Summary:
Written in 1970, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind Covers the basics of Zen Buddhism and its life philosophy. It was written by a Japanese monk who came to America in 1954 and founded the San Francisco Zen Center, where he spent his time teaching the practices of Zen Buddhism.
I found this book to be incredibly difficult to take notes from without simply copying entire passages from the text. It is well written and most definitely worth the read for anyone that is even somewhat curious. I particularly enjoyed learning about the concept of non-duality, even though I struggle to grasp how you would describe such a thing.
In a curious sort of way though, maybe that’s the point?
Similar Books:
Meditations – Marcus Aurelius
A Guide to the Good Life – William B. Irvine
Quotes:
Whatever it is, we should do it, even if it is not doing something. We should live in this moment.
In the Beginners Mind there are many possibilities, in the experts mind there are few.
Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.
To ignore them is not good. That is the worst policy. The second worst is trying to control them. The best one is to watch them, just to watch them, without trying to control them.
Notes:
- The concept of non-duality is important to the Zen worldview.
- The practice of Zen breathing can be beneficial to helping to find peace and calm by dissolving the feeling of time and space. All our worries and experiences can be let go and all we need experience is our own breathing.
- It is better to observe life than to try to control it.
- Most people gain their best ideas when in a state of flow such as in meditation.
- Disorder is beyond human control and life is full of disorder. Step back and observe it instead of trying to control it.
- Not only is trying to control disorder futile, it also wastes an incredible amount of your own energy in the process.
- Adversity should feed your practice.
- Every time you overcome a struggle it will feed your practice and strengthen it.
- While meditating simply focus on your breath, don’t worry about your thoughts, just simply observe them coming and going. You don’t need to interact with them.
- Zen teaches that the goal is not necessarily excellence in a thing but rather contentment with its practice. The best students often have a difficult time with Zen practices, however because of the difficulties they must face and overcome, they learn the practices necessary for overcoming those difficulties and eventually surpass those students who did not have to struggle.
- Zen is about bringing focus back to our daily activities instead of going through life on autopilot.
- Make your activities pure, don’t attach feelings to them.
- Be aware of your own breath and be fully present in the things you do each day.
