A routine Sunday at the river; the sun positioned high with the occasional breeze cooling my skin as I run . . . the promise of a perfect day. One would expect nothing but tranquility at this moment, yet my mind drifts easily to a self-made list of chores and the calls I had to make . . .
Then they crossed my path!
Anyone from my hometown, or any hometown for that matter, (blessed with nature inside their city), can attest to the caution one has when crossing in front of geese with a baby present. I slowed my jog to let them pass.
As I watched the trio move up and away from the riverbank, I calmed my exertion by taking in a breath and releasing an even longer exhale. And then my training hit! I forgot about those chores and calls. I saw only what was directly in front of me and let me tell you it was like the first time I had ever seen a family of Canadian geese.
I was in the moment. I was experiencing awe; I had dropped into the beginner's mind.
"According to Zen Buddhism, this is Shoshin, (a concept meaning beginner’s mind). Popularized outside of Japan by the 1970 book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki, it outlines that "in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few."
What is beginner’s mind?
Simply put, it is just as it sounds, seeing something for the first time without anticipation or bias, giving us the ability to see with clarity. This is often felt among travelers when visiting sites in faraway lands. Imagine standing in front of the Great Pyramids, Stonehenge or the Grand Canyon? The awe you feel as you take in the view before you. You dispel any preconceived notions of "what it should look like" from photos and videos and actually see it for the first time.
And the amazing thing is we can do this every day, with things we already know, faces we have already seen, experiences we have already had.
It just takes a breath in, a long breath out and practice.
Why is it important?
Learning to see through "fresh eyes" is part of a healthy life. A happier life.
For example, you always "see" the ones you love (partner, friend, child or pet) your home, your city, the small bird that crosses your path, but when was the last time you really saw these things with your heart? With your soul?
Seeing the new AND the familiar with beginner's mind allows you to truly live in the moment, even if it is just for that moment. It slows down life, it eases your racing mind, it calms your thoughts, and what I feel is the most important side effect, it opens your heart to gratitude. You see things for what they are, and you are grateful for them exactly as they are presented (not the way you thought, wished or hoped they would be).
A beginner's mind helps you access these new and exciting experiences. A beginner's mind also helps you develop deeper gratitude and free yourself from expectations about past experiences. If you no longer expect anything specific, every outcome is something to be grateful for. (Betterup.com 2021).
Living in Awe with the Beginner's Mind - Ways to practice
1. Be like a child: Yep, a child. They see things for the first time with utter joy. And then they see them again and again with the same enthusiasm. Learn to play, learn to react to the world with amazement. Channel a toddler!
2. Slow down: Act with intention and live in the exact moment you are in. Yes, those chores weigh heavy, and those calls still need to be made, but if you see yourself walking through life like a preconditioned robot, stop, breathe, watch and listen.
3. Stop thinking like an expert: you aren't right about everything all the time! Perhaps looking for new ideas, new approaches or the "other side of the story" will offer greater insight to your life and the world around you. Remember as Suzuki states "in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few."
My friends, we all get caught up with the importance of our lives, but if you truly want to experience a Mindful Life, start with the moment you are in, with the experience that is happening right in front of your eyes and see it as though it was the very first time.
As my geese ambled past me in search of their breakfast amongst the grassy inclines, I felt a smile lift the corners of my lips. As my feet and legs took up stride and moved me back to the day ahead, I mindfully tucked the experience of my new feathered friends in my heart so I could retrieve it later when I will need to relive a moment of gratitude.
That is the beginner's mind. That is living in awe!
Go with peace. Until next time.
Nadina
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