Zen Mind Beginner

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind Essay, Research Paper

Philosophy

Critical Book Review: Zen Mind, Beginner s Mind

For my critical book review I chose to read, Zen Mind, Beginner s Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki. Suzuki was a direct spiritual descendant of the great thirteenth-century Zen master Dogen. Suzuki was already a deeply respected Zen master in Japan when he came to America in 1958 intending on a short visit. He was very impressed by the seriousness he found among Americans interested in Zen that he became a permanent resident in San Francisco. His following became so large that it expanded into three major locations including, Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen training center outside of Asia. He died at the Zen Center in December 1971; a year after this book was published. I chose this book because Zen meditation is something that has interested me for a few years after learning briefly about it in high school. Zen is something that I hope to try in the near future, possibly after I visit a Zen Center when I m in California this summer. However, after reading this book I have learned that Zen is not really something which you are supposed to try at, you re just supposed to do it and not think about it.

Zen Mind, is composed of three major sections with many sub-categories in each section to explain the theme. Part 1 is entitled Right Practice. In this section zazen is explained to the reader. Zazen is the name for seated meditation. Part 1 was my favorite section. There are many interesting ideas and explanations found here. In this section Suzuki explains Right Practice through talks on posture, breathing, control, mind waves, mind weeds, the marrow of zen, no dualism, bowing, and nothing special. Correct posture is explained describing full lotus position. Full lotus position is when your left foot is on your right thigh, and your right foot is on your left thigh. He explains that when you cross your legs in this way even though you have a right leg and a left leg, they have become one. The position expresses the oneness of duality. Lotus position is complete when you have your hands cupped resting on your lap. It is important that when you sit in the lotus position that you keep your back fully straight. Suzuki says, You should not be tilted sideways, backwards, or forwards. You should be sitting straight up as if you were supporting the sky with your head. If you slump, you will lose yourself. (pg.26) Breathing is the second idea touched upon by Suzuki in this section. He talks about how important it is to allow your mind to follow your breathing. As you regulate your breathing and relax, your mind is slowly able to clear of all thought and your practice will be pure. The absence of thought is the pure aspect of zazen. To do nothing but exist and have a clear mind is what is desired in zazen. The section on bowing struck me as very interesting. It is symbolic of the theme of humbleness seen throughout Buddhism. Suzuki states, Sometimes a man bows to a woman; sometimes a woman bows to a man. Sometimes the disciple bows to the master; sometimes the master bows to the disciple. A master who cannot bow to his disciple cannot bow to Buddha. (pg.43) In many religions there is usually a supreme being, something which is worshipped and that you humble yourself towards. I have a respect for Buddhism because of its equality it preaches. Growing up as a Catholic I was always taught to humble myself before priests; it wasn t often when they would do likewise for me. It seems that there is much less of a hierarchy in Buddhism than in other religions, which is something that appeals to me. The last theme in this section is entitled nothing special. This section talks about the simplicity in which you should approach zazen. Zen practice is the direct expression of our true human nature. Beneath our complicated exteriors we are very simple creatures. Zazen allows us to put everything around us out of our mind and relax into a meditative state. Suzuki explains that practicing zazen should be nothing special. It is natural and can be done as routine like going to bed each day.

Right Attitude is the name of the second part in, Zen Mind, Beginner s Mind. Within this part the sections are entitled, single-minded way, repetition, zen and excitement, right effort, no trace, god giving, mistakes in practice, limiting your activity, study yourself, to polish a tile, constancy, communication, negative and positive, nirvana, the waterfall. In this part Suzuki explains the type of attitude you should have when practicing zazen. The section on right effort talks about the type of effort you should put when practicing zazen. Suzuki says, try not to see something in particular; try not to achieve anything special. You already have everything in your own pure quality. (pg.59) Suzuki explains that to practice zazen you shouldn t try to focus on anything in particular, rather, try not to focus on anything at all. To have right effort is to not put effort into practicing; just doing is the goal here. The section after right effort is entitled no trace. It is a good compliment to right effort because it displays the theme of duality that is always reappearing throughout Buddhism. No trace explains how to practice zazen. In right effort, Suzuki said not to try anything when practicing zazen, but here he says, When you practice zazen you should do it with your whole body and mind, y