The words of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, a teacher who helped bring the ideas of Zen Buddhism to the West, are collected in the book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal talks on Zen Meditation and Practice.
Beautifully worded, with a lot to take in.
Lessons for Yogis:
1) Shoshin is a word for “Beginner’s Mind.” When we take our first yoga classes, everything is new, but we may forget that feeling after we have been practicing awhile. It is good to come to the mat each time as if everything is new, ready to discover and to learn.
2) Non-striving is a part of the yogic philosophy that fits here. In Zen meditation, there isn’t an emphasis on achievement or accomplishment… in both of these spaces we are creating an environment free of goals.
3) An idea in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind that would be especially beneficial for creative work is Openness. Many possibilities, many solutions, come to mind when we are open, instead of taking an approach of pre-conceived notions. On the mat, we can let go of expectations for ourselves and of a class.
To read the prologue of the book or to learn more about Shunryu Suzuki, cuke.com is a dedicated website.
We’ve got a copy of this book if you come to my classes and would like to borrow it ~Jordan
GROUNDING YOGA 