by Len Barrow
The eponymous Zen Master Dogen Zenji stated that the
beginners mind was the Zen mind. The
ultimate beginners mind could be likened to that of a 1 ½ year old’s mind. They have no concept of self or self-reference. In fact if you put them up to a mirror they
cannot recognize themselves. This is a
beautiful thing. In Zen philosophy the
self and selfishness can be likened to Being a hungry ghost suffering in hell
or a demon in Zen folklore. In relation
this, the selfless person is regarded as a saint or Bodhisattva. If you think
this is crazy, look at the selflessness of Martin Luther King or Gandhi. They were saints. Look at histories selfish people. Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin (among others)
were extremely selfish and truly demonic. It is as simple as that in Zen philosophy.
To a young child everything is a wondrous new
experience. They don’t look at things
as right or wrong, good or evil and rich or poor. Young children don’t have stereotypes. They view everything as it is with no ego
commentary. According to Dogen Zenji,
they have the Buddha’s mind. I find this
so simple and beautiful.
This is a wondrous state to be in yet the question arises:
“can we get back to this pristine state”.
I think we can. This can be achieved both as teachers and students. The following is a story of how student’s “beginner’s
minds” can be a great asset to us all.
I was reminded that this phenomena could be achieved a
couple of weeks ago. Robert asked me to
do a surf lesson with a German couple.
They were complete beginners in relation to the surf and as such had the
beginners mind. In addition to being
nice people, the couple was fresh, spontaneous and open to whatever came their
way. They had the minds of 1 year olds in relation
to the surf. Another way of saying this
is that they exhibited pure awareness and attention. In other words they had the Buddha’s mind or
exhibited the Zen way of attention without even knowing it.
I asked them to observe the water carefully. They became aware of the direction of the
current and the various movements of the waves.
When I looked at their faces I was surprised to see how in tune they
were to the ocean as they were observing every movement of the sea. All of
their actions were unconsciously and spontaneously directed by the ocean. In a way, through their hyper-attention, they
were fusing themselves to the ocean. The
ocean was no longer something outside of them-selves. The subject and object dissolved into pure
awareness.
They were infectious in their ability to pay attention. I started to get into a Zen meditative mode
without even trying. It was as if we were sharing minds as they were in tune to
what I was teaching them about the ocean (sharing minds is not an unusual Zen
theme). We were doing the Spock Vulcan
mind meld, surfer style!
As they caught waves the look of pure attention on their
faces was infectious. I watched them
with total awe as they were catching their waves for the first time. I had no thoughts or judgments in my head and
just became a one year old also! What a
pure and sacred act! We were three “one
year olds” existing in perfect attention with the beautiful ocean. For a time there we had the Zen mind. It was as simple as that.
As they caught waves they had the hugest smiles on their
faces. It was an honor to teach
them. In a way they reminded me to slow
down, pay attention, and be a child who is open to the wholeness of the
universe.
Mahalo Silke and Martin!
You actually were the teachers that day!
