As soon as you notice the mind has lost its one-pointedness, begin your meditation practice again.
When I was seventeen and first began reading books about Buddhism, I came across a book by Zen master Suzuki Roshi called Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Maybe some people who visit our blog haven’t read it yet…
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Shunryu-Suzuki/dp/0834800799
Anyway, when I read this book I’m not sure I got anything out of it except the wish to know more and to earnestly seek a spiritual tradition. At that time, I never reflected on the title or understood its meaning. Now, more than ten years later, I’ve been reflecting on this first contact with Buddhism and wondering…what is beginner’s mind anyway?
Linguistically, it is an intriguing phrase. The word “beginner” can mean so many things. The explanation in the book is (from my own point of view as a Vajrayana practitioner) quite in line with the Vajrayana teachings. Suzuki Roshi says that beginner’s mind is “recognition of our true nature…” (which I translate for myself to mean the nature of mind. Of course I am not trying to confuse anyone by saying that the teachings of Zen are identical to those of Vajrayana. I’m simply reflecting on the language.) What a beautiful definition.
But beyond technical definitions, what is beginner’s mind. What does beginner’s mind look like when we see it in the world around us? By the way, I’d love to know your thoughts on this…
I can only write here from my point of view and experience as a Vajrayana practitioner. One idea I have about beginner’s mind for a Vajrayana practitioner is the emphasis that is placed on starting your practice over and over again. This is an essential instruction for any form of practice, whether it be foundational or more advanced tantric practice. For this reason, when Anyen Rinpoche gives meditation teachings to practitioners new and old alike, he always gives this instruction: as soon as you notice the mind has lost its one-pointedness, begin your meditation practice again. (As an aside, many people are puzzled by what this means. I’m not even sure one can understand it in words as well as it can be understood by doing.) But in any case, something magical happens when you refocus the mind and start fresh. The mind has a chance to cut through its own wandering, and the mind’s tendency to move from place to place–from thought to thought– is, for a moment, tamed. For a Vajrayana practitioner, I think this must be part of beginner’s mind. Or perhaps is it is way to touch ‘beginner’s mind’ as Suzuki Roshi defined it.
I have often thought of Anyen Rinpoche in terms of this phrase beginners’ mind. Beginner’s mind is technical and clinical (despite its beautiful definition) until we put a face to it. Anyen Rinpoche’s sheer delight from moment to moment is one aspect of what I call beginner’s mind. Usually at the end of teachings, Rinpoche asks people to offer jokes. Actually, he started by asking people to sing (an important part of Tibetan culture), but found that we Westerners are too shy to sing in public for the most part. I must say that Will always obliged, even when the rest of us were too embarrassed.
Rinpoche does not just laugh at jokes, his whole body shakes and he laughs until he cries. His laughter is contagious…and soon there is no one in the room who isn’t laughing. I have always been self-conscious of expressing my feelings to others, and I have come to think it is a special quality, to be able to take such delight in life and give that experience to others. The ability to move people to feel and experience happiness–or move them to experiences that will show them their true nature and point out their short-comings–I think, must be the embodiment of beginner’s mind.
This is a call for new jokes! Rinpoche loves to write them in his notebook and tell them to his students at teachings. Please send what you have…
Allison
www.anyenrinpoche.com
