Make your way clean and direct. " I AM". I simply am, before the concepts of practice. Simply see this, 'I can not be this, because "this practice" is reporting to me. I am can see it. When thoughts arise. Simply be still, and when work, play meditation, thinking, practice, worry fear joy happiness comes. Simply look, If following happens, it's okay. Watch the one following. You are not the one following. That is the simple play of the mind and is innocent. Allow it space to be what it is.
I just got this book to see if I can get a better understanding of Zen, given that textbooks that touch on the subject seem to be missing something. From what I've read so far, though, Zen isn't sounding too good to me. Let's see if that changes by the time I'm done with it.
It's a more difficult read than it seems. I found that I had to start off with an open mind and just roll with it for the first reading or two. Even if Zen, ultimately, isn't for you, I think you'll find some things here worth reflecting on. Good luck!
Thanks. I finished it about a month ago and, while I found things that seemed utterly contradicting to other teachings within the same book (At times it seems like a completely different person is writing each chapter), there definitely were some useful chapters. However, I agree with you in that there may be more to it than first impressions; I may have to read it several times in order to get a more thorough understanding of what he's saying.
@TheAssholearchist I found it helpful for my practice to read a section after a session of Zazen. This way my mind was already composed, so when I read Suzuki's words on the subject I was able to understand them in regards to my specific practice.
@TheAssholearchist I first read this when I was 15 or 16 and it completely shattered my entire system of thought. I reread is every year or so, and each time, something novel comes out of it. I would imagine that regarding the contradictions, Suzuki would say, "You have this idea about the world, and sometimes it may be true. But not always so."
im andrew he who suffers understands and he who understand suffers , ishi no ue ni mo san biakut nen
maisecret1 1 month ago
Comment removed
arekayvee 10 months ago
Make your way clean and direct. " I AM". I simply am, before the concepts of practice. Simply see this, 'I can not be this, because "this practice" is reporting to me. I am can see it. When thoughts arise. Simply be still, and when work, play meditation, thinking, practice, worry fear joy happiness comes. Simply look, If following happens, it's okay. Watch the one following. You are not the one following. That is the simple play of the mind and is innocent. Allow it space to be what it is.
mcfrenchcfryphobe 11 months ago 3
I guess this is why when people are competing, and they say/think "hey im winning!" they usually end up making mistakes
Fiercefighter2 1 year ago
Definite/Dogmatic/Exoteric/Agnostic/Ignorant 'Sa' hebrew
Enables taxation of others to feed ego vs.
Infinite/Anti-Dogmatic/Esoteric/Gnostic
An appetite for unlimited depth of understanding creates peace, hope, and harmony between regionally opposed and religiously opposed peoples
Am I missing any words that parallel these opposing concepts?? Zazen means beginners mind? Please advise/let me know how you see this
peace
JohnnyPeacemaker 1 year ago
Thank you so very much
suzieq0008 1 year ago
I just got this book to see if I can get a better understanding of Zen, given that textbooks that touch on the subject seem to be missing something. From what I've read so far, though, Zen isn't sounding too good to me. Let's see if that changes by the time I'm done with it.
TheAssholearchist 1 year ago
@TheAssholearchist
It's a more difficult read than it seems. I found that I had to start off with an open mind and just roll with it for the first reading or two. Even if Zen, ultimately, isn't for you, I think you'll find some things here worth reflecting on. Good luck!
HundredFrogsOne 1 year ago
@HundredFrogsOne
Thanks. I finished it about a month ago and, while I found things that seemed utterly contradicting to other teachings within the same book (At times it seems like a completely different person is writing each chapter), there definitely were some useful chapters. However, I agree with you in that there may be more to it than first impressions; I may have to read it several times in order to get a more thorough understanding of what he's saying.
TheAssholearchist 1 year ago
@TheAssholearchist I found it helpful for my practice to read a section after a session of Zazen. This way my mind was already composed, so when I read Suzuki's words on the subject I was able to understand them in regards to my specific practice.
Cheers
sfcx92 1 year ago
@TheAssholearchist I first read this when I was 15 or 16 and it completely shattered my entire system of thought. I reread is every year or so, and each time, something novel comes out of it. I would imagine that regarding the contradictions, Suzuki would say, "You have this idea about the world, and sometimes it may be true. But not always so."
Radishmantis 1 year ago
Shunryu Suzuki's Beginner's Mind is the book that I read most and I find new things every time
as if the book follows my journey :-)
mizz77anna 2 years ago
one of the most revered Books i ever read.I never met a person who regretted having read this book.
agnostoatomo 2 years ago 11
@agnostoatomo what book?
elmaxidelsur 5 months ago
@elmaxidelsur Zen mind beginners mind
agnostoatomo 4 months ago
mindblowing!
Salocin27 2 years ago
thank you
jenni4jlss 2 years ago 4
... :)
lastrange123 2 years ago 2