Art of Beginning

Recently, I led a workshop on Zen and meditation at a local college. The students were open and inquisitive, but I could sense their apprehension about being beginners.

They spoke of meditation as a steep climb, wondering how to move from the frustrations of a novice to the calm of a master. I assured them that the mind of a beginner is the best place to be.

In Zen, there is a term called Shoshin, which means beginner's mind. A beginner’s mind is a mind that is open, curious, and free from preconceptions. It is a mind of discovery, not of mastery.

To live with a beginner's mind is to meet each moment for the first time, without the armor of certainty. It is to have a profound willingness to be touched by what is before you.

In my art, I strive to create with this mind. When I set aside what I know, the work comes alive.

The same is true for my life. Every breath, every encounter, every turning of the seasons is an invitation to begin again.

To dare to live as a beginner is to live fresh, unguarded, and awake to the wonder of things as they are.