, yet the mystery that can unfold is still there. The invitation here is not to expect that the next moment will be fabulous and magical. Rather, the invitation is to be present to whatever unfolds, trusting that there is a way. By putting the next foot forward, you are continuing to be present for whatever comes forward for you.
It’s my hope that at least something I’ve offered about approaching your life through the lens of a beginner’s mind and not knowing is helpful and, ideally, inspiring .
I’ll close with these words of wisdom from two beloved meditation teachers.
“Lest we take the not-knowing practice too far, ‘Not-knowing does not mean you don’t know.’ It doesn’t require us to forget everything we have known or to suspend all interpretations of a situation. Not-knowing means not being limited by what we know, holding what we know lightly so that we are ready for it to be different. Maybe things are this way. But maybe they are not.”
“Underneath all the wanting and grasping, underneath the need to understand is what we have called “the body of fear.” At the root of suffering is a small heart, frightened to be here, afraid to trust the river of change, to let go in this changing world. This small unopened heart grasps and needs and struggles to control what is unpredictable and unprocessable. But we can never know what will happen. With wisdom we allow this not knowing to become a form of trust.”
Also, please enjoy this free, guided meditation designed to help you with a beginner’s mind meditation practice. As with all my guided meditations, please feel free to enjoy them and share with friends and on social media and other online platforms. However, I respectfully ask that should you choose to share them that proper attribution is given.
Blessings,
Karen