BEGINNER’S MIND

Dawn Mauricio

Sometimes we think our practice should be a certain way, most often after a calm, concentrated, or pleasant meditation. However, if we don’t catch the thought that tells us, “This is how it’s supposed to be,” the next time we practice, we might unconsciously spend our whole practice period trying to recreate a past pleasant experience. That is the trap of an “expert’s mind,” or a mind that thinks it “knows.”

Applying a “beginner’s mind” can be refreshing and take the pressure off. When we approach meditation with a beginner’s mind, we allow ourselves to experience many possibilities, unlike the expert’s mind that limits us. An example of a beginner’s mind is a child playing in a new playground. They have a sense of curiosity, awe, and excitement as they play and explore their environment. They might squeal with excitement if something pleasantly surprises them or cry if they don’t like something.

The idea of beginner’s mind first came from the Zen Buddhist tradition. Zen monk and teacher Shunryu Suzuki said, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, in the expert’s mind there are few.” By embracing the beginner’s mind approach to meditation, we can let go of expectations and preconceived notions, and open ourselves up to new experiences and growth.

Of course, simply deciding to practice with a beginner’s mind doesn’t mean it’s going to happen smoothly. It takes effort to constantly remind ourselves to let go of preconceived notions and expectations. This is the essence of any meditation practice—allowing ourselves the space to start over and over and over again.

The act of starting over and over again can lead to feelings of discouragement. This is completely normal! When you veer off in practice—whether for many minutes or many months—it’s important to acknowledge that feeling this way doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong or that you’re not cut out for meditation. You’re simply experiencing what many others have experienced before you.

Whether you’re subtly judging the expert’s mind that keeps showing up, or the fact that you need to begin again more times than you like, it’s important to be gentle with yourself. When this happens, acknowledge the part of you that is yearning for ease and wants to do things “right.” That part of you simply cares about your well-being, and might not have imagined the challenges along the way. If you react out of judgment, your meditation practice won’t be a source of joy but rather another todo item on a long list.

Not everything transformative needs to be hard. Keep things simple by starting with a length of time that feels accessible. How long you practice and how many consecutive days you practice is not the be-all and end-all. What matters most is that you start again, no matter how many times you may have to.

By working with your mind in a kind and compassionate way, you can cultivate a sense of ease and joy in your meditation practice. Don’t let the expert’s mind limit you. Embrace the beginner’s mind and allow yourself to experience the many possibilities that meditation has to offer.

Dawn Mauricio is co-teaching the Living Dharma Program, Sept 2023 - May 2024