Summary Of Beginner's Mind By Henryu Suzuki

Thesis: According to Suzuki, a beginner’s mind is a pure, empty and ready mind that is emphasized due to the fact that it is not closed off from the world and is inherently self-sufficient. In the Prologue to Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki, Suzuki outlines and underscores the importance of having a beginners mind. Suzuki explains how a beginner’s mind, in Zen Buddhism, is essentially the mindset of a person as they first approach the practice of Zen Buddhism. Overtime, as the person begins to practice more and more, they start to develop a new attitude towards the practice. These new attitude often means that many of the mind become inhibited and losses important characteristics. For example, Suzuki states, “The beginner's
mind is a mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless,” (Suzuki 2). This boundless aspect allows people to be the truest form of themselves, which can be lost if the mind is transformed out of a beginner stage. Additionally, when the mind starts to stray away from the different aspects of a beginner's mind it becomes “impure.” This idea trails into why Suzuki chooses to so heavily emphasize the idea of a beginner’s mind. Suzuki states, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are a few,” (Suzuki 2). Essentially, Suzuki is alluding to the idea that it is extremely important to Zen Buddhism, and in life, to approach everything with a mindset not bogged down by any previous notions or expectations. The beginner’s mind is not limited by self-centered, egotistical thoughts that hinder one’s ability to live freely in the world. It also has significance because it “includes everything within itself,” or in other words is “self sufficient,” (Suzuki 2). This self-sufficiency allows a person who still has a beginner’s mind to possess any of the tools needed to live a successful life.