Beginners Mind

All manifestations and experiences presented to us in this exact moment are affected by the way we receive them. And consequently, our way to receive these life gifts is related to our intention right now. So ask yourself, “What is my intention as I am reading this text?”

At times, our minds cling to a train of thoughts that can be extremely unhelpful and harmful to our wellbeing: “ I am right, the other person is wrong. That person should love me. I shouldn’t be like this. This is what I want, I don’t want anything else…..” and so on.

In all of these cases, and more, our minds are fixed in a certain viewpoint, and we often judge others. We complain. We are attached to what we want and what we don’t want.

A lot of our troubles could be solved by one simple practice.
A lot of joy and ease could be found with the same practice.
It is simple: practice seeing life with a beginner’s mind.

What is a beginner’s mind? It is a lovely orientation to bring to the present moment. It’s dropping our expectations and preconceived ideas about something, and seeing things with an open mind, fresh eyes, with curiosity and wonder. This moment is always fresh. It is new, we have never been in this one before. And yet, we bring so many ideas and desires to every moment that we can’t see the present clearly.

Imagine bringing awareness to your children or partner or co-worker with a beginner’s mind? So you can see them not through your lenses of ideas and opinions about them but seeing them as a miracle and the amazing nature of them.

Sometimes we are so expert that our minds are filled with our expertise, but leave us no space for new possibilities and novelties.  To cultivate beginner’s mind is a discipline that has tremendous transformative qualities.

Here is a simple way to start this practice:

Step forward with a not-knowing openness. From this place of relaxing your fixed mind, of opening up … take the next step with a stance of not-knowing. You don’t know how things should be, let’s find out! You don’t know if you’re right or wrong, let’s explore! You don’t know the answers, you just hold the questions in your heart, and move into open possibilities.

In the beginner’s mind, there are infinite possibilities.