Don’t Check Out the View

Awareness through Beginner’s Eyes

“A lot of our troubles could be solved by one simple practice.
A lot of joy could be found with the same practice.
And it is simple: practice seeing life with a beginner’s mind.”
– Leo Babauta

What is beginner’s mind? It’s a bit of confusion, and a lot of curiosity and wonder. It’s releasing expectations, forgetting preconceptions, and seeing with an open mind, fresh eyes, like a beginner — or a child.

“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.” — Rachel Carson

The word Shoshin, of Zen Buddhism, means “beginner’s mind.” It’s 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.

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” — Shunryu Suzuki

But it’s not just for learning — it can be practiced all the time. Leo Babauta applies it to breakfast:

• You start by seeing the activity of eating with fresh eyes, as if you don’t know what to expect, as if you hadn’t done it thousands of times already.
• You really look at the food, the bowl, the spoon, and try to see the details that you might not normally notice.
• You truly notice the textures, tastes, smells, sights of the food, pay close attention as if you don’t already know how the food will taste. Everything seems new, perhaps even full of wonder.
• You don’t take anything for granted, and appreciate every bite as a gift. It’s temporary, fleeting, and precious.

And voila — the practice of beginner’s mind transforms a mundane activity.

Why?

• Better Experiences. When you don’t have prejudgements, preconceptions, ideas about what something should be, you can’t be disappointed or frustrated by the experience, because there’s nothing to compare it to.
• Stronger Relationships. Instead of succumbing to frustration due to someone not living up to your expectations, you can see that they have good intentions (even if different than your own), are trying to be happy, are struggling too. Seeing another being with fresh eyes, realizing that they are just like you in many ways, is transformative to a relationship.
• Heightened Productivity. Looking at a big task or project with beginner’s mind allows curiosity about what it will be like to replace worry regarding how hard it may be. Acknowledge the details instead of trying to escape them.
• Lower Anxiety. Instead of worrying about what might happen, you can open your mind to the unknown of what might be, let go of preconceived ideas about the outcome and embrace being present.

The practice of beginner’s mind can alchemize difficulties into flexibility, openness, curiosity, gratitude, and presence.

How?

One way is in meditation… You drop the knowing and pay attention. Your breath, which you know so well, becomes new. Visions become clear. Feelings expand. You see and feel with fresh eyes. Right?

1. Sit comfortably and upright in a quiet place.
2. Pay attention to your body, then your breath, trying to see them clearly and freshly.
3. When you notice yourself having preconceived ideas, wandering from the present moment, thinking you know how it will be… notice that.
4. Try to drop the ideas, thoughts and stories that are filling your mind. See what’s actually in front of you. Feel what your breath is actually like, right now, instead of what you think it will be due to how it has been. Or notice what you’re thinking about.

Repeat, over and over. Note the thoughts and fantasies, empty yourself and see what’s actually there with fresh eyes. Practice this right now — with how your body feels, the way your breath sounds, how whatever is right in front of you looks.

Remember, you can practice with anything, as long as you remember to practice — breakfast, brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, walking, working, talking… Practice when you speak with someone — dropping your ideas of how they should be and seeing them as they are. Notice their good heart, their difficulties, and be grateful for them as they are. Find compassion for their struggles. Love them as they are.

It’s a practice. Do it with a smile and gratitude for the reality that is right in front of us — as if seeing it for the first time.

Freedom

Freedom from views, or preconceived ideas, is like cleaning the glass, a breath of fresh air — for when we are free from views, we are willing to learn.

Seung Sahn, Korean Zen master, asked his students questions like, “What is love? What is consciousness? Where did your life come from? What is going to happen tomorrow?” When they answered, “I don’t know.” Seung Sahn replied, “Good. Keep this ‘don’t know mind.’ It is an open mind, a clear mind.”

In relationships, when we assume we lose our freshness, our edge, our playfulness. Whether as friends, parents, lovers, even within ourselves, what we see about those close to us is only a small part of their mystery. Through beginner’s mind we are able to see each other mindfully, free from views. Without views, we listen more deeply and see more clearly which reveals a bit more of another’s true nature and depth.

“For there are moments,” says Rilke, “when something new has entered into us, something unknown; our feelings grow mute in shy perplexity, everything in us withdraws, a stillness comes, and the new, which no one knows, stands in the midst of it and is silent.”

Freedom to be. You. Me. As we are. Without dogmatic ideals, there is no failure — we are free to soar. So clean your super hero glasses, breath in the fresh air, and check out the new view with beginner’s eyes!

The Conscious Life Collective — to practice beginner’s mind together.

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