Discover how to factory reset your mind

 

While teaching in the United States in the 1960s, a renowned Zen master named Shunryu Suzuki invited a group of his students to join him in a tea ceremony. The students arrived, eager to learn from their master. As they were waiting, they noticed that Suzuki was carefully washing each teacup, pouring hot water into them, and then dumping the water out. He repeated this process several times, with great care and attention to detail.

After several minutes of this, one of the students couldn’t contain his impatience. "Master," he asked, "when are you going to start teaching us? We already know how to drink tea!"

Suzuki smiled gently and replied, "Ah, but you do not know how to drink tea. You only think you do. In order to truly experience the tea, you must first empty your cup. You must approach it with a beginner's mind, as if you have never tasted tea before."

What did he mean? Over the course of our lives, we go through experiences, we develop beliefs and we build up knowledge that helps us to try and make sense of the world. An unfortunate side effect of this is that knowledge limits our ability to perceive the true world - because we think we know the answer already. As Shunryu Suzuki said, “In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.”

Beginner’s mind is a fundamental concept in mindfulness practice that encourages us to approach each moment with an open, non-judgmental, and curious attitude, as if we were experiencing it for the very first time. This mindset helps us let go of preconceived notions, assumptions, and biases, and allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the present moment.

Its not difficult to imagine what beginners mind is like because you used to have one - its a child’s mind. Children are naturally curious, playful, and full of wonder. They see the world with fresh eyes and an open heart, without judgement or expectation. They are not afraid to make mistakes or ask questions, and they approach each experience with enthusiasm and joy.

So if your mind was like a smartphone then resetting it would bring you back to when it was first switched on, when you were a child, when you were curious and full of wonder about the world. Wherever you are right now, you can pick up an object, I’m going to pick up a book and look at it as if for the first time, noticing everything about it. Its weight, its texture, its smell. How it looks, whether it makes a sound when you shake it. And you can view the world the same way when you walk outside. You probably know someone that people would describe as happy go lucky and if you watch them this is what they do, the meet the world with an open mind, enthusiasm and without expectation.

That’s the essence of beginner’s mind. It’s about letting go of our adult self-consciousness and fear of failure, and embracing a child-like sense of wonder and curiosity. It’s about seeing the world as if we were experiencing it for the very first time, with an open and non-judgmental attitude.

So how do we cultivate beginner’s mind in our daily lives? Here are a few practical tips:

First, start with curiosity. Approach each experience with a sense of wonder and intrigue, as if you were seeing it for the first time. Ask questions, explore, and stay open to new possibilities.

Second, let go of preconceptions. Try not to judge or label things based on past experiences or expectations. Instead, stay present and open to the experience as it unfolds.

Third, embrace the unknown. Instead of fearing the unfamiliar, embrace it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Approach each new experience with a sense of adventure and excitement, like a child exploring a new playground.

Finally, practice meditation. Meditation is a powerful tool for cultivating beginner’s mind. By focusing on the breath and letting go of thoughts and distractions, we can train our minds to stay present and open to new experiences.

Beginner’s mind is a powerful mindset that can help us stay present, open, and curious in our daily lives. By approaching each experience with a child-like sense of wonder and non-judgment, we can let go of preconceptions and embrace the unknown. So, go ahead, try something new today, and approach it with a beginner’s mind. You never know what you might discover!

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