Beginner's Mind

Text

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few. In the beginner's mind there is no thought 'I have attained something.' When we have no thought of achievement, no thought of self, we are true beginners. Then we can really learn something.

license: public_domain

Attribution

• Attributed To
  Shunryu Suzuki

Lineage: Sōtō

By Shunryu Suzuki

• No Gaining Ideaproverb
• Moment After Momentproverb
• Nothing Specialproverb
• Pulling Weedsproverb
• Give Your Sheep a Large Meadowproverb

From Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

• No Gaining Idea
• Moment After Moment
• Nothing Special
• Pulling Weeds
• Give Your Sheep a Large Meadow
• Burn Yourself Completely
• If Your Mind Is Empty
• Zen Is Concentration on Routine
• Accept Yourself
• Beginner's Mind

Sources

• contentWikisource — English-language free library

  Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Prologue

  Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Beginner's Mind